The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-04-08
Fathers Love Story.

of her voice, he answered, pleasantly,
"Not quite, Ida. was just thinking
if such things as we read OF III story
books ever happen. Of course ! be-
lievc that some do ; but l mean those
stories in which 4 young man res
cues a strange girl from unhearl 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 Il few thousand dollars ;
they get married, aud live happily
ever afterwards"
All laughed at the picture Tom
drew, aud u certain sly look passing
between father and motlser did not
4 escape the attertion III Ida, who de-.
Tended her favoritc book with all her
might. "Of course they d"," said
she "and am sure almost every
one will agree with nc. Don't you,
father :"
Unjust say, my dear, that I can.
not contradict you, and if you would
like to hear story will tell you
how your mother and l became &C.
quainted."
ooh I know we'll enough how that
was,' said Tom. "You were intro.
ducel by some friend at a party, per.
haps, and went to see her once a
week, all regular as clork work, un.
til you were married but"
"Now, Tom, that's real mean, v
broke in his sister, "to interrupt
father in that way-go on, pa III
keep this young cub from growliug,'
and changing her seat for ono near
Toms she laid her finger on his lips.
"Wcll, my dear, nothing could be
further from the reality than your
brothers snpposition. Very few sto.
ries that l 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 travelled 4 great
deal on tue cars between here and B.
Your grandmother was living then,
and | used to run back and forth
quite often. never troubled my head
much about the girls in those days,
and, although I 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
necessitated his sister putting her
arms around his neck to prevent Il
repetition of the interruption.
"One morning started, rs usual,
for mothers. securing good scat'in
the cars behind a man who was bnsily
employed in eating peanuts, throw
Ing the shells on the floor and spit
ting ont " the window. I opened
the morning paper, aud WAS soon in.
terested in the account of an accident
that had happened the day before.
The article was Il long one had
read the paper through, and we had
left the city fifteen or twenty miles
behind It's, when cry from lady
opposite caused me to look ont Of the
window. We were about crossing a
road and | saw that II horse attached
to Il boz wagon was running away,
and comming toward us ut the top Of
his speed. also saw that very
pretty young lady held on to the
rcins as tightly rs possible, and
excrted all her strength to stop the
animal who had got completely be-
yond her control.
"What induced me to do it, l don't
know but, acting on the impulse ut
the moment, sprang up and pulled
the connecting line. Fortunately
was in the last cal, and we were not
running fast ut the time. | remember
hearing the whistle from the locomO.
tive signifying "down brakes" and
that one man, who seemed to divine
my intention, tried to stop me. Hur'
rying to the rear platform l took my
position on the step, and as the train
slowed up jumped off. l was none
too soon, and just had time tn catch tlt
tail boa,d Of the wagon as the horse
more than ever frightened at the
sight of the train, tore across the
track. 1t required all my strength tc
hold on, and if had not been pretty
quick and active, | shonll have bee,
thrown aside and killed. However
managed to get in at last, and Ia
king the reins, wonld, in all probable
(ity, either have pulled the horse ovel
into the vehicle or my arms from the
sockets (thc last you will agree Will
me being the most likely thing of thu
two to lIappen), when suddenly thu
right-haud line broke, aud, afraii
that if pulled on the other, our un
ruly steed might turn and upset Us
I was Obliged to throw it down AM
think of some plan to stop lnm.
"All this time the young lady hat
! not said II word, and sat perfectly still
although could see from the pablo
Of her face, and u Sigh trembling o
G the lips, that she was fully alive t.
the danger ofour position. l knew
TINT what I did | must do quickly, TO
We had nearly been thrown out tw'
or three times, and | had shaken N!
head emphatically at my fellow snf
ferer in answer to her mute appeal fo
permission to jump. knew tlG.
broken limbs would be the consc
quence, aud resolved to do all in m,
. power to prevent such a calamity
Seeing no other way leaned forward
and, grasping Il backstrap, put a foo
on each shaft, and in this manne
worked my way on to the horse
back. A short distance ahead til
rood took a sharp turn, and mad
up my mind that the horse must h
/ stopped before we reached it; SO
threw my arms around his neck wit
the idea Of checking him, when tn