Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-03-07
RuTH,s LOVE.

mousse IOlleu tue gloom Win lls CuetIy
lights.
But if the truth be told. Ronald's mind
was not occupied with these heeting Wis
ions Of the outer world The glass acted
as mirror, and he could look as long
and eagerly as he liked at the reflection Of
a dainty hgure in an opposite seat.
I Rather grave eyes a saucy nose, sweet
tired mouth, rebei.ious whisps otsoft brown
hair straying from under stylish but
plain hat; q slight pretty figure In a simple
brown travelling suit, with weary droop
that appealed to the strong young fellow
and made him rebel 6ercely against the
social oonventionalities 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 Learning 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 a boor, anxious to scraTe
a railway acquaintance" with the first
| pretty girl he met
The tired head under the brown hat
dropped until it rested ca the back of the
seat, where it swayed helplessly.
The train rused onward through the
night faster and faster, until the car fair
| " rocked as If it flew around curves and
over resembling bridges.
Must get into the siding at Mooreville
before No. 20 freiehr comes in. Ronald
heard the conductor say to The brakeman
as he passed out of the car.
Faster faster. Ronald counted the
rails ana glanced at the second hand of
his watch. Could it be possible2 Forty
! FIVE miles an hour!
Now, fifty; and look sixty miles aa n
hour!
/ T. The tired girl could not rest in her
cramped position, and. raising her head,
glanced at Ronald with quiyering 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.
a rending Of solid wall and beams, "a dir
y G
( 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 a man,
who moment before had been telling a
funny story to a comrade in the smoking
car, thirty feet away.
The smoFer and passenger were one car
now. In railroad parlance they had
''telescoped y
AS if in a dream, McAlister raised
| himself up, groane2 a little over a bruised
ankle, or something of the kind, and
slowly made his way imping out of the
wreck.
A man near by raised a lantern.
Good for YOU he said in husky tones.
! You've got one Of them out already,
haven your
And Ronald looked down and coming
/ gradually to his senses, realized that he
was bearing something in his arms
something warn 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 r. he said Then added
reyerently; He has given her to me.
Very well, sir; if that is the way in
which you regard my happiness you can
/ leave me 49,
And never return? III do sol
Ronald McAllIster and Ruth Jarvis
glared at each other across the little mar
I Die 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
4 when No. 10 freight and the Night
/ Owl express had collided on 5. z. q C.
/ Railroad,
/ II was a slight matter the beginning
1 Of this quarrel. a hasty word about a
( partner IN a dance, a bit Of childish Jeal-
0usy, angry tones harsh inJnnctiOHs, Bit
/ ter retOrts and-there they stood engaged
( 10 be married on the next New Year s
[ day. but drifting leagues apart every
moment
ID was a sultry June evening, and when
/ K maid dashed our 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, neyert' he muttered, as he
strobe along the street and barred his hot
brow to the pelling drops 81 ram
Never She said sadly as she listened
to bis retreatiug footsteps j was dlsap-
pointed in him We can never be united
again
And the wind blew and beat upon that
house.
Ruth Jarvis felt that Der heart was
breaking. not because her lover was going
but because she felt that she ought not %
long for his return Heswas unworthy Ct
her love
ILL.,
The aulry days Of summer crept slowly