The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-12-02
FATHERS LOVE STORY.
BY GEO. GRAPHY.

"Tom is asleep" said his sister. The
boy mad been sitting dreamily gazing in
to the fire, his hands clasped behind his
head, but at the sound of her voice, he
answered pleasantly, "Not quite, Ida. l
was Just thinking if such things as we
read of in story books ever happen. Of
course I believe that some do; but l
mean those stories in which young
man rescues a strange girl from
unheard of danger; they fall in love
with each other on the instant, her father
sets him up in business, ,-or makes him a
present of few thousand dollars they
get married, and live happily together
ever afterward."
All laughed at the picture Tom drew,
and certain sly look passing between
father and mother did not escape the at
tention of Ida, who defended her favorite
books with all her might. "Of course
they do" said she; land l am sure
almost every one will agree with me.
Don't you father?"
"I must say, my dear, that I can not
contradict you, and if you would like to
hear a story l will tell you how your
mother and became acquainted"
ooh! l know well enough how that
was" said Tom. You were introduced
by some friend at party, perhaps, and
went to see her once week, all regular
as clock work, until you were married /;
but"
CHOW, Tom, that's real mean," broke
in his sister, to interrupt father in that
way-go on, Pa; Pll keep this young
cub from growling," and changing her
seat for one near TOMS she laid her finger
on his lips.
"We1, my dear, nothing could be
further from the reality than your
brothers supposition. Very few stories
that 1 have read surpass this in point of
adventure, and certainly none have been
quite as interesting to me. 1t happened
in this way. You know formerly tray-
eled great deal on the cars between here
and B. Your grandmother was living
then, and used to run back and forth
quite often. l never troubled my head
much about the girls in those days, and,
although 1 was in business for myself,
cared little about high hats, canes, or
cigars"
An exclamation from Tom showed that
he was interested at least, and necessi-
tated his sister putting her arm around
his neck to prevent repetition of the
interruption.
"One morning. / started, as usual, for
mothers, securing good seat in the cars
behind man who was busily employed
in eating peanuts, throwing the shells on
the floor and splitting out of the window.
opened the morning paper, and was
soon interested in the account of an ac-
cident that had happened the day be-
fore. The article was long one. | had
read the paper through, and we had left
the city fifteen or twenty miles behind
us, when cry from lady opposite
caused me to look out of the window.
We were about crossing road and saw
that horse attached to box-wagon was
running away, and coming toward us al
the top of his speed. | also saw that s
very pretty young lady held on to the
reins as tightly as possible, and exertec
all her strength to stop the animal, who
had got completely beyond her control
"What induced me to do it, dom
know but, acting on the impulse of thu
moment. sprang up and pulled the con
Meeting line. Fortunately l was in th'
last car, and we were not running fast a
the time. / remember hearing th,
whistle from the locomotive, signifyinI
"down brakes" and that one man, VIII
seemed to divine my intention, tried t
stop me. Hurrying TO the rear platform
l took my position on the step, and a
soon as the train slowed up jumped of
was none too soon, and Just had tim
to catch the tailboard of the wagon a
the horse, more than ever frightened a
, the sight of the train, tore across th
track. 1t required all my strength t
hold on, and, if l had not been quick an
active, ! should have been thrown asid
and killed. However, managed to &c
in at last, and taking the reiDs, woulC
in all probability, either have pulled th
: horse over into the vehicle or my arm
, from the sockets (the last you will agrt
with me being the most likely thing
the two to happen), when suddenly tt
!, !, right hand line broke, and, afraid tn;
if | pulled on the other, our unruly stee
5 might turn and upset us, l was oblige
t to throw it down, and think of some pls
: to stop him.
All this time the young lady hs
not said word, and sat perfectly sti
although l could see from the pallor
' her face, and slight trembling of Il
e lips, that she was fully alive to the da
o ger of our position. l knew that VIII
:, did l must do quickly, for we b;
nearly been thrown out two or thr
;, times, and had shaken my head el
: phatically at my fellow sufferer in answ
q to her mute appeal for permission
lie jump. knew that broken limbs won
be the consequence, and resolved to