The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-03-06

Sulk, ana al tudC SOTt OF tulnS, VnOuRn
know all the time that it is mistake to
sulk when nobody cares about it. l wish
were as sure that my luck would not spoil
all as that l shall succeed. Laugh il you
like, but l believe In presentiments. ] shall
win. / have that In me that will buy the
triumph; but as the prize is in my hand my
luck will cross me again, and shall lose it."
"Nonsense!" said Dayton. "Stuffw
every good. Wait and see," said Tom;
and in the same breath, 'Why, what's Miss
Miller aboutl"
That morning the entire party at Rother-
hithe had embarked for an excursion to
neighboring town. Tom determined to
throw up bis Office of shawlbearer, had
talking, as just quoted, with Dayton. Per-
haps something beside the shawls was at
the bottom OF this move. Bingham walked
with Mollie, who looked as fresh as the
rose in her little hat, and blushed as pref
tily. But then it was not pleasant sight
for Tom, and he went on in rage, leaving
Aunt Slap Derrick and her bundles to
Bingham, also. Mrs. Slap Derrick was not
the woman to bate one jot of her claims
for the prettiest girl in the world. Bingham
was fully occupied with her; and mean
time Mollie found that she had left her bag
in the waiting-room, and sprang out to
fetch it.
How in an instant, from careless ease and
vs.
ing between life and DEATH Mollie did
not find the bag at once and she was de-
termined not to lose it, as it held her watch
and chain. She was gone, she thought, but
a moment, and the train was in motion and
her mother and Mrs. Slap Derrick scream
ing for her as she stepped ON the platform
It was all in an instant. One moment she
was trying for 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, little
further on. A woman had been cut to
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
they did not help her. She seemed to have
dragged there for an eternity, yet it was
about the waist; somebody, painting and
breathing hard, ran desperately with the
train, Stacking its speed now as her peril
was discovered; helping hands were held
out; somebody held her up, stunned and
dizzy; Mollie stood in the door; the little
Slap Derrick, who had seen it all, seized
sMy poor childi my dear childr" cried
Mrs. Slap Derrick. 20, Mrs. Milleri
thank God that she is safel'
Mrs. Miller, calmly tying up q parcel,
looked up in surprise, thus pathetically adj
"safel Good Lordl what has been the
matters"
"Are you hurtsn exclaimed Bingham,
bustling up. II was so frightened, Miss
Mollie."
"Hurt! frightenedp ' Mrs. Miller began to
grow hysterical. Everybody talked to-
- Lar1
Earring to that dreadful, remroseless
rhythm to which she had been dragged.
She was not even curious to know who was
her preserver. She was in q sort of mental
swoon when Mrs. Miller asked who had
saved her.
"a brakeman, was it not" she said,
family, and looking at Bingham. ."You
saw. L should like to find him and give
him something"
I'll am not sure" answered Bingham,
hesitating, for he had seen Tom, perfectly.
HE wore wide hat; very like brake
man as you say"
sharply. "You do not know, Binghami
should think you might; l saw him dis
tinctly, over your shoulder. 1t was Tom
Du Coeur, Miss Mollie, If you like to know"
II did not know. I was SO shocked.
was trying to get to Mollie,. myself
muttered Bingham, greatly abashed under
tudb kOIAIIuaolc iDOk VI LIE doAt WuiCu
Tom called her, ''rhinoceros expression"
''Mr. Du Coeurl' repeated Mollie, blush
ing brightly. She could not tell why, but
she was glad that it was Tom. 20, Mrs.
Slap Derrick where is he! Why does he
not come herea / want to thank him.
Where has he gonew
ssHe has bad habit of modesty," an
ewered Mrs. Slap Derrick, dryly, which
was very true. Besides, Tom did not choose
that Mollie should love him, il she ever
loved him, out of gratitude, and he hid him
self purposely; and when Mollie found him
out and seized him, he attained between
vexation and shyness, to the very sublimity
woman that he loved, when she was thank
ing him for her life, with all her soul in her
eyes, that: tIt was nothing. He would
have done it for any one"
Really, you are too 1atteringw Mollie
could not help but pout at that; but as she
saved her, after all, and held out both her
hands to him.
s'If you do not care, have reason to do
So" she said, earnestly, land / thank you
for it with all my heart. You snatched me
from a dreadful death. Those men stood
do. win always thank you for it. / will
Cnur"
Tom turned very pale.
"You have no reason to thank me-" he
said, holding her hands tight. 'sn the
wheels had gone over you, would have
thrown myself there"
And now who knows what would have
happened next, but just then Tom found
Mrs. Miller at his elbow.
"We shall always be grateful, Mr.. Du
C9ur," commenced that lady, and broke
down. She was hysterical now whenever
Mollie's danger was mentioned.
a al fofv v,vsfs -, bin oh
smoothly. "You are sure It was you, Toni
Aunt Slap Derrick says so; but her sight is
none of the best. I thought that it was a
brakeman"
Indeed, (" interposed Mollie, 'sit was Mr..
Du C1ur. know it now" And then she
blushed scarlet. She had grown suddenly
very shy Of Mr.. Du C9ur." s'And l do
not know how to thank him enough" she
persisted, bravely.
.'Shall I tell you how to thank metz
whispered Tom, suddenly, forgetting his
fine theories about not owing love to graft
tude. Tell me, il you can with truth that
you are willing to owe me such a debt"
II am willing" murmured Mollie verv
softly after moments hesitation.