Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-23

sleeping his wakeful and suspicious dogs
sleep Suddenly the long, shril whistle
sounded. The man started up, wide awake,
and for the first time for hours a doubt as
to her true reading of Gods purpose flashed
through Sarah Mller's brain. The time
was so short. There was so much-so much
to he done. The way was still in darkness.
Would the last few moment light it up1
She clenched her hands couvulsively, dig
ging the nails Of one into the flesh of tho
other. She glanced once more at Hervey's
face which, from his fatigue looked pale and
wan. She rose, and mechanically, like one
in dream, stepped out of the compartment
into the dimly lighted gangway. Hervey
followed her.
without knowing why or wherefore, she
walked the whole length Of the carriage. In
a dazed way she opened the door at the end
and stepped out into the open air. Hervey
followed her and the door closed behind
them, and the man and the woman STOOD
alone on the iron platform which lies be-
tween one carriage and its forerunner.
The train had not yet slackened speed.
Its wild rush still whipped the naturally
calm air into q fierce gale. The woman's
dark hair, which Ind become untwisted,
streame1 behind her in elf locks. A tall
black figure, with a white, n death white
face and Turning eyes, staring fiXedly at the
destination to which the train was hurrying
her, MS fixedly as her mind was turned to
the work which she yet believed she was
doomed to execute
The night was cloudy and moonless. Some
way ahead, little to the right the lights
of the great city lit up the dark sky. 1t was
ON these lights that Sarah Miller's eyes were
fixed, her lips the while muttering inaudible
words.
For a few moments Hervey stood in
silence by her side Then he spoke. cts
no good, Sarah, you can't give me the slip.
I'll follow you everywhere. Be a sensible
woman for once, and don't give me more
bother
She spoke, but not in answer to his words.
THAT glarel that red glarel' she cried, in
a thrilling voice. LOOK at It'll Look at it
we'll Do you know what it means to you
and to me.'
Before he could reply she answered her
own question 1T is the red glare of hell
she cried in still wilder accents. 1.-The glare of
the fire which burns for you and for me.
The shriek Hear the shrek of the damnedW
Once more the whistle sent its piercing
scream of warning far on the night air; and
in another moment the strong brakes would
have fallen on the great wheels. Hervey,
really startled by his companions wild bear
ing, turned to her savagely.
Here, no nonsensel" he said roughly.
These were the last words he spoke. Sud-
denly, and without the slightest warning,
the woman threw herself upon him. Her
arms clasped him with the strength of frenzy.
Her weight threw him off his balance. He
staggered backwards. He made one wild
| grab with his uninjured arm at the iron rail-
missed it, and most likely could not have held
it had he caught it, then slipped down the
! three or four iron steps, and, with the woman's
arms still holding him, the two fell with a
fearful thud on to the six-foot way. His cry,
! if he had time to raise one, was lost in the
rush of the train and the shrek of the
steam whistle All was over in second
the train was speeding on, leaving behind it
a dark mass lying between the up and the
down lines. At the very last moment the
way had been made clear to Sarah Miller.
! Even as she fell with her victim her one
thought was of frenzied Joy that she had
found the means TO do Gods work.
For a minute or two after the last car
riage of the train had swept by, that black
mass lay motionless in the six-foot way.
Then part of it began to show signs of life.
Slowly and painfully the woman detached
herself from her victim. She rose to her
knees, and remained there staring fixedly at
the white face that looked up to her own.
she scarcely knew what had happened or
what she had done.
She was unhurt. The man had struck the
ground first, and so borne the brunt of the
shock HIS head had fallen heavily on the
ballast Of the line, and he lay without sense
OF motion. Was he deadl
This when her disjointed and scattered
thoughts were once more able TO resume the
terrible Kaleidoscope pattern into which
fanaticism had shaken them, was tho one
question asked by the woman. She felt fol
tue moment no remorse, no horror, but the
dread seized her that her hand might ha We
failed; that the work might not yet he done
that she had not fulfilled her destiny. Sh:
bent over the PROSTATE man and placed hel
cheek close to his lips.
He breathedl She felt the faint breatl
on her cheek She laid her hand on hi
heart and 1t its pulsations, slowly distinct
She sprang to her feet with sharp cry o
distress. She had failed! Hervey was aliv,
, and would recover. The work had not beel
, donei
She peered wildly into the darkness. Sh
scarcely knew for what she looked. A larg
stone, piece of iron, anything which woult
show her that the hand which had guide,
, her so far on the fearful road of fate ha'
, not deserted her; but she found nothing
, absolutely nothing which could serve he
need.
But suddenly, away along the down lin
/ she saw a round red light creeping apparentl
nearer and nearer. Her heart leaped at tn
, sight. To the uttermost Interest end tn
, way was clear. The final word had gon
forth, the final revelation was made to her
, She placed her hands under the man
shoulders, and bv an effort Of strength
= desperate and far beyond what might hav
been expected from her frame, dragged hiI
over the few feet of road way which La
y between him and the metals. He groane
. once or twice but remained senseless an
4 motionless as she placed him right in th
a track Of the coming train.
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