Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-05-07

upon the ground, knew all. Those who
whispered uiar her we're train wreckers.
%, I'll mAke no noise. said she. Its
mono Of my Business" B !: !:
But lying: in the grass, the sharp
|strdkes Of steel on steel ;smote her ear
| she could not forget them. And sud.
denly it came upon her that it was
neither more nor Tees than murder that
she was waiting there to see-that III
lying quiet while it Was done she helped
to do it.
GOD forgive me " she cried. "I'll
not do it but what am to do? How
will stop them? It's my own death
I'll bring about nothing else"
Just then the sound of a steam whistle
far away caught the ear. The train was
coming.
Ready for them" said the voice
s'she Had heard before. "Come iuto the
bushes"
She heard hem tramping away, and
arose to her feet and looked about her.
There was no house in sight, and no
help near. Suddenly thought struck
her. She had matches in her pocket,
and her dress was thin calico--it
would burn like finder. In moment
more she had torn it off and had the
matches in her hand. AS she struck !,
light she heard the click OF pistol.
"They see me-" she said, and held
the match to the old calico, and as ii
caught flourished it over her head.
She felt bullet whiz by her shout
der, another struck her, but now thu
glare was bright, and the train was
close at hand; she rushed toward it,
waving her burning dress. Thank
God they saw her. The train slack
eGed its pace--it stopped. Men with
lanterns in their hands sprang from II
and hurried toward her. And the old
dress, burnt to finder, dropped to the
ground, and she sank beside it, the
blood flowing from wound in hel
arm.
"They've killed me. believe" she
said family, as man bent over her
- can't show you the place, but it's
beyant there-the rails--they've ripped
! 'em up, the villains !" then she tainted.
When she came to herself she was
by the roadside, and lights fell over her
and she heard people talking of the
hairbreadth escape they had had, and
of her bravery.
"You risked death to save u.s." said
one woman. You shall be rewarded
My little children were with me-"
"And am going to meet my wife,
said gentleman. "She will not LEI
me forget you if. I have so pngrateful
heart. You shall be we'll cared for
now, and when you are we'll you shall
never know want"
Indeed, then," said another voice
one that sounded familiar to her" in
deed, I'm not rich, bat I'd have been
loath to be killed tonight. I'm just
on the road to what I've been seeking
two years. I found out yesterday
where my missus IS, and I'm goin' to
her-she's breakin' her heart for me.
l have not much, but there's couple
O. pounds if you'll take 'em, good wou-
an, and Gods blessin', too, for the sake
of Maggie Ryan, that you've saved
from bein' widow"
A strong hand was folded over her
weak one, and would have left money
in it, but she caught it tight.
"It's Pat Ryan !" she cried "come
back at last. Don't you know Maggie,
PATTI" And two great arms folded her
close and the poor soul who had
tramped the road desolate and for
saken, an hour before, was happy as
angels are in heaven. 0...
1t might not be "great good luck u
to you to be aagman's wife, and live
in little cottage on the roadside, bu,
Maggie thinks it is so.
"And oh, PATTI she often says,
chow little did 1 think, when Satan
was in my heart, and I was willing to
lie still and let happen what might to
the heartless gentlefolk, what I was
doing to myself and to you and after
all, it's kind hearts they lad, and gave
you the illigant place. and me the
shanty, and the COW, and all. Good
| luck to them" "-'