Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-12-28

| hand still resting upon my Sleeve.
"Mr. Randall" she said, very slowly,
while | waited in establishment FIR.
what was to fellow, 81 could not but
overhear what you said tonight, and
it pained me very much, indeed. You
know me to be Lillian June. You
know | sent that picture year ago.
II was a glrlish freak, regretted as soon
as it was done. You do not respect
me, but | beg OF you do not bring it
up 30 cruelty again"
tried to speak, but with 3 move
ment she stopped me, crying:
mo, mol Do not say anything more.
/ am not myself tonight, and she burst
impulsively into tears.
What demon or angel prompted me
know not, but as she turned feeling
blindly for the door, / obeyed the i'm
pules, and suddenly bending forward,
caught her slender figure in my arms
and pressed my lips in one quick kiss
to hers. The next instant she had torn
herself from my grasp, and | stood
there in the snow and the moonlight
all alone.
In the morning at the breakfast table
she was absent, and to my anxious in
quiry Mrs. Chase replied
Margaret has gone to the city--she
will not return before evening"
Then she is very angry with me-"
| thought, looking out into the Christ
mas landscape and listening to the one
village bell in its greeting of the day.
"6he means it to tell me to go away,
but must and will see her first"
How long that winter day seemed.
with it's hours of daylight In vain
endeavored to read; my eyes would
wander from the printed page; and
finally gave it up in despair, and seat
ing myself upon the ledge of the win
dow looked out upon the dreary, snowy
landscape stretching away to the dis
tapt hills until the evening shadows be-
gan t. lengthen along the snow and it
became dark.
sit is nearly train time" l said to
the mother by the fire. 81 will go
over to the station and see your daugh-
ter safely home"
There is no need. IT is not far, and
Margaret walks it often" she replied,
looking up at me in little wonder.
But | went out, after buttoning my
great coat close up to the chin, into the
keen wind and swiftly eddying snow,
and had to fairly feel my way in the
darkness across the network of tracks
onto the depot platform. ASH reached
the low, small freight-house my ears
caught a sudden cry at the further end.
The words rivited my attention. cts
no use, no use-they're gonep some
: one said. Drawn by the agony of the
cry | ran forward. The old switchman
and another man stood together there
in the storm. "What is it?' | shouted
close in bis ear. With white face he
turned to me; "This man, farmer,
just got in, and says the weight of snow
has broken down the bridge at Snake
River, and No, 4 is due in five min
utes" Horror-stricken | gasped:
"Can nothing be done ?"
"No-nothing."
Telegraph, man-it may not be too
late"
1--WE have no office here" and he
dropped his head into his hands. He
seemed fairly dazed in the face ofsuch
impending danger. Without thought
| sprang forward and grasped up his
lantern standing there, and turning,
started on a run down the track.
Its no use-come back, he cried
after me; but | sped onward, never
looking back to where he stood in the
blaze of the station lamp. But his
words rang in my ears on the winters
storm, "No use! no usep Too late
too late to save the train my Margaret
was there!-no, it could not oe too late
must not be too latel AS | ran, flung
aside my heavy coat, and relieved of
is burden | swept onward like the
wind. | had been famous runner in
the old college days, and that early
training stood me in good stead now.
The wind boat down upon me, driving
the flying particles OF snow in my face,
but minded it not. The snow in the
cuts had drifted deep, but never wait
ing, l breasted it, and I kept on until
coatless, hatless, and painting for
breath, / stood at last in the storm be-
side the broken bridge. One moment
| took to lash the lantern about my
left arm with a pocket-handkerchief,
and the next grasping broken timber,
| swung myself of the bank out into
the darkness. With a dull, grinding
sound, the stick gave way; but as |
fell, | caught another, and worked
along it until | stepped ON cake of
ice, lodged and firm leaning out from
this, my fingers caught piece of iron
2irding-cold and frosty, it tore the
sesh from my hands, out / swung up
it, hand over hand, until felt my
dangling feet strike something.
It proved to he planking, and along
=, iit l ran until suddenly plunged oil,
, waist deep. into the icy water.
Thank heaven my lamp was safe
and It's light burning and / waded on
ward, stumbling over debris Of the
wrecked bridge until l reached the
other bank, and scrambled up it as best
4 / MIGHT