The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-24

nero turned Sharply around. 10 dls-
charge him what for2"
"For habitual intoxication. They say
it is not safe thing to employ man who
is not always himself"
ut is SANDER" cried out Hero hotly.
at is the work of some base villain who
wants the post himself"
every probably" said Erminia, sadly.
"Only Hero-don't be vexed with me, dar-
ling-but they say that Harry has fallen in
with that set of men from the mines, and is
getting into worse habits than ever"
Hero turned her face away.
"Have you only evil tidings to tell me,
Erminia ?"
81 would that they were good, for your
sake, sister, But the air is growing chill,
we shall have rain. Had you not better
come in ?'
"By-and-by. Don't tease me, Erminia."
And Erminia, comprehendng that at
times solitude is the best medicine for mind
diseased, said nothing more, and closing the
easement, sat down to her needle work by
the light Of lamp.
At eleven o'clock punctually she went to
bed after having ascertained by peep thro'
the window that Hero was still leaning on
the gate, all alone in the darkness, with red
leaves down around her and the melancholy
cry of an owl in the distant woods lending
an additional tinge of mournlulness to the
night and the stiffness.
She'll come in when she is ready"
thought Erminia. 'I don't like to assert
my authority over her when she is in one of
these moods"
No sooner did Hero perceive by the disap-
pearance of the light from her sisters win
dow thatErminia had sought her pillow, than
softly gliding through the gate, she hurried
down the road with the scarlet shawl drawn
tightly over her head.
81 will not be deceived and put off," she
murmured to herself 81 will find out for
myself, whether he is to be trusted or
not"
The Miners Arms, at the corner of three
roads, was alightas she approached i, t,and from
the wide open easement she could hear the
uproarious chorus of song the clinking of
glasses and the harsh sound of besotted
laughter. And lifting trail ofscarlet-leav-
ed wood-bine which formed natural cur
tain to one of the windows, Hero Lewis
peeped in.
With sinking heart and chilled sensa-
tion of despair she saw Harry Rivers rise,
staA gering to his feet with brimming glass
in his hand and propose some hiccoughal
toast which was received with noisy applause
by the riotous assembage. Hero did not
wait to hear more. Dropping the wood-bine
once more she hurried away with white,
set face.
"God help me God be merciful TO me !"
she murmured. Ger the idol whom wor-
SHIPPED has fallen to the ground p
Just at that moment the far-off whistle of
a train smote the silence of nigLt-a sudden
ghastly possibility took possession of Hero's
heart.
"The midnight express r' she muttered
to herself, "and he dead drunk in that bar
room p
Hurrying down a steep ravine, needless of
scratching brlars and cruelty piercing thorns
that rent her dress and drew blood from her
tender skin, she sprang like wild deer
down the declivity, scarcely pausing for
breath until she had reached the iron track
in the valley below where side rail marked
ha inf nf frair,h
road that led away toward the north. AT
six every morning and evening the freight
trains passed over the road bed, and it was
among Harry Rivers most important duties
to turn the main track, after the freight train
had gone by.
Had he remembered to do so tonight, or
was the long, heavily-laden express from the
west even now running onward to destruc-
tionY
Hero knelt to feel the track. Her deadly
doubt had too much foundation in fact-the
switch had not been altered since the freight
train 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? Were she gifted with the
flying footsteps of Mercury's self she could
not go to theMiner'sArms in time to avert the
impending catastrophe. And even suppos-
ing that she could, was Harry Rivers in a
condition to comprehend what was said to
him? And with bitter groan, rising up
from the depths of her heart, she realized all
the horrors which have their beginning and
end in the wine cup.
Suddenly CLEAN Of hope shot athwart
her brain. She knew where the switch key
was kept-she remembered having once
seen Harry slip it under projecting ledge
of rock upon sort of natural shelf secure
from the dew, rain or tempest, just beyond
where she stood. Snatching the key from
its resting place, she stopped in the faint
starlight, Row beginning to gimmer through
the clouds, and strove with every force OF
her weak woman's strength TO move the iron
rails.
God be thanked they stirred-they graf.
ed in their sockets-and even at the mo,
ment in which the fiery red eye of the ap
preaching express train blazed in the foggy
distance, Hero dragged the switch in it
proper place.
Yet even then she could scarcely beliey,
that it was right, as with the key dangling
by her side, she leaned painting against thu
rocks, until with shrek like that of somC
fre-throated demon, of Avernus, the train
swept by, dizzy succession of lighted win
dOws, and darkness and silence settled owe
| her.
As she climbed the hillside a few minute
later she met Harry Rivers staggering down
the road. She stopped him peremptorily.
Harry, where are you going ?"
"l'on't get in my way, my lass, for Heav
ems sake" he cried, in thick, uncertain
voice. Its midnight express II ain
quite sure about the switch"
"Ihe midnight eXpress train passed n,