The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-08-04
MISS DEVERNEY'S HUSBAND.

MISS DEvERNEY's HUSBAND,
Chester Vaughan loved Edna DcVcrncy
She was high-brcd, fattcrcd city beauty, who
had fled from fashionable iOlles for a short
time to the quiet of an obscure New lIamp
shire village. There kind uncle and aunt re.
ceived her with open hearts They loved this
city niece, she was so warm-hcartcd and impul-
sive, 50 unspolt by attery.
Who was Chester Vaughan? The engineer
Of the "Mayflower,' on the b. b. and g. rail
road that took in lis course the little village
of AshmOnt He was one of the nObest men
that ever received on his forehead the stamp of
Natures royalty. With tall form, straight,
massive, powerful yet graceful dark, hand.
some. face, with wonderful magnetic eyes that
had twice looked full into Miss DeVcrney's, he
looked, in spite of coal dust, Il king among his
fellows.
Viewed in the light of that gigantic thunder.
or, public opinion he was shades and degree,
lower than She, 70 the vision fine enough TO
discern souls, Independent of the accidents of
birth or circumstance, he was her equal Miss
DcVorncy was generous, truthful, highmindcd.
so was Chester Vaughan. She had warm,
afcctionatc nature. He possessed the same in
Il great degree. She loved all that was fine
and enjoyable in literature, and could melt in
%
thy and appreciation. He had the elements of
genius in his own nature could create what
she could only appreciate. But he was only
the engineer of the "Mlaytlowcr" and she was
Miss DeNcrncy, the hcrcSs. Judge, then, if
he was not her equal
We have said that his eyes had twice looked
into hers She at the depot to meet some
friends, and remarked the fine figure Of the
man rs he stood on the platform. She had
thought What grand looking man he would
be in society" and he had turned and looked
in her face She had felt great thrill at her
heart, such as no other pair of eyes had had
magnetism enough to send there. She chidcd
herself for her weakness Was he not far be
meath herr Away from her city friends. was
she becoming pcbeian in her iastcsy What
right had Inc 10 look at her at ALL But still
those eyes in their wonderful depth and beauty
haunted her.
He had known by the fine sense that disccrns
souls, that this woman was his mate though
hC had seen her only twice. Miss DcNclncy
had known il IN spite Of smoke and CRIME aud
the iron walls Of society--known that had he
been in her circle he would have singled her
out from the others, and that then She would
have
Sprung to him and known he was her own,
Not smaller soul"
Mis- DeNcrney loved nature 4 fine. free
element in her composition reached out in
stinctiycly and assimilatcd the unfctorcd the
unconventional She was in the habit of ram.
bling alone through the woods in search of
botanical specimens and other curosities. She
knew no fear, and indeed in that peaccablc 10
Cality there was cause for none
One day She wandered farther than usual.
4 strange confusion seized her, and she found
that she wa, lost She wandered around with
growing alarm and, at last, suspecting that she
was moving ina circle, she sat down on "A ial.
len log TO collect her thoughts, and rest her
weary limbs. How helpless she felt All her
wealth was unavailable in an hour like this.
The sun was declining, and the evening twi
light advancing She felt the drowsincss of
exhaustion stealing over her She had enough
presence of mind % tryto shake it of and keep
moving. Night closed in, starit and beau.
titul. Kept mp by the force of her will she
staggered on until she at last struck an omen
space By the light of the full moon now ris-
en-, she saw road before her She gained il
il Was the railroad. But which way 10 ,soy
She was perfectly bcwildercd
Il shall not We able to keep up much long.
err she thought, looking along the lengthy
stretch Of iron rails "and there are no houses
in sight ] shall have 10 lie down and die"
llurki what was that sOundg A train was
observation-disclosures, yet but every moment
sounding nearer in the bush of the dreamy an.
tuuln night il was the train that reached
AsLmOni az nine O'Clock
\ feeling of terror superseded the passive
State OF exhaustion. She was on "A section of
the road that was bounded on both sides by a
steep cmbankmcnL Ii she could only rive
some signal She realized the awful death
b fore her as she saw the cleaning HEADLIGHT
in the distance and sank down in a dead faint
on the track. her white wrap showing conSpic-
uously against The dark ground in The clear
moonlight
II was the headlight Of the "Mayilowcr -
and Chester tanghan's will was controlling
the impatient painting monster that seemed dc,
icrmined 70 ovcrf1kc the woman he loyrdawitb
swift Destruction The orders were lo RIM
slowly around the curve, and the sDeeti WAS
sackening when Chester Vaughan. on The
lookout, saw tie white heap in the path of The
engine whore the read lad the sharpest curve
Instantly shriIl whistle gave the signal IA
put on brakes, and the train came 10 a stand.
still just in time 10 save life
He was on the ground in moment and
there, not foot from the engine, with her palc
face showing Ike marble in the Iur;d ligLi
lay the motiOnle-s form of Miss DeVerney
Good Heaveas.' he uttered as he raise, her