Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-12-05

risen again! I must save her! Oh !!
Heaven, she has sunk !"
Too late, too late | saw the white
arms flung upward wildly; l caught a
glimpse of the agony of the terror
stricken face and then she sank, and
the dark river glided on unruffled.
1t was all over in few moments.
The train went on with undiminished
speed; and my companion, still holding
me with grip like iron, forced me back
into the carriage away from the window.
'Don't look!" be said excitedly, for
he too had seen all. "Who was she ?"
Mute, helpless, with an awful feeling
of horror chilling my heart, 1 hid my
face. in my hands, and, in the agony and
revulsion of feeling, felt must 60 mad.
To have been SO near, to have seen it
all, and yet have been so utterly power
less to save her, my sweet gentle wife +!
The first half-hour after it happened
was blank, complete. hopeless blank.
l was conscious of nothing but an awful,
bewildering desire to take my own life,
to put an end to an existence that would
be filled with nothing now but despair
and misery: for what was life without
Nellie?
"Who was she ?" repeated my fellow
traveller, who sat opposite me.
"My wife" l answered; and then l
relapsed into silence.
He turned very pale, and presently
uttered some well-meant words of COM
fort; but l stopped him.
Don't" | said-I shall have plenty
of time tor consolation by-and-by."
was still trembling from the shock,
and could not realize my awful loss yet;
l felt utterly desperate, yet was able to
do nothing. AS long as | live l shall
never forget that terrible journey-that
hour and half. | have often wondered
since that did not go mad.
The train still dashed on; being an
express, it stopped at few stations. My
only wish now was to get back as soon
as possible, to soc all that remained of
her, the joy and very sunshine of my
life. | knew I was bearing my trouble
badly, and felt it was unmanly to give
way like woman; but | buried my
face and groaned when the memory of
the bright sweet face arose and seemed
to feel her soft arms clinging round my
neck
Again the desire to end my sorrows at
once returned to me, and would not be
driven away.
"What is life without her?" The
words haunted me till at last the very
clang and rattle of the train seemed to
repeat them. A kind of mist rose be-
fore my eyes, and, forgetting that | was
not alone, at last took out my knife
and opened it. 1t was instantly wrench
ed from me and flung out of the win
dow.
Heaven forgive you" said my fellow
traveller, sternly, "for meditating such a
sin! Bear this trial like man, and
not like coward p
The express dashed on, flying past
green fields and peaceful homesteads.
Would it never stop? At last it slack
ened speed and drew up at station. l
got out, feeling strangely giddy and be-
wildered.
"Let me stay with you," urged my
fellow-traveler, the man who had within
the last two hours saved my life twice.
"No.' l replied. "You can do me
no good, thank you all the same. will
wait for the down-train-I shall be bet
ter alone"
He wrung my hand, and tears stood
in his eyes.
promise me-" he said, "that you
won't think of doing what you thought
of just now. l don't want to preach,
but remember, He who sends the trial
sends the strength to bear it too
| have never seen him since, and have
often wondered who he was. | should
like to see his kind face and pleasant
dark eyes again.
promised what he asked and those
few earnest words did more to quell the
desperate thoughts that were maddening
me than any sermon.
Staggering like one just recovered
from a long Illness, | walked up the
platform, and asked when the next trair
would be passing down. 1 suppose
there must have been something strange
about my appearance, for little group
soon congregated about me, and some
one asked if was i'll.
"The next down-train, sir ?" said the
station-master, hurrying up. "2:l5
SIR"
1t was only ten now-more than foul
hours to wait! Was he sure that was
the only train? | could never wait foul
hours in the state of mind | was in.
''Can | drive?" | asked, needless O
distance, eagerly scanning the littl,
crowd around. Il will pay any money
to get back to Morley at ouce."
The station-master interposed again.