The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-28

and il NAV have i~en that in Bob's mind
, the idea Of his duty in life was good
deal more what he owed the colonel thar
what was due any higher power.
After a while curled up on his COM
Portable box in the baggage car. the Lao
slept. The night deepened and darkened
the lights i'm the little towns. as the can
non bali flashed through them, became
fewer and fewer, the lamps in the coache;
burned lower. and still the train fled ON
ward through the night.
All Of a sudden, coming swift and
sharp as death, was the shock Of greal
crash. the sound Of shivering timbers
the shrek of the engine like live thing
in mortal agony, the hiss Of steam, and
above all the confused sound Of human
voices. cries for help and groans of the
unfortunate caught in the wreck.
"A special had run into the sleepers!
Il took only an instant for the uninJnred
to gather around that awful mass that
a moment before had represented Tho
human embodiment Of power, health,
wealth, happiness, and that now was
only death-death in lis most horrible
form.
Bob, white rs q ghost, felt his way in
the darkness TO the little crowd gathered
about the wreck. He thought Of moth.
ing but that the colonel was somewhere
i'm that awful mass. Already they were
bringing the dead and the injured by
him, and LAYING them on the sweet, dew
wet grass. He looked eagerly in every
face, but torn and disfiglred, they were
strangers. The colonel must still be I'M
prisoned in the car.
Presently spark, then ribbon OF
light and then sheet Of flame burst
from thocnd of the car.
my Godl' cried man, "thc wrecks
on fire. and there's still another man in
there. He must he stunned"
Bob clutched the mans arm. ITS tho
colonel" he cried, II must save him"
You cannot" was tie answer, 1t is
madness TO try
Break in the windows" cried an
other, IF he's willing to risk it"-with
n curious glance at Bob's shabby figure.
Hurry, hurry, for Gods sake. The
fire is spreading every instant
In a minute they had broken the win
dow and Bob let himself down into the
overturned car. Already the flames
were curling along the beautiful wood
work, and by their light he could see the
colonel's still, white face. He seized
him. and with the strength Of despera-
ton lifted him TO where eager hands
could draw tho unconscious man out
into the safe, fresh air. The smoke and
heat were getting sitting. Bob felt his
burden lifted out of his arms and then
he clutched at the window 10 save him
self. How close the air was, how dark
it was getting. and how far the voices
seemed. it was almost as quiet as the
piny woods at home.
Afterwards - long afterwards - they
told him that he reeled and would have
fallen Just as the side Of the car fell in
crushing his arm, but that some one
caught and pulled him out And some
one--it was the colonel who never left
him during all that cruel time, even
when the surgeon cut away the mangled
arm-some one told him that the papers
were full of his heyoism Bat Bob only
smiled. He knew he had only paid back
his fathers debt TO the colonel. After a
bit he asked, Does Mamsey know and
he begged the colonel to go and tell her.
10 was night in the little cabin in the
piny woods. The old woman took down
the old Bible and spelled out syllable 10y
syllable the beautiful story Of the widow
OF Main. HE was the only son Of his
mother, and she was a widow" The
younger woman leaned over and laid Ler
hand abruptly on the readers wrist.
do you reckon" She asked, That boy
was like Bob? He was dead and he give
him back TO her, il says. l-I'-her
voice trembled IL love him for that -
she paused as the door opened, and the
colonel stood before her. Something IN
his face told her of disaster Bob! she
cried, springing 10 her feet. lie took
trembling hands in his and with the
tears streaming down his face told her
ell. She listened like one da2ed. But
the older woman came and stood before
him, with the open book still IN her
hand.
1T was what you did for bis lather,"
she cried, and then, misQuoting Tho
perhaps because Sic read hy
faith and not by knowledge, she said half
under her breath. IAN eve lor an eye. Il
limb for a limb and q life for a HE
When Bob was well enough to leave
tho hospital he refused al Oilers Of a.
sistanc6. 49,,
"I'm much obliged toyou. colcrel, he
said, when his old friend would have
aided him, "but I'm going "a make man
of myself in spite of this touching the
empty sleeve. "And Promised myecii
| was going to fix Mamsoy up Ike q
palace car and I'm going to do IT, -
SO looking very white and Thin. and
with the old uniform looking Little
than ever, Inc went back 10 the
old life and the old work.
Where is he now2 God knows. Who
keeps track OF the bubbles tha. rise and
break on the great current Of l.ie.-Eilza-
beth NJ. Gilmer in New Orleans Plea
yune.
An Injustice to Journalists.