The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-10-01
HE LOVED THAT WOMAN.

HE LOVED THAT "ON1ANs
A man and a woman were standing
near the elevated railroad as 1t ap-
proaches Harlem. At that place it is
almost double the usual height owing
to the lowness of the land near the
river.
The woman was looking about her
with fearful gaze, as if she were afraid
every person who came near might ad-
dress them; but, in truth, very few
persons walked over the uneven
gravelly ground in that direction. for
the main road was not there, and the
hour was near one o'clock of night
in May, when the bleakest of east
winds was moaning and whistling
among chimneys and telegraph wires.
While the woman glanced anxiously
around, the man did not take his eyes
from her face; they burned in the semi
darkness, and throbbed with the in
tensity of his gaze.
He was somewhat undersized and
very slender; but he had an indescrib-
able air about him. as if he were pos
sessed of great agility; even as ne
stood there he looked strong and sup
pie.
t''Oh, do 20! am in torture while
Won stayi'' exclaimed the woman.
She had seized his arm with sort of
clutch, and, while she held him, she
was yet pushing him away.
He smiled slig ightly. He bent towards
her and kissed her passionately.
Zone moment more with you is
worth all that can happen to me" he
said softly, gazing into the face ne
loved.
':But this lingering may cost you
everything" she expostulated.
He bent still nearer her.
dearest do you love me?" he
whispered. LET me once more hear
the words, and then will CO."
/ For answer she impetuously flung
her arms about his neck, and muir
INJURED softly, close to his face:
':Ah yes, l love you-I love you"
While the last words were yet on the
air, her face changed to look of
terror. She drew back little, but
still kept her arms about his neck,
while her dilated eyes were fixed on
the figures of two men in policeman's
clothes who we're coming stcalthily
along among the pillars of the rail-
road.
She did not need to speak. In the
next breath of time her arms had fallen
to her sides, her companion had darted
away, and she saw him running like
some wild animal swiftly and silently
across the hillocks of gravel and stone
and sand. Not single misstep did he
make.
But at the end of a few rods another
policeman suddenly rose from behind
! pile of stones and barred his way.
The fugitive did not hesitate. He
swung round and ran directly back to-
wards the railroad, along which train
was now glittering and laundering.
The woman stood motionless where
he had left her, her two hands pressed
tightly over her heart.
It seemed at first as if the man were
now running into the arms of the
officers. Even the woman who was
breathlessly watching him, and who
knew well his cunning and his presence
of mind, thought that he had forgotten
that he was pursued in that direction
also.
The two men moved farther and
farther apart They each had pistols;
and, although the woman did not take
her eyes from the man she loved. she
yet saw the gaslight flicker on the bar
rels of the weapons. and it seemed to
her as if she already felt the bullets in
her heart. And she could do alb
solutely nothing to help him.
While yet she was wondering why
the fugitive had turned back. he sud-
denly threw himself upon one of the
large pillars which support the elevat-
ed road, and. almost with as much
ease as a monkey might have climbed.
he ascended the smooth iron post,
'tshoving'' himself up with amazing
celebrity.
Perhaps it was nothing for a daring
trapeze performer todo. yet it surprised
greatly the people who saw it done.
With terror controlling her. the wo-
man ran underneath the place where he
was lust climbing on to the road.
.'The trains, Tom-the trains!' she
called out shrilly.
For answer she saw him turn his
face an instant towards where she
stood, and wave his hand; then he was
out of sight up among that network OF
planks and iron and tracks.
He felt the whole structure shake
beneath him from the pressure of a
train. Whether that train was coming
or going he could not tell.
He stood painting, his clear brain
for an instant somewhat bewildered by
the physical exhaustion from his race
and his climbing.
He stood as he had done many q
time in the circus after some feat OF
prodigious skill and strength.
But now there was no applauding
crowd; now there was only before him
the struggle to escape-to preserve his
life.
Which way was the train comings
He was on the right-hand side going up
towards Harlem.
He looked back at the city which lay
behind himself-a mass of confusing
and cleaning lights.
Yes, there was q train turning q
curve in the road. and coming from
New York. He must 60 to the othel
side of the track.
He glanced down between the planks
a. he hurriedly stepped across.
Why should his head suddenly swim
and his heart give leap in his bosom
as he saw one of the policemen beneath
him extending pistol towards himi
WhyP For in the wild life he had led
he had been in many perilous situa
tions, where pulse and nerve had beer
steady.
Without pausing, he yet saw tn
figure of the woman who had just beer
IN his arms rush forward and films
itself on the policcman's arm, and tn
pistol discharged harmlessly into tn
air.
Then he was on the other track; bu
1t had all happened in less than
minute.
he had scarcely stepped on tn
track, and turning to look at the ap
preaching train. which was within
: few yards of him. when sharp CT.
. reached his ears above the noise OF tn
engine. -,
"Tom! For Heavens sake! TIL
Harlem train!''
Quick as q flash he wheeled round
and there, almost touching him, as
appeared, was . train going down