Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-08-07

man who had watched her persistently in
the waiting-roOm, and now, as then, his
eyes were fixed steadfastly upon her.
The sight of this person made her for
get for a time that Eugene might surmise
she would hasten at once to her mother;
and it was not until after the train had
started, that she wondered if he were
aboard, and, curiOusly enough, if. in case
this wretch continued to persecute her
with his attentions and should offer her
further insult, he would defend her.
On and on few the train. Faster and
faster it sped away in the darkness.
Station after station was passed so
quickly that they seemed almost close
together rather than miles apart. At
length Port Chester was passed. The next
station would be Greenwich, and then
Cos Cob.
Mildred was thinking what she would
do in case the ObtTusiye stranger should
leave the train at the same time with her
self, when all at once a shrilI whistle
broke on her ear, then came an appalling
cry from far ahead, and the next moment
the car she was in seemed to shrink up into
nOthingness.
ForOne moment she retained her facul-
ties, and in that moment she saw timber
fall and crush in the head of the beauti-
full girl in front of her, she saw the mother
sink PROSTATE by her dead daughters side,
she saw a horrible look Of abject terror
then she saw no more.
When she once more woke to con-
seriousness she was lying on the ground,
surrounded on every hand by the dead and
dying.
On the track above was q waiting train.
evidently but just arrived.
At the foot Of the embankment, down
which they had plunged, was the wreck of
the doomed cars, now burning ferceiy.
Mildred raised herself on her left elbow
and looked about her.
By the light of the burning cars she
could readily distinguish objects, and at
no great distance she saw a form which
she at once knew to be that of the mother
Of the young girl who had sat in front of
her
A little further away, horribly burned,
was what she felt rather than knew to be
all that was left of the girl herself.
Something moist trIckling down her
face and a terrible pain in her head, made
her essay to raise her right hand.
The attempt was a failure, and then
she knew that her right arm was broken.
At that moment she saw coming toward
her, with conciliatOry look and fawning
manners, the detested stranger. He
had something in his hand. 1t looked
like her own hat, and, inv oluntarily, she
attempted to put out her hand to take it.
The effort caused spasm of pain; a
faintness seized her, her head Whirled,
ana she I6ll DaCk unCOnS ClOuBs
GOOd!" exclaimed the stranger, in
tone of satisfaction, and FASTENED to
where the dead girl lay, after crushing
the hat he carried a little more-it was
pretty we'll crushed already.
In a few minutes he returned, accom-
panied by a strong Iimbed man, evidently
a farmer.
This is my poor darling, he said,
pointing to Mildred Take her up gently,
I fear she is badly injured. Garry her to
your house, and have the carriage ready
as speedily as possible. viii Join you
presently. 1 wish to do what 1 can for
one or two of these poor sufferers. All!
how thankful ought to be that Gods
great mercy spared me while so many were
hurried into eternity"
The young farmer muttered something
not OVercOmplimentarY to the manage
ment Of the railway, and raising Mildred
as tenderly in his arms as a woman
might, bore her away.
The fearful scene was alive with men,
and even women, fastening from one
group to another, and doing all in their
power to alleviate the sufferings Of the
wounded. Being thus occupied, these
good Samaritans had little time for any
thing else, and so the scheming stranger
passed unnOtic6d.
Now, then,'' he muttered, as his late
companion disappeared with his uncon-
scious burden, what I have to do must
be done quickly" and once approaching
the body of the young girl, he bent over
it and scrutinized it closely.
mo, she could never be recognized in
the world, " he muttered half aloud. Her
hair, what little there is left, is the same
color as the others. Her dress ard outer
garments are all burned. Her hat I have
disposed Of, and this one shall take its
place. Now, then, if, as 1 suspect, Mr..
Eugene Cleveland was on that train that
81 for hi M
raising himself, he was about to walk
away, when he saw group of three or
four men, one Of them carrying lantern,
coming toward him.
Luck favors mel" he exclaimed in high
glee. "Here comes the young husband,
sure enough, and the conductor is with
him.
aIf she was aboard the train after our
last stop, she must be off here some
where, the conductor was saying. We
have looked everywhere else"
All, here are few, he suddenly added
AThis poor woman, remember her dis
tinctly, She was seated near the young
lady you described, she and"
Great God! can this be she-can this
be MIldred?" suddenly broke in Eugene, /
as he stood before the remains of the IN
fortunate young girl, who, in life, had so
closely resembled his bride.
Il think mott hope not" hastily ex-
claimed his friend, at the same time en-
dea7Oring to turn him away.
But an object lying close by had caught
Eugene's attention.
That's her hat, he cried out. @Iknow
it. Yes, this poor, disfgured body must
be all that is left of my once beautiful
Mildred. God help me; how can ever
bear it?"
"Ahl" suddenly exclaimed the con-
dUctOr, turning upon the stranger; you }
were IN the same car, and near these peo- (
pie. Do you know who this Was?"
Don't know her name, responded the /
man, glibly. She was a young lady /
travelling by herself. Sat In the seat /
directly opposite the one I occupied. /
noticed her in the waiting-rOom of the /
Grand Central Depot She seemed to be /
in trouble; wanted to take ticket to !
Riverside, had to take one to Cos Cob. " /
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