West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-12-14

This young man made a deep i'm
preston on Dora Alton and it was
with pain she noticed his marked
attentions to her friend, Realising
her position in the house, however,
she made no attempt to show him
how much she cared for him.
One stormy day the two girls were
looking out on the stream, swollen
with the rain, when binding fash
of tightening illumined the land
scape.
"Dora," exclaimed Eleanore, "the
great elm has been struck. See, it
has fallen across the railroad track.
The Z o'clock train is due in an hour
unless that can be removed it will
be wrecked"
Can nothing be done?" the other
asked in trembling tones.
"The nearest telegraph station is
across the river"
Il shall try to cross it," Dora said
in determined voice. l may be the
means OF saving a hundred lives.
Do not try to dissuade me, Eleanore,
] must go"
And though Eleanore redoubled
terrified remonstrances, Dora went
about her preparations firmly, with
q look of determination upon her
young face that never faltered.
At last she was ready, and Elean-
ore strained her small, water proof
clad figure close to her heart.
Out into the storm and the dark
ness Dora hurries; the wind beats
against her, now pushing her back,
now urging her forward, until at
length she stands upon the brink of
the little river that lipples so in
nocently and cheefily along under
sunny sky, but whose wives now arc
leaping and tossing their foam-crests
like mad things. The stepping
stones, which but yesterday were so
easily crossed, are before her, and
Dora begins her perilous journey.
"Come back? Dora, Dora, come
backr' called Eleanore's voice from
the terrace above, but she does not
heed.
Steadily she goes onward, but oh,
so slowly; oftentimes slipping and
on the very verge of falling into the
treacherous water, whose inky black
ness only seems the denser, when for
few seconds the glare Of the light
ming shows her what progress she is
making. q
She has gained the centre OF the
stream; her slight form is trembling
with combined effect Of the cold
which strikes through her dripping
garments and the bodily exertions
She has been compelled to make TO
keep her footing upon the slippery
rocks. viii she able to reach the
other side?
Bravely she struggles on, and at
length the goal is reached and her
feet touch the other shore.
4 little while later the telegraph
operator, leaning idly back in his
chair in his warm office, is startled
by the entrance of a small dripping
figure, looking, with its dishevelled
hair and paid face, like visitant
from some ghostly sphere.
"a tree has fallen across the track
opposite Miss Gray's cottage and
telegraph for the o'clock express
to stop?'
Then, her mission accomplished,
the brave heart stops beating, and
Dora sinks unconscious to the floor.
Four weeks have gone by-weeks
Of the most intense anxiety, for all
that time Dora had lain between life
and death. But at last the shadow
has lifted and out once more into
healths sunshine she has emerged
to the heartfelt joy of the friends
who have prayed for her recovery
necessarily, even when they feared
their prayers would be Of no avail.
1t is bright, pleasant day; tho
somewhat chilly, and in Eleanore's
cosey sitting room, in an easy-chair,
near the bright wood-fre, Dora is
seated. She looks very lovely, for
the fire glow has lent delicate color
to her pale cheeks, and made into an
aureole of gold the short waves of
hair that cluster about her fair fore
head.
The door gently opens and voice
says:
"May 1 come in?"
1t is Mr.. Eldridge, and it is the
first time since her illness that Dora
has met him. The delicate color
deepens as she resigns her hand to
his clasp and answers his words OF
greeting. They chat fer while and
then to Dora's great surprise, she
learns what she has not known be-
fore, that among those who to her
brave deed owed their safety from
loo+b uos bar friends Guardian.