Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-16

series or dlSS1patlOnS Win winch 1 employed
every leisure moment drank more deep
ly than had ever done in my Ilfe-not as
before, for so-called goodwill and good-fel-
lowship, but to drown memory.
az did not go near Mary for month.
To me it seemed year. Once, after a
nights carousal, passed her ON the street
but not until long after did learn of the
bitter tears my haggard face and dissipated
| air had cost her. Finally, my better nature
triumphed, and went to her, repentant, to
ask her forgiveness, and perhaps her love.
son long, lonely night ride l made up
my mind to do this, though like thousand
mocking devils, memories of the moments
had spent in the last few weeks crowded
around me, as though taunting me in con-
trast to her purity; but with Gods help
would make myself worthy, I said aloud,
and thought the hours would never drag
along, until could find myself once more
in her presence. She came in to see me,
holding out her hand with sweet smile of
welcome, as though we had parted only yes
terday, and yet-and yet there was a change.
All, l learned it, all too soon! In those
first few moments 1 told her the story of
life for the past few months, of what it had
been before I knew her-of what it should
be if she would give me the assurance and
promise of her love. Then I paused For
moment silence fell between us; then she
spoke. A bright flush was in her cheeks,
her lips trembled, her lashes yelled her eyes,
but her lips faltered not.
q" john she said, am only gil, it is
true, but the man 1 marry must be a man.
Perhaps I might have loved you here a
little tremble crept into her tome but I
have a1naOSt ceased to respect you. Were
you my husband, would fear for you, and
fear and love cannot go hand-in- hand
90 Stop said. DO you want to drive
me back to the life had hoped to have left
behind me? Oh, Mary, do not be go cruel
Be nay wife, and let ne prove the stuff that
is In me-
No, John,' she answered, softly bat
The blue eyes she now raised 80 mine were
swimming in tears. If you have seen the
wroHg, surely you viii not return to it.
Rather, if you indeed. love me, ar0oe yoasr-
self man. 1t does Bt take a battlefield to
make hero
80 Prove yourself man These were
the words that haunted me in the weeks that
followed, saving me from the ruin l would
else have drifted into, but torturing me with
their hopelessness. What hope had L in
my daily routine Of duty of changing Mary's
mind? 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 morn
ing mounted my engine to take the ex-
press train to G.. We were going along
at the rate of thirty miles an hour, when
suddenly, right ahead of us, it seemed,
tiny speck of red futtered on the track.
81 strained my eyes-I blew my whistle.
What could it be? MercifrA heaven An
other instant it was made clear 20 me.
It was little golden-haired child, playing
in the very face of the huge monster OF
death my hand was guiding to its destruc-
ton.
81 wbistled Down brakes bat, as !
did SO, knew that it was of 10 avail. Be-
fore the order could be obeyed, it wouid be
rendered 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 for you at home
at takes long time, sir, TO tell all this,
but in reality not one second had passed.
At such times men think quickly. One bit
ter sigh rose in my breast. 1 would never
have chance of proving to Mary my man
hood by some great deed in the future, CT
long years of penance. But it did not make
my duty any the less clear. Bill, the fire.
man, was behind me.
Take the engme!' l screamed 10
him. Good-by, Mary whispered low to
myself.
"The next minute, hardly conscious OF
what 1 was doing, 1 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, man.
gled No. 1 looked down. It was safe
held within one strong arm, its red dress
futtering in the wind, its golden head close
pressed against my shoulder. How was it
done? cannot tell you sir. God, they
say, does not let the sparrow fall.
"Then the train checked its speed, stop
ped, the passengers came crowding about
us, men grasped me by the hand, women
cried over me, and I-stood dased, 6eaotl-
dred, in their midst, the child tight-held
| within my arms. 1t was such simple
thing; yet, sir, they gave me this"
throwing back his coat, and showing gold
| medal.