The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-12-17

~, as IL OelQ OeT WAUGH
n chain. She was gone, she Thought, but
q moment, n the train was in motion and
her mother and Mrs. Slap Derrick scream
ing for her as she stepped on the platform.
IL was All IN an instant. One m she
was trying for a foothold on the steps, the
next she was being dragged by the train,
clinging desperately to the railing of the
car platform, sure of going under the
wheels If she relaxed her hold, and sure
OF going under, in any event, a little
pieces there two weeks before. She had
time to remember that. She saw the white
shocked faces of men looking down at her:
Bingham, who had made his way to the
door, among the rest, and wondered why
dragged there for an eternity, yet it was
but an instant, when somebody clasped her
about the waist; painting and
breathing hard, ran desperately with the
was discovered; helping hands. were held
out; somebody beld her up, stunned and
dizzy; Mollie stood in the door; the little
knot Of men made way for her, and Mrs.
SlaE Derrick, who had seen it all, seized
."My poor child my lear childr, cried
Mrs. Slap Derrick. 30, Mrs. Miller
thank God that she is safeih
Mrs: Miller, calmly tying up q parcel,
looked up in surprise, thus pathetically ad-
jured.
"safel Good Lordl what has been the
matterP'
Are you hurta" exclaimed Bingham,
bustiing up. It" was SO frightened, Miss
aHurtl frightened Mrs. Miller began to
grow hysterical. Everybody talked to.
gether. Mollie leaned back, every nerve
Earring to that dreadful, remroseless
rhythm to which she had been dragged
her preserver. She was in a sort of mental
swoon when Mrs. Miller asked who had
saved her.
"a brakeman, was it moth" she said,
family, and looking at Bingham. "You
saw l should K to find him and give
"I-I am not sure" answered Bingham,
hesitating, for he had seen Tom, perfectly
He wore a wide hat; very Like a brake.
"What is thati" cried Mrs. Slap Derrick,
sharply" you do not know, Binghama ]
should think you might; I saw him dis
tin:tly, over your shoulder. It was Tom
Du css9r, Miss Mollie, if you like to know,
was trying to get to Monie,. myself
muttered Bingham, greatly abashed under
that formidable look of his aunt's, which
Tom called her, "rhinoceros expression
MI Du Cnurp' repeated Mollie, blush.
she was glad that it was Tom. 30, Mrs.
Slap Derrick where is he's Why does be
not come here2 l want to thank him.
Where has he goneW
"He has a bad habit of modesty," an.
ewered Mrs. Slap Derrick, dryly, which
was very true. Besides, Tom didnot choose
that Mollie should love him, if she ever
loved him, out of gratitude, and he hid him
self purposely and when Mollie foundh him
out and seized him, he attained between
vexation and shyness, to the very sublimity
of a-wkwardness, and actually told the
oma that he loved, when she was Thank.
ing him for her life, with all her soul il her
eyes, that: ut was nothing. He would
have done it for any one,"
Greatly, you are too f~atteringI" Mol1ie
could not help but pout at that; but as she
looked at him she said to herself that he had
saved her, after all, and held out both her
/ hands to him.
eff you do not care, I have reason to do
So" she said, earnestly, land I thank you
for it with all my heart. You snatched me
from a dreadful death. Those men stood
staring at me, and you alone knew what to
always be your grateful friend, Mr.. Du
Coeur."
Tom turned very pale.
"You have no reason to thank me-" he
said, holding her hands tight. sIf the
wheels a gone over you, ! would have
And now who knows what would have
happened next, but just then Tom found
Mrs: Miller at his elbow.
W shall always be grateful, Mr.. Du
O6o SOAAh1ChSC0 thot 1doyg LII UIOAe
down. She was hysterical nov whenever
Mollie's danger was mentioned.
"We are all grateful" put in Bingham
smoothly. "You are sure 1t was you,T Tom
Aunt Slap. Derrick says SO; but her sight is
nom of the best. I thought that it was
brakeman
Indeed interposed Mollie, sit was Mr.
Du Cour. I know it now" And then she
blushed scarlet. She bad grown suddenly
not know how to thank him enough shs
persisted, bravely.
aShall I tell you how to thank me7'
whispered Tom, suddenly, forgetting hil
fine theories about not owing love to graft
tude. Tell me, If you can with truth thai
you are willing to W me such a debt"
II am willing,' murmured Mollie very
softly after a moments hesitation.
Tom went to bed that night In a glow Of
Of his-his luck. Though he had not had ar
opportunity for another word, Mollie'i
look spoke more than many words. But
his triumph was short-lived. Mollie hat
taken fright and retreated behind her in
trenchments. Sh wa hardly to be seer
and not to be spoken with alone. She wa.
not angry. When she did lift her eyes tt
his they were kind eyes,, though very shy.
But then she would hardly look at him
Some gulf had suddenly yawned between
friendly with everyone else, she Kept him
on the other side Of it. They-the whole
company-went on a walking tour, and
Mollie would not even give him her hand
when they crossed the brooks, and wa
who knew nothing about women, fell be.
hind, full of wrath and condemnation to
pour his complaints in Dayton's ear.
II believe she hates me for saving hel
LIFE LIE oi ne said 3D.. dsspairingly. Before, she
ut strikes me that is not a bad symptom
said Dayton, smiling, tsthough we shall
hardly be able to discuss the question, fol
| here she comes after u.s."
Here" Tom turned sharply, and Mollie
who was close behind him, looked greatly
4 Disconnected.
"Mamma sent me-, she explained. awe
have found a h~ouse-such a strange place
and there is a man in it alone, and SO ill
Mamma said, Mr.. Du C@ur, that you were
a doctor, and would Know what was the
matter and I came because Mrs. Slap Der
rick was afraid to let Mr.. Bingham leave
herr
aShe is afraid lest I should misconstrue
even this small favor" thought Tom
bitterly. "She wishes me to know that she
came because she could not help herself"
And he walked beside her, looking SC
grim, that Mollie, who had intended tc
bring about a better understanding, lost
heart and walked in silence also. So they
reached the old house, where the rest of the
party were waiting for them-a ruinous ole
building, with a general air of suller
w~retchedness brooding over it. The man
of whom Mollie had spoken lay within in q
sitting den, destitute even of a window
matted, begrimed, raving and horrible tc
look at, as dimly seen in the dark bedroom.
Tom made a brief examination and came
out to the expectant party, carefully shut
ting the door after him.
"Well, what is itr' said everybody to.
gether.
malignant smallpox" answered Tom.
"Good he~avensn
It was Bingham who exclaimed, shrink.
ing back, as he spoke, from Toms near
neighborhood: "Why, we nave been here
long enough to contract the disease. Aunt
Miss Mollie! pray let me persuade you to
come away"
'Thank YOU" returned the younger lady,
without stirring, and still looking at Tom.
Cours"
"Stay here,' said Tom.
SIN this dreadful den!n
Toms face lighted up.
I'm this dreadful den a man is dying for
want of the commonest care; and I know
the people of this country. Neither man
nor woman could he hired tn act &c his