Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-05-15

would always be full Christine must know
precisely what she was choosing 1t was like
Hans to think of these things. 1f-in spite of
it all-she came to him
"There is another rose on your breast. Send
it tomorrow to the man you love-"
Il will.'' She did not look at him. She was
pale himself. He went down the street, |
leaving her with Heller.
Twohours afterward he went to the inn where
Reid was and sat on bench at the door.
Half the village was inside waiting to hear the
decision. His heart beat rebelliously against
his breast. What if, after all, there had been
great hidden merit in his panel! 1t was only
natural that Christine should be won by clap
trap of success and money-she was only a
woman. But no." he answered himself,
"what 1 AMI am. l want no varnish Of
praise or money"
az knew it," g The most worthless lout in
Walhalla!' "A drunkard for luck"' ''He
goes to London next week"
Then he must come back for his wife, said
Stein. 6 He told me tonight he was betrothed |
to Christy.''
Hans stood up, and nodded goodnight to
them as he pushed through the crowd. He did
not go home. A damp breeze blew up the val |
ley. Down yonder were the far-reaching
meadows, the tapping streams, the great friend
ly trees. He went to them as child goes to
its mother in trouble.
About six miles from Walhalla lies the trunk
line of the Atlanta d Richmond railroad. At
ten O'Clock that evening, the moon being at
the full, the engineer Of the express train,
going north, man at a turn of the road
signaling him vehemcntly to stop. Now, a
way train in that leisurely region will pull up
for any signal. But this engineer looked out
in calm contempt.
aReckon he don't know the express ~ he
said. A little child in the the man
gesticulating wildly aud laughed at him
through the open window.
The man disappeared over the brow of the
hill. The road made a long circuit around its
base. When the engine came around this bend
| the engineer, Hurst, saw on the track in front
| hand sod fn fron fhn
| vict -laborcrs from one division to another.
The convcts had been taken to the stockade
| for the night and the driver of the was in
| side of it dead drunk.
Hurst had been twenty years in his business
| he understood the condition of affairs at
| glance. He knew it meant death to all those
| fist of all. He whistled down brakes, but he
knew it OF no use. The brakes were of
| the old kind, and before the train could be
slackened it would be upon the solid mass in
| front.
! "We're done for, lack, - he said to the fire.
man. He did not think of jumping off his engine.
| 1t is noticeable how few commonplace men
try to shirk death when in the discharge of
their duty.
The brakes were of no use. The engine
swept on, kissing, shrieking.
Suddenly Hurst saw that the car was back
ing.-crecping like snail; but assuredy
C Y-ha!'' yelled lack.
Hurst saw the man who had warned him
|
it. Now, it required at least four men to work
that ear.
In another minute the engine would be upon
him.
"Godl You'll be killed!' shouted Hurst
The terrible hardihood of the man stunned him
into forgetting that anybody else was in dan
ger. At that instant from the train came a
frightful shriek-women's voices. Xhe passen-
gers for the first time saw their danger.
1t was but point of time yet it seemed like
an hour. The train did not abate it's speed.
hn follow nnWRrfl1I
threw the strength of giant into his strain
ing muscles, his white face with its distendcd
eyes was close in front in the red glare of the
engine.
Hurst shut his eyes. He muttered something
about Joe-Joc was his little boy.
The train Jared with long scrunching rasp,
, and-stopped. They were saved.
g ssGreat God!'' prayed Hurst. 'sTight squeak
for your life, Zack, he said aloud, wetting his
! lips with his tongue
The people poured out of the train. They
| went up to the car, some laughing, some
swearing. But every man there felt as if Death
had taken his soul into his hold for moment
and then let it go.
Three stout men tried to move the car. They
: could not do it.
l s'Who is that fellow?'
Z "A workman on the road!'
s'No,n said Hurst.
ssWhere is he.'' asked several.
4 For he had vanished as if the earth hat
!, swallowed him up.
K He was youngish, light complexionet
u
from Walhalla.''
