Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-11-01

1,uUU, UVU sparks GuaI III tHe sceHo Will
a brilliant glare
In moment l had passed along the
running board and was now on the ''cow-
catcher" one foot firmly planted on the
farthest bar, my left hand grasping one
of the strong iron ribs, and my body for
ward with an arm extended toward the
inanimate form we were so rapidly ap-
preaching.
The wheels crushed the lantern into
thousand atoms, and were within foot
of the white, upturned face. l lowered
my hand nearly to the ground and braced
myself for the shock.
What if | should miss my holdl | set
my teeth and threw my whole energy il
| the movement.
A sudden clutch--a terrible strain on
the muscles-and the PROSTATE form was
beside me on the pilot Then everything
seemed to whirl around for an instant,
and all was oblivion.
When came to myself found myself
ON lounge in small, neat room, and
an old man and a young woman bending
over me, whom at once recognized as
my two passengers of six months previ
Gus.
In attempting to move | found was
seriously injured, and the old man d.
rected me- to keep perfectly quiet, telling
me my arm was broken, and was other
wise badly injured, but had, neverthe-
| less, saved the life of his daughter, for
which he rendered me the most ardent
! thanks.
His daughter testified her gratitude in
a glance far more eloquent than words.
Ere had recovered from my illness the
old man had related to me the story of
his eventful lite.
Some years before ne had been wealthy
merchant in neighboring city, where
Mr.. R., the present Superintendent of
the railroad, was also engaged in bust
| ness.
In the financial crash of 1S-Mr. R.
became embarrassed and was on the
verge OF ruin. Mr.. Collins-that being
che old mans name-assisted him out of
his financial difficulty.
In time he removed to c., became
HCdf stOChnblNGl III bilG IOdbY luA hlidhH
became Superintendent of the road
Meanwhile, by one of those inexpli-
cable reyulsions in the tide of fortune,
Mr. Collins had experienced the most Sc
we're reverses, and his fortune had literal
ly taken to itself wings and had flown
away; and added to the loss of fortune
was the still greater one of the death of a
dearly beloved wife.
In his extremity he came to c. and
called upon his former friend. Mr.. r.
received him cordially, and made him
many offers, even proposing to advance
him sufficient sum to set him up in
business.
All these offers the old man refused,
and finally accepted the position as sta
ton man at the trestle work, which
position had been made vacant by the
accident first alluded to.
Tie duties were light, mainly consist
ing in passing over the bridge after the
passage of each train.
In connection with the station was a
small, neat cottage, which the station
man occupied, and where, removed from
the cares of business life, the broken
merchant made his home in contentIuent
and peace.
The conductor of the train of which l
was engineer had at one time been very
intimate in Mr.. Collins family, and he
and the daughter were engaged to be
married. At this time he was supposed
to be quite wealthy and moved in the
best circles of society; but when reverses
visited the family of his betrothed, in
stead of coming forward manfully, as a
devoted lover, his visits to the house
ceased and the engagement was at once
broken off.
And not only that, but when banterel
by his companions he declared his inten-
| tons had never been serious, and that he
had only firted with the young lady to
kill time, and looked much higher in his
selection of wife.
Amanda, for this was my heroine's
name, was of sensitive nature, and felt
the matter keeuly, and bitterly resented
the gross injustice done her.
When, in company with her father,
SbI was obOdN w SNC vi tAlC lAttlA Ou t1tS
night of our first meeting, she observed
with terrible trepidition that the con
ductor was none other than her former
! sutton, and desiring TO avoid contact
with him, the arrangement was perfected
of which the reader has already been
made acquainted.
On the evening of the storm Mr.. Col
Inns was i'll, and his daughter had volun-
teered to take his. place and cross the
bridge. While returning she missed her
footing and fell, striking her forehead
against the rail and rendering her quite
insensible.
The light reflected from the engine on
the broken lantern, which she had
dropped in her fall, had first caught my
attention, and was fortunately the provi-
dental means of saving her life.
In lifting her from the track, which I
had succeeded in doing not moment
too soon, l had fractured my arm near
the shoulder, and the pain of the occa-
sion had caused me to faint dead away.
My fireman shut off steam, and res
cued US from our perilous situation, and
carried US into the cottage where We had
been properly cared for.
| Fortunately passenger on the train
was good engineer and took charge Of
my engine until was able to resume tie
care of it myself.
OF course before my convalescencc
had fallen desperately in love with my
(! fair nurse, and if the reader were to visit