The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-13
THE POIICEMAN'S STORY.

A1S a3&o L@&& EGG.G4%GG
'Tersible. Tom. Hear how the wind
whist!es. / don't hardly think Harry will
come Tonight; do you, my dear2"
II do not know; but he is always pune
tual." I replied.
Harry Gongrel Ind been a chum of mine
in nay young days. When | married and
settled down he joined tho Iolice Of New
York city. Some years Afterward be mar
ried Il southern lady. but she died, leaving
him to watch over q bright-eyed little girl,
the counterpart Of her mother.
Harry still followed the calling Of police
man, but ofton paid us a visit. I had re-
ceivcd 4 letter from him saying he would
be at our honse on Friday night, and that
night found us seated at the ire awaiting
this down train, which W. hoped would
bring With it Harry Gongrel.
An the wind gava a fearful shrek Mary
started and exclaimed;
Tom, I heard.the cars"
Tha.e WINS a lull in the tempest and tho
rumbling OF the approaching down train
reached or ears.
II wish Harry were here said my wife,
ne she placed a chair by the fire for the OK
pected guest.
The next moment there were heavy raps
on the front door. I ran to open it and
Harry stepped in.
slow are You, Tom md Mary?" he cried,
as he grasped our extended hands.
We led him to tho lire and he seated him
self III tho chair which my wife had placed
there for him. I noticed that he had been
weeping. but did not question him about
1t. We talked for a long time until | re-
ferr d to tho BID weather, when Harry re-
mnrked:
Yes. Tom, this is E dreadful night, and
1cminds mo Of one during my life.'
"Of one, Harry? Why, thought that
you had seen many such nights as this"
~ have, Tom; but one in particular. It
caused me Joy und sor ow," said he.
"Flsnse toll US about it-Won't you,
Ha ~ I" said my wife. 5
~ Will gladly W. 20, Mary; 60 listen:
"You both know ttat for many years /
have bcen u policeman. Well, one night l
was stat oned at tine wharf. 1t was lust
such a night az this. The rain foil in tor
Fonts and the cold wind made ms draw my
cloak closer around me. The gas lamp lit
NJ a sho t spnce, but now and then u flash
OF lnriu lightning enabled me to see some
distance.
A a bright flash lit up the darkness I
saw a woman standing on the edge of the
wharf gazing into the dark waters. Her
dress. y rich onr, hung close around her
lOllLi, NIlu ICE AlAlEHClEu LuIE uuuH GOWN
OF hsr shoulders.
II noiselossly crawled upon her. She
was not aware of my presence and /
c'ouched within q lew feet of her. As I
listened [ heard her exclaim:
"'Oh God, forgivs me thisr rash act! it is
my only resort. Tho world is nothing to
me now, for | am alono among strangers.
Farewell father, mother, all, for you will
never see your denr Emma again.
"She raised her hands above her head
and sprang forward; but my arms encit-
cled her waist and she was saved. She
turned to mo and said, mournfully:
why have you done this?:'
"'Io save YOU from O suicides grave,
re,lied. -
is welcome now.'
lyon should not take away the life that
God has given you. He alone should take
"'You are right. I thank you.'
"'Come with me; | will take you to a
Ilace of safety said I, taking her by the
han and leading her away. She looked at
me and said: @~
Are you q policeman?'
eyes. Come with mo-
"'Come where? To the sta~tion-houso2
My God! has it come to thiar she cried, as
she pressed her hands to her forehead to
calm the %throbbipR of her brain.
Not to the station-house. but to a place
VIVAo yOu WIZ JIG aluOlE IFlGUO6, i an
swered; and she went willingly.
u took her to the house Of my friend,
Geo sc Black, and left her in charge of his
wife, and returned to my beat. boarded
at Geotge's and in the morning / met the
Indy | had saved ct the breakfast table.
said she resided in Georgin. Tom, l nave
seen many fair women, but Emma North
was tho fairest. She arose and prasped me
by the hand, and | drank in every word she
uttered.'
Il know not how to thank you for saving
me iast night, for was about to take my
own life; but henceforth / live only for re-
venge. My father resides in Georgia and is
q man of great influence. | am his only
child. About e year ago a young man came
to our plantation, with the intention, as he
SAID, of spsnding u faw days hunting and
hshlng. He Was welcomed. and timo passed
pleasantly. lie represented himself as be-
ing from this city. I soon began to love
AIM, and my parents looked forward with
JOY to tho time when l would be his wife.
ms day Tor our wedding was settled
ana Arnold Chalmers came north to pur-
ing after he left father went to the safe fer
some money, when, to his astonishment. he
found that hs had been robbed. Notes
amounting to the sum of $780, 900 had been
taken. and tainted when | was told that
tne man IN whom l trusted was the robbsr.
IN OokkuIs pub HIS nl4N-
tatiOH WIS left.
My love turned to deadly hntrsd, and I
took an oath that I would follow Chalmsrs
to the death. Then I came here, but could
not find him. At last my means became
exhausted, and 1 wrote to father for more.
but never received any answer. / hardly
knew what course to pursue: despair took
possession of mo and / resolved to die.
Will this resolution l went to the wharf.
and having offered a prayer to God
sprang forward: bnt you were there and
saved me-
Your story is a sud one, Miss North.
But mind that vengeance belongs to the
Lord said I.
Not in this oase, SIR
Well, l must return to duty now, I
hope that We shall be friends l said, rising.
Yea. forever, sho replied.
'Ior many DAYS she lived with nv
trienda. and often went out hoping to meet
tho villain who had robbed her father.
tried to calm her thirst for revenge, but
gave up the attempt rs useless.
"ono night l WAS leaning againet a lamp
posi- thinking Of Emma North. saw two
. me. walking toward each other. One was
tnii, while tho other was about tho medium
height. As they met | saw thu smnlier draw