Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-06-20
, Our Selected SfDz.y.
BOUND TO DUTY,

p VIE looked up anXlOusly and pleadinol
!, tc htrg husband, who. with Overcoat OF
: aiiif and lighted lantcrr, in hand, stoo,
;, ready to leave her.
;. but, Nate Oiis pet name for Mary
. ''think of the responsibility rcstjnr mo,
me. Tom Fisher, my foreman. You know
WAS just here, and told tie the train wa
heavy tonight. and mdre than usual,
crowded. as none had run for week."
, Nv hat does that matter to YOU. John
1t isn't your regular run. aill YOU vii!
make the men mad, and there will certain
ly be an accident even if you do not get
, shot at and escape bodily harm.''
''Dtit somebody has got to 90, Mate
and the superintendent sent for me.
Eaveht IN enemy that | know Of-the
boys all like John Malcolm, and the COM
pany think can go safer than any one
else
Yet. if anything should happen, what
would become of me. .'Uin?'
Il have never yet shirkcd My duty, have
always been lucky i'll my runs. and woult!
not have coward tackled to my name for
all the rolling stock en- the road, and the
wealth Of the directors 10 boot
The little one as John Malcolm fire.
qucntly called her. looked up proudly at
her stalWart husband tor Il moment: but
woniailly fears, wifely love and mothers
anxiety conquered, and she continued:
'And just as we We're SO happy and COM
Portable in a house of our own, and out of
debt for the first time. John. Only think
if You should be broHGht home iniured-if
you should be brought home dead! Ul.
John. it would kill me- and with but a
slightly SubdtIed exclamation of horror at
the picture her brain had conjured up. she
sunk into cll:,ir and covered her eyes.
''M.'e, my dear little one,' lie said.
kneelin@ beside Ter. putting a strong arm
around her waist. and taking her little
trembling hands within his own; Mate.
do not entirely uIlllan NE. God knows
how gladly would stay with you. But
duty calls me, and / cannot turn deaf
ear
duty. john? Would you weight t!lat
against iove?'
Not against s;ich love as bear YOU
my little vlle. But think how YOU, how
! /, would feel il the train should be wrecked
because WAS NOT OF the engine. and per-
hapsS nap sSnI hIF1'rfIls vGlils i lives lost
ing TO look steadily at him through her
tears.
Il have always 20 take that chance" he
said filteriny. but [ have no fear OF
danger. think far more OF the women
and tie poor little cl.il;iren that vii be on
board, whiriing through the darkness, than
anything else
a subtitle flash spar.lled in her eyes as
she arose. passed to another room. and
quickly returning. laid in his arp,s bcau-
titul babe OF scarcely \ year old.
Great heaven groaAed the stron"
man trembling and turning pale. ''tlis is
too much.' AMI he hug-ed his darling to
his heart, bent over it and wept like a little
child.
In storm and darkness. when the winds
were Wild the lightning ''raiRting hell
upon the sky" when thunder sho"k the
solid earth. through the horrors of eXplod-
ing efi.ine. the crushing. splintering, burn
i & cars; when the tack was red with
human blood and crowded with man"led
human forms, he had passed with unshak-
en- nerve. though blanched face, and never
hesitated in doing his duty. no matter how
dangerous the consequences. But now he
was unstrung, hesitated. with will almost
paralyzed. 1t was taking an unfair ad-
vantage of a loving husband af.d father
one whose manly heart idolized wife and
child for whose sake toll was sweet.
"IIeaven help mel. he murmured. 81
do not know what to Go. Very many lives
may hang upon my going 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
throated wolves of hunger and cold howl
around our door. Oh, that we We're rich
only rich.''
1t was the mournful cry of thousands
out of work, with want staring them in
the face, with hunger gnawing at their
vitals. with death standing but little way
oil. grinning. gliding and beckoning with
his skeleton hands.
kiss the baby. John. Now kiss me-
said the young wife as she took the infant
from his arms and held 1t ZIP, with eyes
llashing and lips compressed with sudden
resolution.
Her request complied with, she placed
the child again in lis cradle, tucked it in
carefully, INDUCED her warm and true
mothers Heart kisses; then returned to
her husband, took a seat upon his knee.
wound her soft. white arms around his
neck, and looked with pride and tender
ness, even though from beneath qniver:hc
lids and through lashes heavily diamoned
with tears.
My dear john, / would not for worlds
have you decide otherwise than you have.
Indeed, l you'd be a thousand times
prOuder of you in youl grave us Il brave
and noble man, than living as a sneak and
coward: know. John. how hard it wouli
be to bear-how | should have to battle TO
take care of our little darling-but it
would bea brighter dover for her to know
that her father died as a man than lived
scorned and despised by his fellows. Oh
John! my dear John. it is like tearing
;isunder my heart strings TO say SO. but go
and do your duty. l will pray. John, as |
never prayed before, that all will be well
that His mighty arm will guide you
through every danger and bring you back
safe. But, il you should fall, shall have
no shame come TO Inc ON your account,
and will keep your memory as green us
that of one who acted his part as man."
He drew her still nearer to him, smooth
el back tbs bright hair from tn. flushed
and fearful face, looked long and tenderly
at the speaking eyes, kissed her again
and again, and answered in broken
voice:
iiAaxr q i hl>.~