Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-06-18

perhaps her love.
son long, lonely night ride I made
up my mind to do this, though, like I
thousand mocking devils, memories o.
the moments ! had spent in the last few
weeks crowded around me, as though
haunting me in contrast to her purity
but with Gods help would make my
self worthy, said aloud, and though
the hours would never drag along, unit
I could find myself once more in he
presence. She came in to see me, hold
ing out her hand with sweet smile O.
welcome, as though we had parted only
yesterday, and yet-and yet there was {
change. All, learned it all to soon! II
those first few moments told her the
story of my life for the past few months
of what it had been before knew her
of what it should be if she would give
me the assurance and promise of he,
love. Then I paused. For moment
silence fell between US; then she spoke
A bright flush was in her cheeks, he,
lips trembled, her lashes yelled her eyes
but her lips faltered not.
"'John,' she said, Il am only a girl, il
is true; but the man marry must be a
man. Perhaps light have loved you
here little tremble crept into he1
tone-'but have almost ceased to re-
spect you. Were you my husband !
would fear you, and fear and love cannot
go hand in hand.'
sstStop,' I said. do you want to drive
me back to the lite I had hoped to have
left behind me? o. Mary, do not be so
cruel. Be my wife, and let me prove
how much love YOU
"'No, john she answered softly; but
the blue eyes now raised to mine were
trimming with tears. If you have seen
the wrong surely you will not return to
1t. Rather, if you love me. prove your
self man. 1t does not take a battle
field to make hero
"If you love me, prove yourself a
man. These were the words that haunt
ed me continually in the weeks that fol-
lowed; saving me from the ruin would
else have drifted into, but to1turing me
with their hopelessness. What hope had
I, in my daily routine Of duty, of chang
ing Mary's mind9 Yet, spite of her words,
something in her eye had told me that
she loved me, and that something gave
me strength to live, and to withstand the
daily temptations of my life.
$50 Six months passed, when one
morning mounted my engine to take
the express train to C. We were going
along at rate of thirty miles an hour,
when suddenly, right ahead of us it
seemed tiny speck OF red fluttered on
the track.
~ strained my eyes-I blew my whis-
tie. What could it be- Merciful heaven
Another instant it was made clear to me.
1t was little golden-haired Guild, play
ing in the very face of the huge monster
Of death my hand was guiding to its de-
struction.
II whistled down brakes but, as did
so knew thatit was of no avail. Before the
order could be obeyed, it would he rem
dered useless. Then something within
me said:
"'Your life is worthless. Give it for
that innocent life if it must be, but save
it at the peril Of your own. Had you
been better man, you might have had a
little child like that praying Tor you at
home.
ut takes long time, sir, to tell all this,
but IN reality not one second had passed.
At such times men think quickly. One
bitter sigh rose in my breast. I would
never have chance OF proving to Mary
my manhood by some great deed in the
future, or long years of penance. But it
did not make my duty any the less clear.
Bill, the fireman, was behind me.
"'Take the engine screamed to him.
Good-by Mary, I whispered low to myself.
1.-THE next minute, hardly concious of
what was doing, I was down upon the
cow-catcher of the train, clinging by one
hand, the other outstretched to grasp the
child, now paralyzed with terror. Then
we were upon it. 1t was killed, crushed,
mangled2 No! look down. It was safe
held within one strong arm, its red dress
f1uttering in the wind, its golden head
close pressed against my shoulder. How
was it done2 I cannot tell you, sill.
God, they say, does not let the sparrow
fall.
"Then the train checked it's speed,
stopped; the passengers came crowding
about us, men grasped mc by the hand,
women cried over me, and I-stood dazed,
bewildered, in their midst, the child
tight-held within my arms. It was such
a simple thing; yet, sir, they gavo
me this" throwing back his coat, and
showing gold medal.
II wear it in thanksgiving for the lit
tie life saved. They raised for me a
purse of gold to large amount, but the
gift which seemed to cleanse my heart
was the poor mothers grateful tears.
"Tho papers rang, next day, with the
story. You, see. sir, it seemed more to
them, looking at it, than to me, who had
no time to think; but something more
was in store for me. l was off duty, the
next night, alone in my lonely, desolate
room, thinking it all over, when some
one whispered my name. In another
moment some one was sobbing in my
arms-some one who had come of her
own sweet will-some one who, from
that moment, has been the sunshine of
my home and heart,
"That is all, sir. 1t is a simple story.
I trust have not tired you.'
But I, as grasped tho noble fellows
hand, whose speech had so unconscious
ly betrayed the grand true heart within,
could only echo his Mary's words:
ut does not take battlefield to make
a hero"