Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-11-04

would blow for curves and roads. L was
almost breathlessly still, watching Back.
who, 1t seemed 10 me, had not moved a
muscle or turned an eye from his "iook-
out" since he kissed the talismanic rings
81 found the cottage darkened," he re-
sumed, abruptly, after we had rurlbled
across the viaduct. "There was no light
10 welcome me, like there lad always
been, and-a1d, Nat, my wife was gone
found on the parlor table note that
first set my blood OH FIRE, and then turned
my heart to stone AS near as can re-
member, it was something like this:
"'Buck, dear, forgive me- Ny life has
been so lonesome since marrying you, and
the temptation so great that have con-
sented to go with Carol. | am not all
wicked; couldn't help it; forgive me-
81 thought it all over as a dream, Nat.
Poor little thing; she didn't see much of
me for love making, that's fact. Then
SOME sort of q demon caused me 10 write
on the back of the note ahorrible curse on
the pair, and pinned it 10 the table top
with my penknife.
Turning round, ! found little Dolly
standing in the doorway, crying. She
had been looking everywhere in vain for
mamma. At least this treasure was left
to me. All, Nat, it was this precious
charge that saved me from going straight
TO the dogs.
81 closed the cottage, resigned from my
engine, and brought Dolly off here to
live. I'dsaved little sum. A year went
by. Then came another eventful night
a night as sad 70 me as ever human being
knew. The wind howled gale; the snow
was deep and piling fast. Dolly came
running TO me, crying loudly
"'Papa-oh, papa-theres somebody
lying on the track, It'sawoman. Ican't
pull her off; and the st. Louis express is
coming
Nat. reached the track, think, at
two big leaps. In another moment had
grasped up female who was half buried
in the snow; and just in time, for this
same engine-No. 1-went whizzing past.
When | had laid her on the lounge l.
Nat, It was my little, lost wife! What
coming back! oh, how different she
looked! | saw death in her delicate face
and form-always delicate, as | said be-
fore. She opened her eyes and called out
in voice that seems TO dwell in my ears
now:
'Buck-oh, Buck, dear! is 1t you at
last 2
'Thcn, as I stood dumb and trembling,
she told me her pitiful story. Carol
Conrad had come to her with letter from
her father, who was in New York, saying
that he was dying and wanted her by his
side. Little Dolly was at friends house
three miles back in the country. No time
could be lost. SEe went with Conrad.
Not until they were beyond Philadelphia
did she learn from his own lips the das-
tardly ruse.
"The letter was Il forgery. The hasty
note of explanation she had left for me
was adroitiy exchanged for the one ! had
found-another base forgery. She was
now blasted in my sight, he told her. Soon
her name would be banIied in slanderous
gossip. Had she not better go with him
and let his devotion repay for the trick?
She spurned the wretch, and called on
the train conductor to protect her, con-
tinuing her way to New York.
"Here she found her father truly dead.
lie had ruptured an artery In excitement
over speculation failure that cost him
every dollar of his fortune. She was then
without kindred, without money, and her
few early friends scattered and lost. She
managed to make her way back; but no
one could tell her where / was. She
found Conrad's forgery, with my bitter
curse OIL the back of il. II must have
driven her insane.
"God meant that should know these
truths before she died. In her wandering
search for me she had come almost to my
very door unknowingly. Right there she
had resolved to die-to jie by throwing
herself under the st. Louis night express.
Consumption did its work soon, aided by
that nights exposure. | laid her In her
grave, Nat, aud my heart with her.
''That was five years ago. went back
on the road and got engine No. /. Dolly
is big girl now. And every time run
this train out you'll find her by the track
with n lanIern-rain. snow or starlight,
Nat, witing TO hear me blow, and to see
that there's nobody on the rails. And she
dips the lantern for kiss, you know.
Engineers, like sailors, have some lit
tie superstition; and sometimes when
pass the spot where snatched my uDhap-
py wife from horrible death, feel
shudder go through me, as If I'D actually
struck somebody with the catcher"
Not another word from Buck during
the remainder Of the ride. At the wash
ington depot we parted with a hearty good
bye.
A few years later, quite by accident,
while at c. station on reportorial busi-
ness, heard that good old Buck was dead.
His daughter, Dolly, had married. and
was living snugly among the green hills
of Anacos;ia, ID. C..
l..