Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-07-15


must be up aud in motion.
So he arose and lsmely made his way
to the railroad track, leaving his friend
of a day to sleep it out alone. He
stepped between the rails and halted
there, facing the telegraph pole. To the
right, was the way of the free mau, with
out wife or home. To the left, the way
led back to her
81 have almost killed her by my reck-
lessness, he thought; "why should l go
back to complete the job2"
He glanced over his light shoulder.
"But that may mean the same thing.
She is alone and helpless. Still, to go
back meaus-God" he sobbed; why
can't be a man.
His eyes sought the stars.
"Yes, l can be-"
He took off his hat and raised high his
hand. Then lie spoke, while yet looking
up, and the still night air heard his
words:
81 swear that hereafter l will hold
my desire for d,ink in check, and that l
will strive to make myself worthy of the
good woman who bears my name. So
help me God. Amen"
Then down the back track he strobe
fercely, clenchiug his hands as he
swung them at his sides.
Two hours later he steppel upon the
platform of the station at Toano. There
he stopped to rest. 1t was still dark,
and no one was about to look at him
suspiciously as upon tramp, aud to tell
him to be off.
From a small building across the way
the lights we're shining. Through the
open doorway he saw men sitting about
a stove. He heard their loud Jokes and
hearty laughs. How warm and COM
Portable they seemed. Aud he was bit
tcrly cold. He went nearer to the place.
As he approached it, a mau came and
stood in the doorway. Strange to say,
this man greeted him with cordial
"Hello, pardner!"
He made soms sort Of reply, in a
shaky voice, for his teeth we're chatter
ing.
"Trampin' to Friscol"
eyes"
"Wal, it's good walkin, amt itl"
Goa, yes" Why should his teeth
chatter sol
"Say, now, pardner, kin tell you
suthin' that beats walkin' all to pieces. "
"Yhy, bout half mile up the rail-
road there's heavy grade on curve.
When the emigrant train goes up there
she don't go fast-not much faster'n a
horse and wagon. You kin jump on
without any trouble or without any Of
the train hands noticin' you, as they
would at a station, and you kin go into
a keer and sleep all the rest Of the night.
When you wake up in the morning you'll
be at MeslIa, seventy-ive miles from
here. That's two big days journey for
a man trayelln afoot."
1t was worth trying.
"Wher will the train be along1'
"In bout an hour"
"Thank you"
"Say," and the voice grew kindly,
'ain't you pretty blame coldl Comt
inside awhile and warm up"
He followed the man into the house.
There was a bar there, anil some men
we're before it. drinking. His new
friend led him up to the bar.
This would not do. There was his re-
solve to consider. Well, he was on his
way back home-that much was settled.
And as for drinking, there would be just
this one glass, to warm him up. He was
really very cold and numb aud needed it.
As 1t was to be Just one and the last, 1t
was well that it should be a
large, warming draught. So he poured
the glass nearly full. He felt the fire OF
il az it went down. Yes, it did warm
one-that was certain. He had eaten so
little that the hot liquid swiftly sc. up
its reign in his tired brain, and when his
new comrsde urged another and still
another upon him, he could not refuse.
"Now, l reckon you better git up the
track if you're goin' to git that free Pull
man pass o yourn from Toano to Mesilla,
With no change O. keers," remarked his
entertainer, glancing at the clock.