Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-11-04

O"a'he hahcook, the telegraph oper-
ator, was at work.
Charlie was the particular friend of
Ned Howell, a brakeman on the railroad.
who had been Lizzio's lover since they
were children together. and whom she
had promised to marry when he should
have saved enough to give her home
| Charlie" she said. tapping on the
window to attract his attention, twill
52 be down tonight ?"
AT the sound of her voice Charlie
raised his head from his work, and catch
ing sight of the girls pretty face, sprang
to his feet
Great Scott, Lizzie Is il you 7" was
his ejaculation, and then, without mean
ing to be harsh or cruel, he told her in
excited, disjointed sentences about a
terrible accident that had taken place on
tho railroad at the other end Of the d.
vision.
As BIO proceeded she in fancy saw the
terrible scene, but she uttered no sound,
and continued staring into his face with
dry, wide open eyes
Poor Ned was caught between two
cars, and tho doctors say one of his legs
will have to como of. He's pretty badly
mashed and may die. All the wounded
were taken to the Presbyterian hospital
| and"--
He stopped suddenly, and, rushing
from his little den. ran out on the plat
form and caught Lizzie in his arms Just
as she roeled, fainting.
She did not remember much after
this, and an age seemed to have passed
when she finally opened her eyes 10 her
own shabby little chamber at home, to
find her mother, hor father and the doc
tor bending over her.
The first question was about the acc-
dent, but they put her of, and il was
not until she was able to sit up that she
learned the whole truth.
Her lover had lost one Of his legs.
and being no longer useful to the rail
road company, had been discharged.
They did not toll her that several lot
ters had come from him, nor did they
inform her that her father being for
once in his life sober, controlled and in
auenced by his wife, had written letter
to the crippled brakeman, informing
him that Lizzie was shortly to be mar
ried to Mr.. Isaac Mercer.
The latter called upon her several
times while she was convalescont, but
she invariably refused to SEQ him, and
would never eat the tempting delicacies
that he sent to her bedside.
One evening when her mother was
busy in the lower part of the house, and
her father had gone as usual to the sa-
loon, Lizzie put on her hat and cloak
and stole from tho house.
Just before she reached tho railroad
the door of Charlie Hancock's little den
opened, and man came out on crutches.
AS hc approached, Lizzie rushed for
ward.
"Ned, Ned p she cried, and when the
cripple looked up and caught sight of
hor face he halted and his own grew
very white.
II beg pardon, Liz-Miss Kane" he
said, bowling stiffly.
Miss Kane 2" repeated Lizzie, draw
ing back. "You used to call me Liz
zie What's the matter? Oh, Ned, I've
been very sick, and all through the de-
lirium saw you lying crushed and man
gled and crying for me to come to YOU
I'll was pretty badly crushed" said
Howell, and he glanced ruofully at his
crutches, "and | guess | must have
called for you; but that was before
learned that you were going to marry
Isaac Mercer"
MARY Isaac Mercerl" repeated Liz
zic; "why, | hate him p
"What 7" cried Ned, and his face
frightened. "Why, heard that you
were going to DO married tomorrow,
and couldn't resist the temptation 10
come up and look on your dear face
once more before losing you forever"
"It's all monstrous lie |" cried Liz
zie hotly III wouldn't marry him il
he was worth ton times as much as he
u.s."
81 thought it must DO true" said
Ned, when you didn't answer my let
ters."
"And you don't mean TO say that you
still love such a poor, crippled wretch
Ms amp"
"Pd love you if you'd lost both your
legs !" cried Lizzie, and she could hardly
restrain herself from kissing him right
then and there.
One Of Ncd's fellow sufferers by the
railroad smashup was high official of
the road, and learning that the crippled
brakeman was Of more than average in-
telligence, had secured him 4 position
in tho general office of the company,
where he was bound to rise.
Lizzie needed but little urging TO CON
sent to marriage that night, and it be-
ing too late TO procure license they
sought that Mecca Of runaway lovers,
Camden, and were made ono
When Isaac Mercer read the marriage
notice the next morning he was the
maddest man in Konsington and closed
up bis grocery store for the balance Of
the day. -Phitaclelphia Times.