Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-06-23
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without your supper in order that you
may protect me from unseen PERIL"
She laughs merrily. "No, Lem, am
as safe as it-as if-well, nothing can
happen TO me, at all events. So go with
a clear conscience"
And this time he goes and does not
look back.
She shivers little as she remembers
what he has said about the bridge.
What sudden chill of terror his words
had struck to her heart.
"The bridge will not hold s02g' she
says to herself. at is through passen-
ger and will not stop unless / signal it.
must find out 1t is not due for half an
hour yet. shall have time"
She throws long, dark cloak over
her shoulders and takes down a red light
from the wall. With another glance at
the clock she rushes out in the stormy
black night. Down the track she speeds,
the lantern dancing through the dark
ness like will-o'-the-wisp. The bridge
is about a quarter of a mile from the
station, but she knows every step of the
way. Suddenly deep, roaring sound
meets her ears.
"'The river! The river!' she gasps.
"Lenn said today it had risen fearfully.
That frail bridge will be swept away as
if it were stick in such fierce tor
rent"
Now she is at the bridge-but where
is the bridge? The last of it is swept
away in the black, seething waters as
she reaches the bank, and at that mo-
ment, another sound, heard family
above the roar of the river, sends new
terror to her heart. A distant thunder
ing sound, and she knows the train is
coming through the cut half a mile
away.
"Oh, God, for some strengthr' she
groans. "All those souls must not be
lostr
She struggles on through the fearful
wind that drives the thin, cutting snow
in her face like SO many tiny lashes. On
comes the express-nearer, nearer. Grad
ually the roar of the river changes into
the roar of the oncoming train. Once
she stumbles 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,
"and they are savedr
Now she can see the lights from the
station, and almost simultaneously there
flashes around curve in the inky dark
ness the headlight of 802 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 fran
tically above her head. She tries to cry
out-her voice is drowned in the roar
of the wind and the approaching train.
But the engineers head is out of the cab
window; 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 gradually-gradually-the long
train comes to standstill, the engine
painting and 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 trem-
bling all over. There is crowd about
her in an instant asking questions that
she is too exhausted 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
Jacks warm ones and held close to his
| heart.
Then she turns to the conductor, whu
is standing impatiently beside her.
"The bridge is gone," she says. The
words come with difficulty through her
white, cold lips. II went down to see
and reached here barely in time to save
the train"
When they all know what has occurred
what cheer is raised for heri 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 great throb of exultation goes
through her as she sees him standing
there, so strong and tall and handsome.
All, now he knows how society girl
can love!
She is almost dead with cold, but she
smiles family at him and then the white
lids close, but not before she knows
Lem is beside her and has her hand in
his and is bending over her, his young
face white and anxious, and so, between
the two men who love her, she gains
consciousness after little and receives
the heartfelt thanks of all the passen.
gers.
Jack and Lem have shaken hands
cordially and Lem, with horrible
ache in his heart, has gone away and
left them together. He knows that is
the man that Beth loves, but he bears
it bravely. Beth is happy and he tries
to be glad for her sake.
Jack has her hands in his and is look
ing into the sweet, shy eyes.
| Lou AdF0 odNCu LILY allo, DeuH, liz
says, and the gay voice is very grave
now. care you going to make me wish
that you had not? had heard of youl
aunt's death, and my heart ached fol
you, but dared not come near you. l
waited to hear of your marriage to Mr.
Chester, but did not. All! Beth, brave
little girl, to face poverty when you
could have commanded millions by 8
single little word"
'It was for you, Jack" she says in 8
low voice. II loved you-could swea,
to love another? Aunt tried very hare
to persuade me to accept Mr.. Chester
Poor aunt" she sighs, and the shadowed
eyes brighten with smile. II have
you, jack" she says. "You will never
leave me again" softly. twill you?"