Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-03-05
RUTH'S LOVE.


! showed for a moment as the car whirled
along over the rails and an occasional
house dotted the gloom with its CHEEKY
! lights.
! But if the truth be told RonaId's mind
was not occupied with these heeting Wis
ions of the outer world. The glass acted
as q mirror, and he could look as long
and eagerly as he liked at the reflection OF
a dainty figure in an opposite seat.
Rather grave eyes, a saucy nose, q sweet
, tired mouth, rebellious whisps of soft, brown
hair straying from under stylish but
plain hat; slight pretty figure in a simple
trown travelling suit with weary droop
, that appealed to the strong young fellow
and made him rebel fercely against the
social conventionalities which rose like an
icy barrier between the two travellers
that is what McAllister saw in the
glass.
He had been able to perform one or two
slight services for the girl-had raised her
window and brought her glass of water;
had heard her gentle "Thank you sir; you
are very kind and had caught sight of
her ticket, thus leaning that her destina-
ton was only one station beyond his home,
to which he was returning after hard
business trip.
Their eyes had met so frequently. after
this, that she had flushed, and he had been
ashamed to look in her direction, lest she
should think him boor. anxious to scrape
a railway acquaintance" with the first
pretty girl he met.
The tired head under the brown hat
dropped until it rested on the back of the
seat, where it swayed helplessly.
The train rused onward through the
night faster and faster, until the car fair
ly rocked as If it flew around curves and
over resembling bridges.
Must get into the siding at Mooreville
before No 10 freight comes in" Ronald
heard the conductor say to the brakeman
as he passed out of the Car.
Faster-faster. Ronald counted the
rails and glanced at the second hand of
his watch. Could it be possible? Forty
five miles an hour
Now, fifty; and look-siyty miles aa n
hour!
The tired girl could not rest in her
cramped position, and. raising he head,
glanced at Ronald with q ,quivering ghost
of a smile
He started to his feet, was in the aisle,
moving toward her, when-crash!
An uproar of shrieks and frightful cries,
rending of solid wall and beams, "a dir
lying swaying lurch, a fierce hiss Of steam
then absolute rest from motion.
Ronald raised his hand and pushed
away something which was lying on his
face and smothering him in the darkness
1t was the warm, lifeless body of man,
who a moment before had been telling a
funny story to a comrade in the smoking
car thirty feet AWAY
The smoker and passenger were one car
now. Ia railroad parlance they had
''teiescoped.''
AS If In a dream, McAilister raised
himself up, groaneA little over a bruised
ankle, or something of the kind, and
slowl y made his way,limping out of the
wreck.
A man near by raised a lantern
Good for you, he said in husky tones.
'Youv We got one Of them out already,
haven t you?"
And Ronald looked down and coming
gradually to his senses, realized that ne
was bearing something In his arms
something warm and human-a living
woman.
| The light of the lantern fell on her face
ard her brown dress. Yes he, was not
mistaken. Out of that awful chaos, which
was even now ringing with the shrieks of
the wounded and dying, he had brought
her.
He looked down into her face.
Thank God - he said. Then added
| reverently: He has given her to me-
III.
Very well, sir; if that is the way in
! which you regard my happiness you can
leave NEE
| And never return? I'll do sos''
! Ronald McAllister and Ruth Jarvis
glared at each other across the little mar
Ole topped table and uttered these sting
| ing words, their cheeks burning and eyes
sparkling with anger, just eight months
after they had met on that fearful night
when No. 10 freight and the Might
Ovid express had collided on S. 2. & C.
Railroad.
It was a slight matter-the beginning
of this quarrel; a hasty word about a
| partner In a dance, bit of childish zeal
ousy, angry tones, harsh injunctions, bit
ter retocts and-there they stood. engaged
| to be married on the next New Year S
| day, bat drifting leagues apart every
moment.
1t was Sultry June evening, and when
Ronald dashed out of the house, the north
ern sky showed no stars, only lightning
flashes, cutting with jagged gashes
through heavy piles of cloud that were
mounting rapidly.
Never, nevert" he muttered, as he
strobe along the street and barred his hot
brow to the pelting drops Of RAIN
'Never!" she said. sadly as she listened
to his retreatiug footsteps. Il was disap-
pointed in him. We can never be united
again.
And the wind blew and beat upon that
house.
Ruth Jarvis felt that her heart was
breaking, not because her lover was going,
but because she felt that she ought not to
long for his return. He was unworthy of
her love.
The sultry days of summer erept slowly
by. Autumn breathed upon the landscape
like the fair daughter of Rappacinl in
Hawthorne tale, and every living thing
| withered and died.
Winter buried its dead IN deep snow and
sang requlems of the Northland over the
white mounds
Ronald McAlllster went YEARLY to and
fro from his work, yearning for one word
from Ruth, the woman he had loved and
wounded SO grievously.
He dared not write to her, nor even look
at her, as they met in the street.
He had no trusty friend who could plead
for him. How could he reach her?
One day as he was passing newsstand
he saw the little figure he knew so we'll
standing an the counter. She way buy
Il /.