Iron County register., 1888-05-31

Self-reSpec6rg servant, when master OF
mistress does something derogatory to
the dignity of his 'family."
The statien-master was in his office,
talking with a gentleman who had come
down from the mountains, and was wait
ing to take the train to the city. He was
clad in a very nobby hunting suit, and was
talking with some excitement.
sit has rained all the week" he was
saying; ''you think it rains here in the
valley, but, great guns! you should be up
in the mountains in rain storm. Sheets
and sheets of it-blizzards of sleet and
hail, and the wind blowing like hurri-
cane. We broke camp yesterday. took
a bee-line down here. The rest crossed
the hills to the station above. They'll be
down on the four O'Clock"
Voice and speaker were familiar to the
woman who stood in the doorway, both
hands pressed to 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 70
she cried.
Both men looked up, startled at the
words. With the prompt movement of a
man trained to obey orders, the agent
leaped to his instrument; the other man,
slower to comprehend, came forward, the
look of amazement on his face, as he
viewed the singular apparition in the
doorway, giving place to amused indul-
gence, as he recognized the speaker.
What an eccentric, impetuous girl Kate
Mitchell always was, and what a life she
must lead Tom Middleton!
''This is quite an unexpected pleasure,
Mrs. Middleton" he said, smiling.
She waved him back with single i'm
perious gesture. There was a brief
silence. The operator listened intently,
with his head resting on his hand. Kate
Middleton remained standing in the door
way, her hands clasped low, her face
blanched with dread, and all her soul alb
sorbed in listening. Jack Spencer, slow
ly comprehending the meaning of the
scene, waited, his interest growing with
every moments delay.
A t last it came, the monotonous click,
click, conveying its portentous message
in a 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
swaying sycamore, and the limb was
cracking, breaking. going down. She felt
the water on her face and opened her
eyes, to find herself seated in chair,
Jack Spencer supporting her head, and
the station agent pouring ice cold water
over her.
''She'll be all right in minute" said
Jack, cheerfully. ''Now, 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 off. Some of the 1oungers, dimly
understanding what she had done, looked
on curious1y. That was all. No fuss, no
formal tributes, no speech-m 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 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
ward, although Jack Spencer was atten-
tive and talkative, and tried, as hard as a
man could, to show his appreciation of her
brave deed. Perhaps she was EN- barassed
in the consciousness of her odd attire,
and the curious looks cast upon her as she
rode through the village. Perhaps she
was secretely ashamed of her mad race,
and of the exceptional, unwomanly phys
ical 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
Init IaScpn6a6 tha yuif n
great dignity, and only relaxed little
when Jack said, very earnestly:
81 shall never underrate the value OF
physical training for woman again, Mrs.
Middleton. Some day l shall beg to put
my little daughter under your tutelage.' u
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 accom-
plished 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 desarved it WE'LL" and tried to save
her from the consequences of her mis-
deeds at the same time. Of the children
Harry stubbOrnly resented her base de.
sertion of them on the bank of the raging
stream, and Marian, with her mothers
spirit of adventure strong upon her, ter.
rified the household by avowing her in
tention of going across the water on q
tree the first time she could escape
parental authority.
The mother had her reward, neverthe.
less. Late that night, when the children
were asleep and Bridget had relaxed
guard, Kate escaped from bed, and don.
, ming a wrapper and shawl, laid herself
down upon the lounge before the Ope1
| 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 were scarcely
distinguishab1e from the patter of the
rain-drops. Kate started up as she heart
| 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 ther
she seemed to cover before him; yet no
before him, but the horror of the after.
| noon, which again descended upon her
and took possession of her. Tom, hel
husband, might have been one of thai
| grisly throng of mangled, crushed, dead
| and dying phantoms of the might-have.
been, ever torturing her mental vision
She pressed her hands over her eyes, as il
| 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 mean?" gravely de-
manded Tom. This was indeed a sorry
greeting, after all he had been through.
"You shouldn't come home in this un.
expected way; you should let people know
| when you are coming"
''Kate," said Tom, solemnly, seating
| himself on the sofa and drawing her dowI
| beside him, 'you will speak differently