The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-13

coming in my throat.
We hadn't been married long
Jane and !, when it happened. Jane
was 2 trim, black-eycd slip OF cir
as ever You'd wish to see, and th'
very first time | ever set eyes on
her made up my mind TO MAKE
that girl my wife. So, when the
Company raised my wiges-l was
pointsnlan at Fairfield Junction,
should tell vou-I took heart and
asked her II she'd half them with
me, with a wedding ring thrown IN
to the bargain.
DO you really mean il, WIZ
said she.
II do really mean It. Jane, SAID !
"Then," said she, putting both
her hands in mine, "I'N trust You
I've no living relation toadviss : with
me, so ] can only take counsel viii
nv own heart.
So we were married. And every
thing went smooth until Jane began
TO object to my mates at the "Rail,
way Arms" and the Saturday even
ings spent with my mates.
"Why, Jane, girl, said l"where 5
the harm? A man can't live by
himself, like an oyster in its shell
and social glass never yet harmed
anyone"
NO" saws Jane, mot a social
glass, VIII, but the habit And il
YOU would only"
'Pshaw, said /. "I'n nota drunk-
ard, and ] never mean to be one.
And no one likes to be preached to
bv his wife, Jane. Remember that
and you'll save yourself deal Of
trouble.
And ! kissed her an went away.
But that was the beginning Of the
little grave shadow that grew on my
James cheek.
1t was a sore point between US. !
felt that Jane wes always watching
me : and | didn't choose TO be put
in leading strings by woman. 80
Il shame to say 1T went 20 tho
Railway Arms oito = than ever
and | didn't always count the glass
es of beer that drank and once or
twice, of a particular cold night, ]
let myself be persuaded into drink
ing something stronger than beer
and Jane cried. and ] lost my tenn
per, well, don't like 10 think oi
these things now.
But one afternoon ] looked my
own life In tha face. / made up my
mind that ] had been behaving ike
a brute.
what are those senseless fellows
at the Railway Arms tome ?'mut-
tered l, "as compared with one OF
James sweet, bright looks ? I'll give
the whole thing up. III draw the
line Just here and nov. We shall
be off duty early tonight III 90
home and astonish Jane
But, as the night fell. the binding
drift of a great storm came with i.
The last train was kept later than
usual by the snow which collected
on the rails, and when it reached
the junction there was a little girl
who had been sent in care OF the
guard, who must either sgait TIL
morning in the cold and cherries
station. or be taken home across the
snowy fields by some enc who knew
the way.
"Ill take her" said !, and lifting
her up i gathered my coarse, warm
coat about her, and started on the
long, cold walk along the edge oi
the river. knew that Jane would
be uneasy at my unexplained alb
sence, and made the best Of nay way
home, only to find that the door
was shut and locked. / wentround
to the back. Here ] effected an en-
trance, and little Willie. my eldest
boy, called out: "Papa, is that you?f
"Where is mamma : said ].
Gone out with baby to look ior
you" said he. Didn't you meet
her, papa p
| stood a moment in silence.
lie still, Willie" said j, in a
voice that sounded strange and hus-
ky even to myself. II viii 90 and
bring her back"
/ thought with dismay of the
binding snow storm outside, and
wose Of ali-the level crossing over
which the express shot like mete-
or at a few minutes before midnight.
Oh, heaven
A clock sounding dim and muiiIed
through the storm, struck eleven as
l hurried down the hill.
As steadily as / could / hurried
onward, but more than once l be-
came bewildereG, and, when, at
length, ] came out close to the line,
/ knew that ] was half z mile below
the crossing.
And in the distance ! heard The
long, shrill shrek OF the midnight
train.
Some one else had heart it. too,
for as / stood thus, | saw, family
viseble through the blindingsnow,a
shadowy figure, looking with be-
uncertain air up and
down-the form OF Jane, my wire,
with the little baby in her arms.
i hurried down to her, and was
only just in time to drag her from
the place ofperil, and stand, breath
lessly holding her back, while the
monster OF steam swept
by with a rush and a rattle and
roar
".ane. cried. Jane, speak 10
me -
She turned her VlGdering gaze
toward me, with eyes that seemed
scarcely to recognize me.
Have roa seen nay husband ?"
said she.
Jane little woman, don't you
know me p l gasped.
aud | thought, perhaps she
added, vaeaatly, ~you might haye
met him. It's very Geld here, and
and"
And then she tainted inmy arms.
Tie long brain fever that follow
I'd was a sort OF death. There WIS
! time when they told me she would
never know me again, 5rt, thank
aeayen, she did. She recovered ut (