The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-08-30

huuueHly ~ Sailo upoh hSi ''Ne ~ Wv,
neither more nor less than murder thai
she was waiting there to see-.-that IN ~
ing quiet while it was done she helped t.
do it.
Good forgive me-" said poor Maggie
"Pll not do il; but what nm | TO do
How will | stop them? It's my own
death I'll bring about nothing clse-----'
And Just then the soud OF n steam
whistle far away caught the ear The
train was coming.
"Ready for them" said the voice
she had heard before. "Comc into the
bushes"
She heard them tramp away, and
arose to her teot and looked about her.
There was no house in sight and no
help near Suddenly thought struck
her. She had matches in her pocket,
and her dress was thin Caico'--it
would burn like finder. I'M moment
more she had torn it Oft and had the
matches in her hand, As she struck
a light sho heard a pistol click,
"They SEQ me-" she said, and held
the match against the old calico, and
as it caught hourshed il over her head,
She felt bullet whiz by her shoulder,
another struck her, but now the glare
was bright, and the train was close at
hand.--she rushed towards it, waving
her burning dress. Thank God they
saw her. The train slackened its pace
lit stopped. Men with lanterns in
their hands sprang from it and hurried
towards her. Aud the old dress, burnt
to finder, dropped to the ground, and
che sank beside it, the blood flowing
from wound in her arm.
They've killed me, | behave" she
said, family, as man bent over her.
81 can't show you the place, but it's
..-beyant there--.the rails.--they We rip.
ped them up, the villains" Then she
tainted,
When she came to herself she was by
the roadside, and lights fell over her,
and she heard people talking of the
hairbreadth escape they had had and OF
her bravery.
"You risked death to save US" said
one woman. "You shall be rewarded.
My little children were with me.
"And am going to meet my wife, "
said gentleman. "She will not let me
forget you if | have 10 ungrateful
heart. You shall be well cared for now,
and when you are well you shall never
know want"
"Indeed then said another voice.
one that sounded familiar to her--"in.
deed am not rich, but I'd have been
loath to be killed tonight. Pm Just
on the road to what Pvc been seeking
two years | found out yesterday
where my missus is and Pa goin' to
her. she's breakin' her heart for me. !
haven't muca; but there's a couple o
pounds if you'll take 'em good wo-
man, and Gods blessin', too, for the sake
of Maggie Ryan, that you've saved from
ben' widow"
Anda strong hand folded over her
weak one, and would have left money
in it, but she caught it tight
cts Pat Ryan" she cried; come
back at last, Don't you know Maggie,
Pat?"
And two great arms folded her close
andjthe'poor soul who had tramped the
road, desolate and torsaken, an hour
before, was happy as angels are in
heaven.
1t might not be great good luck"
to you to be hagman's wife, and live
in little cottage on. the roadside, but
Maggie thinks itIso.
"And oh, Pat" she often says, chow
little did I think when Satan waoin my
heart, and was willing to lie still and
let happen what might to the heartless
gentlefolk, vhaf was doing to myself
and to you; and after all, it's kind
hearts they had, and gave you the ILL
CANT place, and me the shanty, and the
COW, and all. Good luck to them"