The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-12-04

| turning il. Mark Instantly passed the
reins to one hand. and seized Mary with
the other, at the same time throwing his
weight on the opposite side Of the sleigh
and rig hitting it. 1t was but the work OF
a moment but that moment was too long
| The horse, very spirited animal. sprang
forward as soon "a he felt the reins loos-
ened, and tefnre Mark could get him in
hand again. he had taken the bit and
Was plun2ing away at IA mad rate With
out word or cry, Mary clung to her
seat aud Mark struggled hravely with
the horse but in vain he could no
more control him than the wind. Ga.
on they went, till suddenly, striking a
concealed stone, the sleigh turned over,
throwing Mary out on the snow, but
Mark being entangled with the robes
and reins, was dragged on with the
vehicle. On, on, still faster, till sudden
ly, above the clash of the bells, shrill
whistle rang out, curdling the very air.
But a few yards ahead lay the railroad,
and down it came laundering an express
train, at a rate that would catch and
grind both horse and man to atoms,
unless the hand of Providence itself
stopped them before they reached it.
On dashed the horse. On, on came the
iron monster, while cries of horror rose
from the sleighs following. Nearer,
Nearer. A moment more, and Mark
Eldon would be in eternity, when like
| flash man sprang from the shadow of a
brush, and seized the flying horse by the
| bride. The animal reared and plunged,
dragging the man from his feet, but he
! chung to him with an iron grip, and
| forced him back till the train went thun-
/ dering by. The other sleighs soon came
/ up. The horse was secured, and Mark
taken from the ruins. Mary had been
picked up and found but slightly hurt !;
but Mark presented sorry sight, cut
and bleeding, and wholly insensible.
Fortunately house was near; they car
ried him to it, and in a short time he
revived. He looked vacantly about him
a moment, and then seeing the physi-
clan at his side, he motioned him to
lean near him. He did so, and in an
eager whisper Mark asked
cam badly hurt. VIII I die ?'
''Of course not, my dear fellow, re-
piled the doctor, with the professional
cheerfulness the occasion demanded.
"You will be all right in few days.
But Mark looked sternly at him.
''This is no time for TESTING, doctor /;
tell me truly, as you expect one day to
die
The doctors face grew grave.
81 cannot say, Eldon. You are hurt
badly. You may recover, and few
hours may end all.
A groan burst from Mark, and he
closed his eyes. A moment, and he open
ed them, and looking eagerly around,
said
"Mary! Where is she p? Is she hurt ?''
Mary came to the bedside and took
his hand. His eyes lighted as he looked
at her, and turning aeain to the doctor,
he asked, appealingly:
cam [ SO very bad ?'
The doctor shood his head. He look
ed again at Mary, and his face worked
as though moved by fearful struggle.
The doctor held stimulant to his lips,
and then, as though possessed of sud
den strength, he half rose, and still
holding Mary firmly by the hand, said.
clearly:
l. Listen to NE, all, for fear my ond
is near, and l cannot carry to my grave
the weight of the crime@that has borne
me down for years. Hear me now On
my soul, as dying man, I speak truth
Albert Markham is an innocent man.
l did the deed l''
He paused a moment, and then catch
ing his breath. continued:
Il hated him and loved her, and
knew that while he was in my path I
could not win her. I determined to de-
stroy him, and I did it. Ha ! what is
that ?" And he fell back fainting, as,
pushing back tho crowd, there stood at
his pillow the man who had saved him
Albert Markham
| 4 deathlke silence reiened "A moment,
and then Albert arkham, turning to
the crowd. said, slowly
You heard him He spoke truly.
He did the deed | knew it, but he had
done his work 80 skiilfuIly that / was
powerless to rsove it; and what weight
would my testimnney have beside his
| was ruined, aud not daring to face my
fate, | fled. For ten long years | have
been . homeless wanderer, bitterly repent
ing the sIns of my youth in remor.e and
suffering. Many a night have | slent
with no shelter but the heavens, my last
thought being a prayer to open my eyes
no more On Garth. But death comes not
tn such wretches "a |. A few months
ago wild bomesick ness seized me, and
urged by "a power | could not resist,
turned my feet this way. hoping that out
side In my dark desolaIiou | might catch
the glow OF their Thank >giving FIRE, aud
hear the echo oftheir mlrth God knows,
[ hoped for nothing more Can it be
that this is real-no dream p
And Albert Malkharm bowed his head
in his hands and sobbcd like boy till
soft fingers touched him, and sweet
voice >aid
Real, dear Albert, as the love tba,
waits To welcome you home again. Come
away from here. We can do no good,
and think how long your fathers heart
has ached = And leading him like IA
child. they went out together. and whirl-
ed away over the starit snow to Mark
ham House. The lights we're flashing
brightly from every window, aud at the1
sound of their bells the door opened. and
Mr.. Mark ham appe ired in it, the warm |
glow within falling like a halo over his |
gray hair. A look of surprise came over |
his face when he saw the single sleigh |
containing Mary aLd stranger; but be-
fore he could speak. she sprang from il,