Nevada County picayune., 1892-04-28

aN tbaO iIpthNlif dllotbtt oObi'l
heard family above the roar OF lhe
river, sends new terror to her heart
A distant laundering sound, and she
knows the train is coming through
the cut half mile away.
''Oh, God, for some strength !"
she groans. "All those souls must
not be lost ~
She struggles on through the fear
full wind that drives the thin, cutting
snow in her face like so many tiny
lashes. On comes the express -
Nearer, nearer. Gradually the roar
of the river changes into the roar of
the oncoming train. Once she STUN
bles and falls, and her fingers, stiff
with cold, almost lose their grasp on
the precious red signal; but she is
up almost before she touches the
ground.
"Only few more rods" she
breathes, land they are saved?"
Now she can she the lights from
the station. and almost simultane-
ously there flashes around curve
in the inky darkness the headlight Of
800 coming down the track at full
speed.
With last desperate effort she
gains the station, and, standing in
the center of the track, waves the
red light frantically above her head.
She tries to cry out-~her voice is
drowned in the roar of the wind and
the approaching train. But the en-
gineer's head is out of the cab win
dow; he sees the slender, wind blown
figure on the track, her tragic white
face cleaning in the dazzling glare
of the headlight. He throws back
his lever, and gradualiy-gradually
the long train come to staadstill,
the engine painting aud quivering
like live thing and sending out
great volumes of dense smoke.
They are saved The lantern
falls from her numb hand, and she
sinks down on the track, shivering
and trembling all over. There is a
crowd about her in an instant ask
ing questions that she is too exhaust
ed to reply to, but among all the
strange faces she sees one familiar
one that sends the blood To her white
face and the light to her eyes. She
holds out her hand with a little FAINT
cry, and it is clasped in both OF
Jack 5 warm ones and held close to
his heart.
Then she turns to the conductor
who is standing impatiently beside
her.
'rhe bridge is gone" she says,
The words come with difficulty
through her white, cold lips. 81
went down to see and reached here
barely in time to save the train"
When they all know what has oc-
Cured what cheer is raised for her
Jack leads her INTO the station and
brings the best chair he can find in
the Office and seats her before the
glowing fire Her own Jack! And
she has saved his life A grea,
throb of exultation goes through heI
as she sees him standing there, SO
strong and tall and handsome. All
now he knows how society girl can
lovei
She is almost dead with cold, but
she smiles family at him and ther
the white lids close, but not before
see knows Lem is beside her anC
has her hand in his and is bendng
over her, his young face white anC
anxious, aud so, between the two
men who love her, she gains con
sciousness after little and receive
the heartfelt thanks Of all the pas
sengers.
Jack and Lem have shaken hand,
cordially and Lem, with horrible
ache in his heart has gone away anC
left them together. He know Jacl
is the man that Beth loves, but ht
bears it bIavely. Beth is happy anC
he tries to be glad for her sake.
Jack has her hands in his and il
looking into the sweet, shy eyes.
You have saved my life, Beth,
he says, and the gay voice is very
grave now. "Are you going t.
make me wish that you had not!
had heard of your aunt's death, anC
my heart aahed for you, but | dared
not come near you. | waited to hea
of your marriage to Mr.. Chester
but / did not. All! Beth, brave lit
tie girl, to face poverty when yol
could commanded millions By sin
gle little word.
1t was for you, Jack" she say
. in low voice. Il loved you-coult
e swear to love another? Aunt trie'
very hard to persuade me TO accep
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