. sWhoever he may be, he saved our lives,
e said a director of the road 81 never saw
t such desperate courage. l vote for a. testi
monial.'
y The American soul exults In testimonials
and the Southerner is free with his money
e There happened, too, to be delegation o
h New York merchants on board, who value
their lives at a pretty figure. More than all
there was widow from California, the owne
y of millions aud of the pretty, boy who ha
n baby she said with sob, as she took the pa
IT per.
o The testimonial grew suddenly into sur
n which made Hurst wink with amazement whe
G. he heard of it. THAT fellow will be king i
Walhalla,' - he said.
&c It was near morning when Hans came home
u He went to his room, said his prayers, an
o slept heavily. The next morning the villag
e, was on fire with excitement. The inn was flu
ID of passengers from the train; the story was
1t everybodys mouth. The director of the roa
r had driven over from the station. When Han
g went down to the pasture that morning he sa
playc ard stating the facts and the sum sui
scibed, and requesting the claimant to preser
1T himself at the station that evening for identit
lr cation by Hurst.
RS Hans went on to the pasture. When he cam
Ill back and was at work In the garden he coul
hear through the palings the people talking 8
er they went by.
rs ''He will be the richest man in Walhala.''
IS g The director says the company will giy
ty him situation for lite So they ought"
Nothing else talked of. The contests
u yesterday and all the Flights into Egypt we,
Mt forgotten.
s. ''Ah, how lucky that fellow is, - he heard h
O. mother say the sidewalk ' And there
to Heller! Some people are born to lnck ~ loo
ry ing over the palings with bitter disappointmel
at Hans digging potatoes.
is But blind Father Becht listened in silenc
vt He knew but one man in the world brave enoug
k, for such deed. 81 give that lad my bles
ing!'' he said, striking his cane ON the groun
on He, too, turned toward Hans digging pot
toes.
ut g Heller is packing to be off to London
Is, somebody said. "They say Vogel's pret
en- daughter is to follow in the spring.
vn Hans stuck in his spade and went to b
ng mother. 81 am going to to salt the cattle on t
as Very well. He does not care to know wi
as this brave lad is, she said to his father. Z" He
good boy, bu. dull-dull. They say the
" is woman from California at the inn. 81
ID says she must see the man who saved her boy
life. She is rich aud has her whims, no doubt
lid Night came, but the man did not prcse
an himself. The next day the director, who W
i'd of generous, impatient temper, offered
DIV ward to anybody who could make him know
GU ltwas certain he had told nobody what he h
c's done, or they would have come forward for t
reward. The excitement grew with every hOl
le Hans returned late in the next day. He we
ad to his spade and began to dig the rest Of t
lot potatoes. His mother followed.
ad "Well,'' she exclaimed, che is not foun
ed The story is gone by telegraph to all parts
ng the country. Here are fame and riches wa
rs ing for him. Some people certainly are DO
III: on lucky Sundays. There is Heller, the drum
he en- beast, gone off to London. And you mi
,g- dig potatoes! There's no justice in heaven
She clicked away, knitting as she went.
of Now l may well say here that althou
this happened years ago, the missing man
IN not yet found. He is the mystery and pride
rd, all that region. The director put the mon
Get out at. compound interest, but it is yet I
an claimed.
the Concerning Hans, however, who digs
ed potatoes in the same patch, We have somethi
ng more to tell When he had finished diggi
led that morning he went into the house. I
lg stout fellow had lost his ruddy color. as thou
he had lately gone through some heavy str;
,.' of body or soul. He sat on the kitchen stt
and played soft air his violin. The ca
nr he had been digging lay in moist, black hea
i'd He liked the smell of it. How like whsp
K a ing voice was the gurgle of the stream throu
of the roots of the sumfchs! Yonder Pc
the Wan tree, raising its trunk and branches
blood-red leaves against the still air; far bcyc
uff were the solemn heights. He had just co
lid from there. He knew how quiet it was yoD,
md near the sky-how friendly. All these thir
Md came, as he played, into the music and spo
lad through it, and a great stiffness shone in
the eyes.
And at that moment-he never forgot 1t
lcr. all his life-a woman's hand brushed his ch,