Wichita eagle., 1888-06-19

an eccentric, impetuous girl Kate Mitchell
always was, and what life she must lead
Tom Middletoni
''This is quite an unexpected pleasure, Mrs
Middleton" he said, smiling.
She waved him back with single impe-
rious gesture. There was brief silence.
The operator listened intently, with his head
resting on hfs hand Kate Middleton re-
manned standing in the doorway, her hands
clasped low, her face blanched with dread,
and all her soul absorbed in listening. Jack
Spencer, slowly compromising the mean
ing of the scene, waited, his interest growing
with every moments delay.
at last it came, the monotonous click,
click, conveying its portentous message in q
language unknown to two Of the three
listeners The operator arose from his chair.
'Just in time The train was pulling out
Of the station, but they stopped her."
Kate Middleton clutched at the doorway.
For tho first time In her life her head gave
way. She was again on the swaying syca-
more. and the limb was cracking, breaking,
going down She felt the water on her face,
and opened her eyes, to find herself seated in
q chair, Jack Spencer supporting her head,
and the station agent pouring ice cold water
over her.
"She'll be ell right In q minute" said Jack,
cheerfully. snow, Mrs Middleton, with
your permission, I'll see you home"
She borrowed hat and cloak from the
station agents wife Jim brought up the
horses Jack Spencer handed her into the
wagon, with grave courtesy, and they drove
of Some of the loungers, dimly understand
ing what she had done, looked on curiously.
That was all. No fuss, no formal tributes,
no speech making even from the two who
understood. There was no deputation Of
strong men to tender her public tribute, in
voices shaken by sobs Contrary to all ira
dition, and unlike any hero and heroine who
ever saved a train from wreck, she was on
the wrong side Of the bridge, and the people
most deeply concerned were nine miles away.
She had little to say on her ride homeward
although Jack Spencer was attentive and
laxative, and tried as hard as a man could
to show his appreciation Of her brave deed
Perhaps she was embarrassed in the conscious
ness of her odd attire, and the curious looks
cast upon her as she rode through the village
Perhaps she was secretly ashamed Of her mad
race, and of the exceptional, urwomanly
physical prowess that had made it possible,
Notwithstanding the fact that it had saved
many lives. She did not even invite Jack to
come in when she reached her own door, but
descended from the wagon with great dignity
and only relaxed little when Jack said, very
earnestly:
81 shall never underrate the value of phys
ical training for woman again, Mrs. Middle
ton. Some day shall beg to put my little
daughter under your tutelage."
Which was a great concession for Jack.
whose little daughter was the apple Of his
eye, and whom he had hitherto only looked
forward to making an accomplished woman
Of elegant manners.
Neither honor nor praise awaited Kate in
her own home Bridget scolded her and put
her to bed, and declared that she "wud surely
catch her death a-cold, an she deserved it
well" and tried to save her from the conss-
quences Of her misdeeds at the same time.
Of the children, Harry stubbornly resented
her base desertion of them on the bank Of
tho raging stream, and Marian, with her
mothers spirit of adventure strong upon her,
terrified the household by avowing her inten-
ton of going sacross the water on a tree tho
first time she could escape parental authority.
The mother had her reward, nevertheless.
Late that night, when the children were
asleep and Bridget had relaxed guard, Kate
escaped from bed, and DOMINIC a wrapper
and shawl, laid herself down upon the lounge
before the open fire to enjoy scanning the
daily paper. The rain fell steadily without,
SO steadily that the sound of horses hoofs
coming up the sodden driveway was scarcely
distinguishable from the patter of the rain
droro Eofo cta M cha hoard ctay>
outside the door; another moment, and Tom
newly mnterialized ghost
"TomF' she cried, sharply, and then seemed
to cover before him; yet not before him, but
the horror Of tho afternoon, which again de-
scended upon her and took possession Of her.
Tom, her husband, might have been one of
that grisly throng Of mangled, crushed, dead,
dying phantoms of the might have been, ever
torturing her mental vision. She pressed her
hands over her eyes, as If they might bar out
the sight.
"Oh. you ought not; you should never do
such thing" she said.
After all, she had nerves, and they had
been sorely tried that day.
"What do you meanp gravely demanded
Tom. This was indeed sorry greeting, after
ell be had been through.
"You shouldn't come home in this unex-
pected way You should let people know when
you are coming"
Kate" said Tom solemnly, seating him.
self on the sofa and drawing her down beside
him, '"you will speak differently when you
know how near I came to not coming home
at all: I have travelled twelve miles on horse
back over rough mountain road to get here
tonight. We were just starting out Of Pre-
scita when we were notified that tho bridge
three miles below there-six miles above
here, Kate-had been carried away"
"How did you find outr Kate was herself
but her lip trembled
"As to that" replied Tom, reports are
somewhat vague. But all accounts agree il
was q woman. And she did wonderful things
the bridge tenders wife, believe. Floated
down stream on q timber, somebody said.
Started, all dripping, for the station, and got
there in an unconscionable short time, Not
a minute to spare If it hadn't been for her!
oh, it was a wonderful feat everybody
says"
.But how-very-unladylik said Kate,
in shocked voice, stopping to pick up some
thing from the floor.
"Unladyhkei" cried Tom, e1cisedly. 81
tell you, Kate, that was something worth
while Very different from your lawn tennis
..rsc.ics. when..a woman puts her strength
TO such use-and such Q strain as 1. mus:
have been, by Jovei Why, Kate. doubt ii
you could so much - walk to town and back.
But when a woman saves two or three hum
dred lives at one stroke Ny goodness
Katel What have you been doing to your
footf'
For Mrs Middleton bad unconsciousiy
pushed the wounded foot into sight, and its
load OF bandages, pied up by Bridgets
clumsy fingers and finished with a red fan