The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-26

link Of glasses. anu tnat naFSn sOunu VI We
otted laughter. And lifting trail OF
carlet -leaved woodbines which formed
natural curtain to one Of the windows, He
70 Lewis pecped IN IL
With sinking heart chill sensation OF
despair she saw Harry Rivers rise, stagger'
ing to his feet with brimming glass IN MS
hand, and propose some hlcoughlng toast'
which was received with noisy applause by
the riotous assemblage. Hero did not walt
to hear mere. Dropping the woodbines
once more, she hurried away with a white
set face.
"God help me! God be merciful to mel
she murmered: "For the idol whom wcr-
shipped has fallen to the ground =
Just at that moment the far-oh whistle OF
a train smote through the silence Of the
night-a sudden CHASTITY possibility took
possession Of Hero's heart.
'.Tbe midnight express - she muttered to
herself, "and he dead drunk at the bar
room!'
Hurrying down a steep ravine, needless o.
scratching briers and cruelty piercing tnorns
that rent her dress and drew blood from her
tender flesh, she sprang like wlld oeer
down the declivity. scarcely even pau sing
for breath until she had reached the IRON
track in the valley below, where slde ra,i
marked the intersecting course OF httie
freight road that led away toward the north'
At six every morning and evening the
| freight trains passed over the road bed, ana
it was among Harry Rivers most important
duties to turn the switch that connected TINS
branch road with the main track, after the
freight train had gone by"
Had he remembered to do so to nlght
Or was the long and heavily laden express
from the west even now sweeping onward to
it's certain doom Of death and destruction!
Hero knelt down to feel Of the track.
Her deadly doubt had too much foundation
in fact-the switch had not been altered
since the freight came up at SIX o'clock.
A chill dew beaded over her forehead A
sinking sensation struck to her heart
What was she to do We're she gifted with
the fiying footsteps of Mercury's self, she
could not get to Miners Arms IN time TO
avert the impending catastrophe. And even
supposing that she could, was Harry Rlv-
ers in condition to comprehend what was
said to him. And with bitter groam IT'S
ing from the depths Of her heart, she real
lied all the horrors which have their begin
ming and end in the wine cup.
Suddenly CLEAN of hope shot athwar'
her brain. She knew where the switch key
was kept-she remembered having once seer
Harry slip it under projecting ledge o.
rock uron sort of natural shelf, secure
from dew, rain or tempest, just beyone
where she stood What if she hersei
would attemp. to save the lives OF tn
doomed passengers every instant coming
nearer to their fate The idea and to &C
upon it were telegraphed almost simultane
ously from brain to hand. Snatching the ke
from its resting place, she stopped IN tn
faint twilight now beginning to gimme
, through the breaking clouds, and sfrod
with all the force Of her weak woman
strength to move the iron rails.
: God be thanked they stirred-they gra
ted in their sockets-and. even at the mo
ment in which the gray red eye OF the aI
preaching express train blazed IN the log
CIV distance, Hero dragged the switch Int
its proper place.
. Yet even then she could scarcely bellev
= that it was right as with the key danglln
by her side, she leaned painting against tn
rocks until, with shrek like that of SON
" fire throated demon of Avernus the trai
y swept by dizzy succession of lighted VIII
dows. and darkness and silence again settle
- down over her. =,
% Hero Lewis neither tainted or wept 81
y was not of the material that shriekers al
9 fainters are made Of She knew that 81
~ had saved oil the lives upon that EXPIRE
&c train; she knew that she had averted gre
O. crime from Harry Rivers soul and that W
,s enough for her.
~ As she climbed the hillside few minut
later, she met Harry Rivers staggering dov
a. =, the road She stopped him peremptoriali
:" Harry, where are you goings"
Don't get in my way. my lass. for Hes
ems sake" he cried, in thick. uncertA
=. voice Its the midnight express l.
~ amt quite sure about that SWITCH!
- The midnight express train passed
!" fifteen or twenty minutes ago" said hel
firmly. Il heard the whistle.
Are you sure
:, "Quite sure"
- .sThen God have mercy on my soul. CT
Rivers, fairly sobered at last by the sho
-. "You need have no fears said He
coldly. II was there, turned the switc
n's .Yous''
H. "Yes, I. have seen you do it. l IN
~ where the key was kept"
-, Hero" cried Rivers, with strong sot
:" -. his throat, '.you are my guardian anl
se'- Hero, you are woman among thousa
Kiss me, my darling"
ssNever again, Harry Rivers" she
"e' swered, shrinking from him. This nj
has opened my eyes. Hereafter We are
!. ~. merest strangers to one an ,ther."
un, So she left him. scarcely believing
'"e evidence Of his own senses
The text day his formal dismissal t
~ the service Of the railroad company ca
~. and he accepted it without protest.
u.s knew how dark record would lave
ork. .gslns. lis - .nan.tr.rcs
;. - As for Hero herself, she never saw
neen again.
p .,;RR "My GIRL" said Uncle Royal, you
s worthy Of you name. And believe me,
I'M never could have respected Harry Rive
!, .S IN wife should respect her husband.
: 'as; II know it, uncle" she said softly.
80, But alone within the depths of her
soul she KEEP. the secret of the Mill
,usht Express Train.
these A Smuggier's Wooden Leg
L. -r1< sn~anInua meth