Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-12-18
TOM ORION.

Broad way, brilliant and gay. as
If there were nothing of poverty
or human suffering in the world
as if none in the great city were
familiar with hunger and sickness;
as if there were never to be any
awakening from golden dream
ofluxury and pleasure.
"Ah, thoughtless wealth and
fashion - murmurcd Tom Orion,
bitterly, as he saw fur-ciad forms,
and pampered steeGs, and richly
mounted harness, and gilded
sleighs, and costly robes dash
along. "How much you will have
TO answer for in the day of final
reckoning, for neglecting your
poor, toiling, suffering brothers
and sisters !"
Suddenly confused cry, a wild
tumnlt, the drawing away of
teams on either side, or dashing
into side streets, startled him and
he knew something unusual was
taking place. Then came the
shout of Runaway! runaway -
and he felt that life or property or
both, were being whirled on to
obstruction.
"Are you made" asked many,
as they ran to place of safety,
and he sta lding upon the curb
stone.
He gave no heed to the warn
ing. He had braved death far too
often to shrink from it in any
event. and most certainly when at
such distance. His eyes were
fixed up the street on q team of
noble bays that were tearing along,
mad with fright and surging the
sleigh from side to side-running
at their utmost speed, each striv-
ing TO Guido the other, straining
every nerve-running away driv-
erless. Had that been all he would
not have troubled himself, deep as
was his affection for blooded
steeds, for he was not at that mo-
ment particularly in sympathy
with wealth. 1t was quite anoth-
er matter that chained him.
At the first outcry he has sprung
to and half climbed lamp-pOst !;
and so obtained clearer view
one that thrilled his heart TO the
very sore, caused his breath to be
more deeply drawn, and his pulse
almost to cease to beat.
In the sleigh was young and
beautiful woman, pale with terror,
and clasping two children to her
breast Orion thought Of his Jen-
ny and their little ones, and re-
solved to save them. The impulse
was noble, but how was it to be
accomplished? Far beyond any
human control were the frantic
horses. To attempt to seize the
reins as they dashed past would
be madness. He saw this-saw
that the course of the horses would
bring them directly upon him,
and, though the crowd furiously
warned him of his danger, he stir
red not-only braced muscles and
nerves, and set his teeth with de-
termination. .....
"My Godv' exclaimed man,
who, bolder than the rest, sprang
forward and would have drawn
him away. "You will be instant
ly killed !"
Tom Orion shook him off just as
the horses reached him, watched
his opportunity, seized upon the
harness as they were sweeping
past, sprung lightly upon the back
of the nearest horse, grasping the
reins, and, turning to the alright
ed woman and screaming children,
shouted:
keep quiet! will save you ~
And save them he hid. Before
a block had been traver5ed the
horses were made to realize that
he was their master, and the
sharp curb cutting deeply into
their mouths brought them TO a
standstill.
The crowd cheered lustily-the
police assisted the woman and
children out and carried them to
a neighboring store, and, as Soon
as the former had in a measure re-
covered her senses, she asked for
her prestrver, that she might
thank and reward him. But he
was not to be found. All that
could be learned was, that as soon
as the trembling steeds had been
taken charge of by others he had
disappeared. m
"Who could it have been?'
questioned the lady, with still
CHASTITY face and bloodless lips.
"Cannot say" answered po-
liceman, "but Re was brave fell
low, anyhow. / would not have
taken the risk he did for thou
sands"
"a brave fellow, indeed" was
tL@ uanA I .rnrld rxixyo