Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-06-07

mistress does something derogatory TO
the dignity % his ~family."
The stafiou-maxtsr was in his Office,
talking with a gentleman who had come
down from the mountains, and was wait
ing n take the trair ~ the city. He was
clad in a very uobby h~unting-suit, and wa
talking with some excitement
at has rained all the week" he was
saving; .syou think IL rains here in the
valley, but. great guns! you should be up
In the mountains In n raiu-storm. Sheets
ind sheets OF it-blizzards % sleet and
hail. aud the wind blowing like a hurri-
cane. We broke camp yesterday. took
u o~ee-liue down here. Tn rest crossed
the hills 20 the station above. They'll be
down on the four-o'clock."
Voice and speaker were familiar 10 the
woman who stood in the doorway. both
hands pressed 10 her painting breast. The
words came only too distinctly To her
quickened senses. Then her premonitions
were true. and Tom-Tom was On that
fated train. Again her body reeled, but
her steady brain saved her.
"Stop the train, The bridge is gone!"
she cried.
Both men looked Gp. startled at the
words. with the prompt movement Of a
man trained 10 obey orders, the agent
leaped to his instrument: the other man,
slower "a comprehend, came forward, the
look Of amazemrnt ON his face, as he
viewed the singular apparition in the
doorway, giving place t. amused indul-
geuce, as be recognized the speaker.
What an eccentric, impetuous girl Kate
Mitchell always WAS, and what a life she
must lead Tom Middleton!
This l. quite an unexpected pleasure,
Mrs. Middleton" he said. smiling.
She waved him back with a single i'm
perious gesture. There was "A brief
silence. The operator listened intently.
with his head resting on his and. Kate
Middleton remained standing in the door
way, her hands clasprd low. her face
1lanched with dread, and all her soul alb
sorbed in listening. Jack Spencer, slow
by comprehending the meaning Of the
scene. waited. his interest growing with
. every moments delay.
Al last it came. the monotonous click,
click, conveying its portentous message
In n 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 door
way. For the first time in her life her
head gave way. She was again on the
Ewaying sycamore, and the limb was
cracking, breaking. going down. She felt
the water on her face aud opened her
eyes, to md herself seated in "A chair,
Jack Spencer supporting her head, and
the station agent pouring ice-cold water
over her.
Shell be- all right in a minute" said
Jack, cheerfully. Now, Mrs. Middleton,
With your permission, I'll see you home
She borrowed u hat aud cloak from the
| station agents wife. Jim brought up the
horses. Jack Spencer handed her into tbs
; wagon with grave courtesy. and they
! drove of. Some Of the ~loungers, dimly
understanding what she had done, looked
on curiously. That was all. No fuss, NJ
| formal tributes, no speech-making even
from the two who understood. There wa,
1 no deputation OF strong men to tender hei
public tribute. in voices shaken by sobs
Contrary To all tradition, and unlike any
hero or 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 the ride home
D ward, although Jack Spencer was atten-
tive and talkative. and tried, as hard ~ a
man could, To show his appreciation Of her
4 brave deed. Perhaps she was en- barassed
in the cousciousness Of her odd attire,
and the curious looks cast upon her ~ she
rode through the village. Perhaps she
n was secretely ashamed of her maj race.
y and of the exceptional, uuwomanly phys
ical prowess hat had made it possible.
Notwithstanding the fact that il had saved
many lives. She did not even invite Jack
tt nm in vvhaR aba r.Y.h.1 10 -..
4 door, but descended from the wagon with
4 great dignity, and only relaxed "a little
= when Jack said, very earnestly:
= Il shall never underrate the value Of
Il physical training for woman again. Mrs.
= Middleton. Some day shall beg to put
my little daughter under your tutelagp.''
% Which was a great concession for Jack.
!! whose little daughter was the apple Of his
. eye, and whom he had hitherto only
h looked forward to making an accom-
pllshed woman. of elegant manners.
e Neither honor nor praise awaited Kate
in her own home. Bridget scolded her,
and put her to bed, and declared that shs
'wud surely catch her death a-cold. an
n she deserved it WELL" and tried To save
: her from the consequences OF her mis-
q deeds ut the same time, OF the children
Harry stubbornly resented her base de.
. sertion of them on the bank of the ragin.
n stream, and Marian. with her Mother
Il spirit of adventure strong upon her, ter
5 ritied the household by avOwing her in
%tention Of going across the water ON
tree the first time she could escap,
parental authority.
Al Tn mother had her reward, neverthe
|. less. Late that night, when the children
were asleep and Bridget had ~relaxe,
guard, Kate escaped from bed. and don
u ming a wrapper and shawl, laid hersel
down upon the lounge before the opei
h tire, to enjoy scanning the daily paper
The rain fell steadily without, so steadill
II that the sound of a horses hoofs comm.
Il mp the sodden driveway were searceI'
e distinguishable from the patter of tn
|, rain-drops. Kate started up rs r. a.soi'
It a step outside the door. another moment
d and Tom was before her, looking yer,
solemn, like a newly -m~aterialized ghost
d "rom:" she. cried, sharply. and thel
y she seemed to COVER before him; vet no
5 before him, but the horror Of the after
noon, which again descended upon her
and took possession Of her. Tom, he
Y husband, might have been one of tina
i Srisly throng Of mangled, crushed. dead
and dying phantoms of the might-have.
e been, ever torturing her mental vision
She pressed her hands over her eyes, as il
y they might bar ont the sight.
"oh. you ought not; you should never
do such a thing" she said.
e After all. she had nerves, and they haf
o been sorely tried that day.
n What do you mealy'' gravely de.
manded Tom. This was indeed a sorr,
greeting. after all he had been through.
v You shouldn't come home in this I'm,
5 expected way; YOU should Let neonle knnu