The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-31
THE NAN WHO WAS BRAVE.
CUAPTEk I.

already overcrowded railway platform.
Down the steps they ran. arriving upon 1t,
breathless and impatient, regardless OF the
swaying mass that had possession of it,
eager only 10 make sure OF scat In the IN
coming train.
It was the Saturday before an August
bank holiday, and the railway platform
was not pleasant sight. Here there was
"a pale-faced clerk with jaded-looking
wife and a string of little ones. all holding
each others hands, trying vainly to elicit
some information from the bewildered
porter; there half drunk laborer lurch-
ing about. regardless of whom he
might fall against; then again others.
bona-tide cockneys and their sweethearts.
shrill In their voice. Haunting In their
dress. loud in their laughter. enjoying
every thing. the crowd. the noise, even the
pushing. And further, a few men and wom-
en-, higher In the social scale, who never
ought TO have chosen TO travel on such
day or In such company. These Jared the
worst for they were ruthlessly handled by
the seething crowd; IL seemed indeed as If
every body took delight In knocking up
against them.
Among these were a delicate looking old
lady and her daughter. the former almost
frantic with fear the latter trying to pro-
tect her mother from the rough handling of
the crowd. Both looked helpless and were
evidently united 10 take their own part
against the jostIing mass
The crowd was tired of waiting. All the
trains had been much behind time. and all
had been overcrOwded. Therefore when
some one cried ont, The train has been
signaled." regular stampede ensued. the
people from behind pressed forwards; those
who were vigorous and did not mind using
their arms pushed them back again, SO did
not lose their footing. But the weaker
were carried on 10 the edge of the platform
and had to tight for standing-room and
dear life.
Suddenly there was heard O shrek so
great, SO terror-stricken. that it rose far
above the dim of the noisy crowd. Every
one turned TO his neighbor To see where
the appalling cry had arisen. The next
moment several people were simultane-
Ousiy aware of the slight figure of young
girl lying across the rails, and OF the hor-
Tlble snOrting engine of the advancing
train within few yards of her. The
sudden hush that fell upon the people was
almost terrible as the sight itself. 1t
was broken by the shrieks OF one or two
women, but most OF the spectators. mon
and women, seemed turned into stone.
The agoniZed cries of the poor mother
rent the air. The engine was ever conn.,
ing nearer, and there seemed nothing for
the unfortunate girl but horrible death,
when, of a sudden. man leaDed of
the edge of the platform where he was
standing clutched the girl desperately,
and dragged her almost blindly from IN
front of the engine. He had scarcely lifted
her from the line. when the thu dering
locomotive passed over where she ed been
lying.
lie had all taken SO short time that most
OF the spectators We're In Ignorance wheth-
OF the two had been saved or no. The
young man, however. almost unconscious
of what he was doing, rushed, with the
girl In his arms. over several sets of lines
TO the opposite platform.
Then q deafening cheer arose, so loud. so
ringing. that the whole station resonnded
with 1t. The crowd, who had been eager
70 get into the train, now seemed TO forget
all about it, and rushed mp the stairs. down
TO the other platform, to shake hand with
and cheer the hero OF the Eour.
And yet he was no Hercules, this brave
preserver, only slight, pale young man,
with nervous agltated manner; no
brawny giant. who had but To lift up all
arm to do q deed of vaor. but a frail. del
icately made youth, W hose brow was stud
ded over with great beads of preparation,
and who was still trembling, it seemed,
from the effort it had coat him TO drag the
girl across the rails.
But although his physique was so slight
he bore himself mOdestly enough. repeat
ing TO the go0d-hearted. enthusiastic
crowd, Indeed 1t was nothing; you would
have done the same" TDis disclaimer
OF heroism only enhanced his value In the
eyes of the boliday-mak multitude,
who would gladly have raised him aloft In
their arms and carried him In triumph.
Next to the hero the sympathy of the
crowd was with the, poor girl. and lastly
with her mother, who W as being supported
TO the platform where her daughter lay by
brawny tar over six feet high, who was
considerably the worse for his potations.
But great and valiant deed levels all
ranks. and the old lady chung to the sailors
arm as if be bad been of the most exalted
class. imploring MIN TO take her to her
daughter.
1t was the mothers cry of WINNIE" that
first aroused the poor girl from the Oh
etinate swoon into which she had fallen.
The long lashes quiyered on her pale cheek
ht.le sigh forced Its way through the
sweet half-opened lips.
Her awakening was terribly painful.
Evidently she had fallen into . state of
inconsistencies with the certainty of q
horrible death upon her, for her first artic-
ulate words were. "Ohi it Is down upon
me-"
Her mother soothed her as best sine could.
while her preserver looked CONF - ssiona tely
and alphabetically at the beautiful pale
face and at the slight figure which he still
. supported with one arm.
Give her more air: she will soon recov-
or" said one or two voices and Arthur Hill
gently laid the girl down on q stretcher,
hastily constructed out or some advertise
meDt boards He would have left her. but
Il cannot let you Co." she cried. looking
from dim 10 her almost unconscious daugn-
ter. Ob! let me thank you. She Is all
have"
Tears cnoked her utterance. "She can
not thank you now herself" she contn-
ued, but tomorrow, surely you will come
TO as tomorrow, rec. this is where We
i've, and she thrust label into his hand
that had evidently been attached TO some
article of luggage, which she had lost IN
her agitation. WINNIE would go ont of
her mind II she could not thank her pre-
server"
Yes. / will Gomez said Arthur Hill. He
gave one glance at the girl as she lay there
propped up by two kind hearted old danes.
little color was beginning to invade the
Death white cheeks, the gray eyes were
opening slowly. She was very winsome.
thought the Dung man. 1t had been given
TO him TO save beautiful woman.
he would gladly have skunk out of the
STATION, out THIS was not To- be- First the
stationnaster, then the officials, then a
man VINO had flown upon the wings of the
%inu, as newspaper reporters always do fly,
came and interviewed HIM. ana the people
sent cneer upon cheer after him, and
rnsned forward TO grasp him by the hand
anu 10 conEratuiate him on his value as he
passed them oy- "fou deserve n V. T.. as
much as any soldierD 1T was q noble
thing EngIshmen against the World"
were q 10" OF the nattering remarks that
met hls ear. Try as much as be could To
dlsclalm All merit. Arthur Hill found him
self still the hero of the hour.
ne giri whose life he had saved mean
"hio recovered conscIousness, though not
10 the extent OF full knowledge of what
had occurred. Little by little. the details
of the dread scene through which she had
passed came back tn her until che shud-