The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-28

his little den, ran out on the platform and
caught Lizzie in his arms, just as she reeled
faintng.
She did not remember much after this.
and an age seemed to have passed when she
| finally opened her eyes in her own shabby
little chamber at home, to find her mother,
her father and the doctor bending over her
The first question was about the accident.
but they put her off, and it was not until
she was able TO sit up that she learned the
whole truth.
Her lover had lost one of his legs. and.
being no longer useful to the railroad COM
! pany, had been discharged.
1hey dld not tell her that several letters
had come from him, nor did they inform her
that her father, being for once in his
life sober, controlled and Influenced by his
wife. had written letter to the crippled
brakeman, informing him that LiZZie was
shortly To be married to Mr. Isaac Mercer.
The latter called upon her several times
! while she was conyalescent, but she nvari-
ably refused to see him, and would never eat
| the tempting dellcacies that he sent to her
| bedside.
One evening when her mother was busy in
the lower part OF the house, and her father
mad gone as usual to the saloon, Lizzie put
on her hat and cloak and stole from the
house.
Just before she reached the railroad the
door of Charlie Hsncock's little den opened
VI
As he approached Lizzie rushed forward.
Ned, Ned she cried, and when the
cripple looked up and caught sight of her
lace ne halted and his own grew very white.
beg pardon, Liz-Miss kane!" he said,
bowling stifiy.
Miss Kane?" repeated Lizzie, drawing
pack. on used to call me Lizzie! What's
the matter? Oh, Ned, I've been very sick,
and all through the delirium [ saw you lying
crushed and mangled and crying for me to
come t. VOu.''
~ was pretty badly crushed" said How
Ell, ana he glanced ruefully at his crutches.
and guess must have called for you;
but that was before | learned hat you were
going 10 marry Isaac Mercer"
Marry Isaac Mercerw repeated Lizzie;
why, l hate himw
'What?" cried Ned, and his face bright
ened. Why, heard that you were going
70 be married Tomorrow, and l couldn't re-
slst the temptation to come up and look on
your dear face once more before losing you
forever"
It's all a monstrous lie!" cried Lizzie
molly. Il wouldn't marry him if he was
worth ten times as much as he is"
thought 1t must be true" said Ned
when you didn't answer my letters"
never received them
And you don't mean to say that you still
love such poor, crippled wretch as | am pr
d love youif you'd lost both your legs 7"
cried Lizzie, and she could hardly restrain
herself from kissing him right then and
there.
One of Ned's fellow-sufTerers by the rail-
road smash-up was a high official of the
road, and, learning that the crippled brake
man was of more than average intelligence.
had secured him position in the general
ONCE OF the company, where he was bound
to rise.
Lizzie needed but little urging to consent
to marriage that night. and it being too
late to procure license they sought that
Mecca OF runaway lovers, Camden, and were
made one.
When Isaac Mercer read tile marriage
nouce the next morning he was the maddest
man In hensington.-Philade Times.