Feliciana sentinel., 1891-02-28
TO SETTLE A QUARREL.
Story Of a Distracted Lover Hop.
ing for Happy Results.

Story Of a Distracted Lover Hop
ing for Happy Results.
The train was late and the engineer
was evidently trying to make up time.
Ronald McAllister turned his face for
the twentieth time to the darkened pane
by his side and stared into the black
ness. Now and then the shadowy
form Of some object showed for mo-
ment as the car whirled along over the
rails, and an occasional house dotted
the gloom with its cheery lights.
But, if the truth be told, Ronald's
mind was not occupied by these feeting
visions of the outer world. The glass
acted as mirror. and he could look as
long and eagerly as he liked at the re-
Election of dainty figure in an opposite
seat.
Rather grave eyes, a saucy nose, a
sweet, tired mouth, rebellious whisps
OF soft brown hair straying down under
n stylish but plain hat; slight, pretty
figure in a simple brown travelling suit,
with weary droop that appealed to
the strong young fellow an d made him
rebel fiercely against the social conven-
tionalities which rose e like an icy bar
rier between the two travelers-this is
what McAllistcr saw in the glass
He had been able to perform one or
two slight services for the girl-had
raised her window, and brought a glass
of water: had heard her gentle Thank
you, sir; you are very kind" and had
caught sight of her ticket, thus learn
ing that her destination 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 direc-
tion, lest she should think him q boor,
anxious to scrape railway acqnAint-
ance, with the fr.. pretty girl he met.
The tired head nndcr the brown hat
| drcpped tntl it re- Sted on the back OF
the scat, where it bwayed helplessly.
| The train rushed onward through the
! night faster and faster. until the car
fairly rocked as it flew around curves
and over resoundihg bridges
| ''Must get into the siding at Moore
| vile before No. 10 freight comes in, "
Ronald heard the conductor say to the
brakeman as he passed out of the car.
Faster-faster. Ronald idly 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-sixty-a mile a
minutet
The tired girl could not rest in her
:ramped position, and, raising her head,
glanced at Ronald with a quivering
ghost OF smile.
he started to his feet, was in the
aisle moving toward her, when
crashI
An uproar Of shrieks and frightful
cries, rending of solid walls and
beams, a dizzying, 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 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. In railroad parlance they had
''telescoped."
As if in a dream McAllister raised
himself up. groaned little over a
! bruised ankle or something of the
| kind, and slowly made his way, limp
| ing, out of the wreck.
A man near by raised a lantern.
Good for you, ''he said, in husky
| tone. you've got one of them ou. al
ready, haven't you?"
And Ronald looked down, and, COM
ing gradually to his senses, realized
that he was bearing something in his
arms-something warm and human-a
living woman.
The light of the lantern fell on her
| face and 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. =
Every we'll, sir; if that is the way in
which you regard my happiness you car
leave me-"
| And never return? I'll do so!''
Ronald McAllister and Ruth Jarvis
glared at each other across the little
marble-topped table and uttered these
| singing words, their cheeks burning
and eyes sparkling with anger, jus,
! eight months after they had met or
that fearful night when No. 10 freight
and the Might Owl" express had col
! lided on the S. P. &; G. railroad.
1t was but slight matter, the be
ginning of this quarrel-a hasty WORD
| about partner in dance, a bit o.
childish jealousy, angry tones, harsh in
functions. bitter retorts, and there they
stood, engaged to be married on the
next New Years day, but drifting
leagues apart every moment.
1t was u sultry July evening, anc
when Ronald dashed out of tho hous,
the northern sky showed no stars, onl,
lightning tiashea cutting with sagget