The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1878-08-15

paused q moment on the verge OF the
7 bridge tn steady her nerves, for she
must step from tie 70 tie in order to
cross. She took the first STEP, and
then she heard shout:
go hack, Instantly The train has
whistled for Locks Cross Roads Iu
back, tell you -
Sae recognized die voice before she
4 looked up IA see Eertner Fales stand
{ ing at the opposite end Of the bridge.
/ Had it been any OtheT she might have
obeyed him him she would not. She
kept on boldly.
Good God ?'' he cried are you
mad ~
Still no answer, but the same quiet
advance.
There was q roar behind her which
she knew was not the roar OF the river,
q red light from the signal lantern
flashed across the water; she heard
the sharp whistle to down brakes, and
realized her danger. And just then
/ Vert Fales stood face to face with her.
Only q second, and he had crushed
her down upon the timbers prone be-
tween the rails, and thrown himself
beside her.
"Be still on your life - he whisper
ed hoarsely and then
She felt the hot breath o. the loco
motive sweep over her; fire seemed
all around her ; the frail fabric shook
fearfully she strove to rise, but an
iron hand held her down.
There was one terrible moment OF
agonizing suspense, and then the fear
ful roar Of the. train was passing into
the distance, and once more tine free
air swept the face OF Atheline.
Vert Fzles lifted her up and bore
her swiftly and silently across the
bridge. She made no resistance nowi
she let him hold her closely as he
pleased, for she remembered that but
for him she would now have been in
eternity.
The rain was falling in torrents.
Vert took off his coat and wrapped
her i'm it, and led her to a dense thick
et OF spruce just on the river bank,
which afforded q partial shelter. Ath-
cline found voice first.
HMr, FAles," she said with emotion,
"HOE shall 1 offer you my graft
tude 90
He looked at her, but did not speak.
Beneath his eyes her face flushed red
as June roses. The revelation came
to her fully then. She knew why she
had felt so angry with herself when
ever she had thought of Vertner
FaIes. She knew why she could nev-
er trust herself to speak OF him or
even think Of him in the presence Of
others.
For an instant there was q fierce
struggle in this proud wOmsn's heart,
and then love thrust pride back.
He came close to her and took her
hands in mis-.
"Dare ask 1t ," he said passionate
ly. "Atheline, In spite of all, l love
you and dare ask return2"
"NO," she said, tremblingly, "yOu
may not ask it, fOr-it is already
given"
He drew her into his arms.
"Kiss me, dear L shall realize my
great happiness better"
She touched her lips to his, forget
ting that she was kissing poor farm
labOrer; ignoring what her friends
would say when they knew that she
loved q man who wore a striped
frock.
tent she thought of what had just
happened, and shuddered even with
his arms around her.
He drew her closer.
"What Is it, darling ?n
"I was only thinking what il you
had not been here 3 moment ago, and
1 had died, missing this great joyp
"But 1CGS here. l have followed
yon at distance all dsy-iollowed you
with q sore heart. 1 knew 1t was my
last chance, and when 1 met your
eyes was a very cOwardI saw you
when you started to cross the bridge,
and called out to you, but you did not
heed me. Well, perhaps It is WELL"
"It is better" she said, humbly,
"fOr Vert. in my hateful pride might
never have acknowledged how it was
killing me to treat you eoldly had l
not owed to you my life ~
The clouds broke soon, the evening
star looked out Of the lucid west. |
Vertner Fales and Atheline walked to |
the farm through the wet grass, never |
of the discomfort; and Athe- !
line announced to the delighted Mrs. !
her intention of remaining |
st the farm through the autumn.
And early in the winter Miss Herne's |
dear five hundred friends were electri- |
fed by the return Of their favorite, ae- |
companied by her husband, a man |
who rapidly made his wGy upward |
until, at length, he held the high of |
flee Ia the gift Of the State.