The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-02-08
BOand 30 Dusy.

20 leave her.
But, Mate, Chis pet name for Ma
rv), think of the bility rest
ing upon me. Tom Fisher-my
foreman, you know-was lust here,
and told me the train was heavy to-
night, and more than usually
crowded, as none had run for a
week.
what does that matter to You,
John? It isn't your regular ruD,
and you will make the men mad,
and there will certainly be an acct
dent, even if you do not get shot at,
and escape bodily HARM
But somebody has got to gs,
Mate, and the superintendent sent
for me- haven't an enemy that l
know ot-the boys all like John
Malcom, and the company think 1
can go safer than any one else.'
yet, if anything should happen.
what would become eff me, John p
Il have never yet shirked my du-
tY, have always been lucky in my
runs, and wouldn't have coward
tacked to my name for all the roll
ing stock on the road, and the
wealth of the directors to boot
The little one, as John Malcom
frequently called her, looked up
proudly TO her stalwart husband for
a moment; but womanlv feare,
wifely love aud mothers anxiety
conquered, and she continued:
'And Just as we are so happy and
comfortable, in q house of our own,
and out of debt for the first time,
John. Only think if you should
be brought home iniured-if you
should be brought home dead o,
John, it would kill me- and WITH
but a slightly subdued exclamation
of horror at the picture her brain
had conjured up she sank into q
chair and covered her eyes.
Mate, nv dear little one, he said,
kneeling beside her, putting strong
arm about her waist, and taking
her little, trembling hands within
mis- own; Mate, do not entirely I'M
man me. God knows how gladly
| would stay with you. But duty
calls me, and cannot turn q deaf
ear
Duty, John? Would you weigh
that against lover
Not against such love as / bear
you, my little one. But think how
you, how ], would feel if the train
should be wrecked because l was
not on the engine, and perhaps
hundreds of lives lost
'And yours. John P she replied,
trying to look steadily at him
through her tears.
Il have always to take that
chance he said falteringly. But l
have little fear of danger. / think
far more of the women and poor
little children that will be on board,
whirling through the darkness,
than anything else.'
A subtle flash darted through her
eyes as she arose, passed to another
room, and quickly returning, laid
in his arm beautiful babe of scarce
~ a year old.
sGreat heavenp groaned the
strong man trembling and turning
pale, this is too much and he hug
ged his darling to his heart, bent
over it and wept like little child.
In storm and darkness, when the
winds were wild, the lightning
painting hell upon the sky; when
thunder shook the solid earth,
through the horrors of exploding
engine, the crushing, splintering,
burning cars; when the track was
red with human blood and crowded
with Inangled human forms, he had
passed with mistaken nerves,
though blanched face, and never
hesitated in doing his duty, no mat
ter bow dangerous the consequent
ces. But now he was uustrung,
hesitated, with will almost para
lyzed. 1t was taking an unfair ad-
vantage of loving husband and
father-one whose manly heart
idolized wife and child, for whose
sake toll was sweet.
Heaven help mel he murmured.
Il do not know what to do. Very
many lives may hang upon my 60
ing or not going, and we have not
means enough to live without my
pay. The hard winter will soon be
upon US, and the fierce, black throat
ed wolves of hunger and cold howl
around our door. Oh, that we
were rich-only rich
1t was the mournfuI cry of thous-
ands out of work with want star
ing them in the face, with hunger
gnaWing their Yitals, with death
standing but q little way OF, griu-
Mug, gliding and reckoning with
HE skeleton hands.
kiss the baby, Johu. Now kiss
me- said the young wife a. she
took the infant from his arms and
and held it up, with eyes flashing
and lips compressed with sudden
resolution.
Her request replied with, she
placed the child again in its cradle,
tucked il IN carefully, INDUCED her
warm and true mothers heart In
kisses; then returned to her has
band, took 3 seat upon his knee,
wound her soft, white arms around
his neck, and looked with pride
beneath quivering lids and through
lashes heavily diamOnded with
tears.
my dear John, 1 would not for
worlds haYe you decide otherwise
than you have. Indeed, I would be
8 thousand times pronder of you
in your grave as q brave and noble
man, than living as q sneak and
coward. / know, John, how hard
it would be TO bear-how ! should
have to battle to take care of our
little darling-but it would be q
brighter dover for her to know
that her father died as a man than
lived kcorned and despised by his
fellows. o John! My dear John
it is like tearing asunder my heart
strings to say SO; but go and do
your duty. will pray, John, as
never prayed before, that ali may
be well; that His mighty arm will
guide you through every danger
and bring you back safe. But, il
you fall, sail haye no shame
come to me on yoar account, and
win keep your memory green ss
that of one who acted his part as 6
man. 81 (.
he drew her still nearer to him,
smoothed back the bright hair from
the flushed and fearful face, looked
long and tenderIy at the speaking
eyes, kissed her again and again,
and answered In a broken voice:
May GOD bless you, brave little
woman, for the words. If I die,
He will take care OF. you and ouI
little baby. But'-and the sudden
IRE that kindled within him made
the muscles Of his arm as irOn-sbul
let any skulkeEs beware how they
cross nv path or seek TO wreck ms