Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-08-03

rain drops. hate SLaTLSu up is sue
heard a step outside the door; another
moment and Tom was before her,
looking very solemn, like a newly
materialized ghost.
TOM" she cried, sharply, and
then she seemed to cover before him;
yet not before him, but the horror of
the afternoon, which again descended
upon her ard took possession of her.
Tom, her husband, might have been
one of that grizzly th ong OF maog ed,
crushed. dead and dying phantoms of
the migh;-have-bee1, 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 never
should do such a thing" she said.
After oil, she had nerves, and they
had been sorely tried that day.
What do you meant" gravely de-
manded Tom This was indeed
sorry greeting after all he had been
through
"You shouldn't have come home
in this unexpected way; you should
let people know when you are COM
ing"
Kate" said Tom, solemnly, seat
ing himself on the sofa and drawing
her down beside him, "you will speak
differently when you know how near
came to not coming home at ali; [
have travelled twelve miles on horse
back over rough mountain road to
get here to night. We were ust
starting out OF Preacita when we
were notified that the bridge three
miles below there six miles above
here, Kate--had been carried away"
How did yoa find out?" Kate
was herself again. There was lit
tie twinkle sn her eyes, but her lip
trembled.
"As to that" replied Tom. ere
ports are somewhat vague. But all
accounts agree it was woman. And
she did wonderful things. The
bridge tenders wife, believe Float
ed down stream on timber, some
body said. Started, all dripping for
the station. aud got there in an un-
conscionab!y short time. Not min
ut6sto spare Ii it hadn't been for
her-oh, it was wonderful feat,
every body says"
But how very - unladylike!'
said Kake, iu a choked voice, stoop-
ing to pick up something from the
floor
"Unlady ylike!" cried Tom, excitedly.
81 tell you, Kate, that was some'
thing worth while. Very different
from your lawn tennis practice
When woman puts her strength to
such a use-and such a strain as it
must have been by Jove! Why, Kate
| doubt if you could do so much as
walk to Town and back. But when q
woman saves two or three hundred
lives at one stroke: Ny goodness.
Kate, what have you been doing to
your toot?"
For Mrs. Middleton had unconsci-
cusly pushed the wounded foot into
sight, and its load of bandages, piled
up by Bridget's clumsy fingers, and
flushed with red danDel swathing,
was indeed calculated to strike terror
to the beholder.
IL took little walk to-day"
replied Kate, guiltily, trying to hide
the food again beneath the hem of
dress, "but don't let Us talk about
that, Tom. Pm sorry | seemed
queer and cold when you came in.
| WASN'T feeling well, and you-you
looked so. 1t almost made me shiv-
er."
Like many people who are daunt-
less in the presence of real danger,
X ate had all her life been shy OF
praise. If she could have kept the
knowledge of her escapade, as she
mentally termed it, from her husband
she would gladly have done it. But,
stupid as he was in some ways, OBJ
tuse as he was, he was not to be put
off in this way. He was alrerdy on
his knees beside her. cutting threads,
removing pins and undoing cloths. in
spite of her protests, until he disclos-
ed little foot, purple with bruises
and with an ugly gaping cut in one
side.
"No wonder you are not yourself
tonight. A little walkr | should
so. Kate, what have you been up to
now?"
81 had on my slippers" confessed
| the culprit. "and-there wasn't time
to change them. Let it alone, Tom.
| It'll be all right to- o-morrow"
"a little walkn persisted Tom,
Great C9 sar, Kate, you are not to
be trusted alone any more that two.
year old babe; I'll never dare to go OF
and leave you again."
"lf hadn't taken my little walk,
you-you-you mightn't haYe had
the chance!" cried poor Kate, corner
ed at last.
"My soul !" cried Tom, light
dawning upon him at last. "lt was
you"
| think he kissed the little lame.
bruised feet. am afraid he did a
great many foolish things and hum
bled himself most lamentably to show
his love for his brave young wife, his
pride in her, and his contrision.
There was purse made up by the
passengers on the overland train that
lateful day, to reward the plucky
woman who had saved them from
such frightful disaster, but they
were never able to fad her out. Ehe
station master and Jack Spencer kept
their secret we'll The only subscrip
ton that ever reached its destination
was Tom Middleton's. His wife
wife sometimes wears a very ugly
bracelet set with a couple of very
large aDd pondercus gold coins -
When people question her about 1t
she replies that it is medal Tom
once awarded her for race she won.
1t is generally understood that she
refers to some rowing match or
horseback ride. there are boats on
the pond now, saddle horses in Tom:
stable, and a tennis-court on the
lawn.-But even as she answers
Kate sees again the railroad train,
with its precious living freight
laundering on to destruction, and
woman, bare headed, wild eyed, with
| 1roo.oloj Jrooc ond hlaadinp feet rae