The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-10
HE LOVED THAT WOMAN.


near the elevated railroad as 1t APP
proaches Harlem. At that place it is
almost double the usual height, owing
TO the lowDcss 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 adj
dress them: but, in truth. very few
persons walked over the uneven
gravelly ground in that direction, Tor
the main road was not there. anu the
hour was near one O'Clock OF night
in May, when the bleakest OF east
winds was moaning and whistiing
among chimneys and telegraph wires
While the woman glanced anxl0usly
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 understood and
very slender; but he had an indescrib-
able air about him. as if he were pos
sessed of great agility; even as he
stood there he looked strong and sup
pie.
oh. do gol am in torture while
you stay!' 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 slightly. He bent towards
her and kissed her passionately.
'.One moment more with you is
worth all that can happen to me-" he
said softly, gazing into the face he
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 60"
For answer she impetuously flung
her arms a5out his neck, and muir
INJURED softly. close to his face:
''Ah yes, | love you-1 love you."
While the last words were yet on the
air, her face changed to look of
terror She drew back q 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 stealthily
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 hiiocks 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 a train
was now giitterfng and laundering.
The woman stood motionless where
he had left her, her two hands pressed
tightly over her heart.
1t seemed at first as il the man were
now running into the arms of the
officers. Even the woman who was
breathlessly watching him, and who
knew we'll 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 abb
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 eleyat-
ed road, and, almost with as much
ease as monkey might have climbed,
he assembled the smooth iron post
SHOWING" himself up with amazing
celebrity.
Perhaps it was nothing for a daring
trapeze performer to do. yetitsdrprised
greatly the people who saw it done.
With terror controlling her. the wo-
man ran underneath the place where he
was just climbingon TO the road.
1.-The trains, Tom-the trainst 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
aud his climbing.
He stood rs he had done many 3
time in the circus after some feat of
prodigions skill and strength.
But now there was no appIauding
crowd; now there was only before him
the struggle to escape-to preserYe his
life.
Which way was the train coming?
He was on the right-hand side goingnp
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 .
curve in the road. and coming from
New York. He must 90 TO the other
side OF the track.
He glanced down between the planks /
as he hurriedly stepped across.
Why should his head suddenly swim /
and his heart give q leap In his bosom
as he saw one of thepolicemen beneath |
him extending pistol towards hiIng
Why2 For in the wild life he had led, /
be had been In many perilous situa-
tons. where pulse aud nerve had been /
STEADY.
Without pausing. be ret saw the
figure Of the woman who had Just been
ii his arms rush forward and ling /
itself on the policemans arm, and the |
pistol discharged harmlessly into the
Then he was on the other track; hnt
& had all happened in less than >
minute.
BE had scarcely stepped on the
track, and turning to LOOK at the ap-
preaching train. which was within
feu yards Of him, when q sharp CRY
reached his ears above the noise Of the
engine.
ssToml For Heavens sake. The
Harlem traini
Quick as 4 dash. be wheeled round.
and there. almost toatt ing him. IS Is
appeared Waz = train going down.
4E1e two engineers Here about % meet
80 time for thought no time for
zaFlh.ne. He llung himself over the
separating plank between tie tive
Ifscks aad stunned and confused Tor
zIr66sE the first time il his life he
.ifonnsd prone upon lbs face ana elnn
,sl slelg with bis hands nnli BIS
''1osf.ntils seemed 10 burst. and drops
8 Blood oozed from the sides 81 them.
Is 4as ii fai1 iIa might hare told
|e=5s'l Thai d Ee5Iiif the ears could
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6rIIs cred ors< with dencniae knsh
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