Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-09-14
A Modern Heroine.

sobriquet of Mary Brown; she was
plain, short, "dumpy." But she
proved herself heroine, neverthe-
lees.
A hard life had been hers. Her
mother had married Calvin Brown
as the result of family arrange
ment. She saw him but once, and
week later they met at the altar.
As is usually the case in such in
stances, an unhappy married life
followed.
Mary grew up i'll an atmosphere
of conjugal infelicity. From her
earliest childhood she cherished a
tender love for her father, although
he had nothing-but harsh words and
even blows for the patient, Affection
ate daughter who studied his every
desire. At the age of sixteen she
was a quiet, silent girl, with but one
interest in life-love for her little
sister Allie, whose birth cost Mrs.
Brown her life. Mary received the
child from her dying mothers arms,
vowing to take her place as far as
possible; and faithfully she fulfilled
her trust.
Her heart seemed bound up i'll
Allie. Often, when her household
duties were performed, she would
take the child far into the forest
near their home, and remain away
for hours. And Allie never tired
of her older sister. In her baby
eyes, whatever Mary did was right;
her commands were to be obeyed
unquestioningly.
twas OH one of these long rambles
that Mary showed the true depth of
her character. They had been
gathering wild flowers one sunny
afternoon in June, near the rail-
road that wound its way westward
through pleasant valley such as is
often found in Western Pennsylva-
MIA.
The day had been sultry, and the
sisters lay down beneath the shade
of an old oak. Tired Mary soon
fell asleep; when she awoke little
Allie was gone. Thinking the child
had started for home she walked
down the track, rounded the long
curve, and soon came to the long
trestle by means of which the rail
way crossed the valley; this trestle
was almost a mile long and in some
places full hundred feet high.
There, half way across, laying her
flowers out on the iron rail, and
laughing gleefully at having ran
away from her sister, was little
Allie. Just below her rushed the
turbulent waters of small creek,
its rocky bed fringed with the water
willow and the thorn, while far
out extended thicket of brambles
and briers.
Mary shuddered to think what a
fall from that height and in such a
place would mean. Then summon
ing up her courage she stepped up
OIL the trestle.
But hark! What was that?-
The fast express. She heard its
whistle in the distance. In five
minutes it would be upon her, and
half of that long trestle must be
traversed ere she could reach the
little one who stood there, so in
nocent and unconscious of danger.
Could she do it? Yes, she must,
she would. She hastened on. She
reached the child; her fingers
clutched her dress; but how could
she save her?
The train was upon the trestle.
The engineer had seen them and
was trying to stop the engine; but
Mary knew he could not check the
lightning speed Of the express in
time.
Should she Jump from that dizzy
height? No, the child might be
killed. But she must act! With a
murmured prayer she threw herself
across the ties beside the track, and
fastening both hands convulsively
in little Allies dress, she lowered
her between the cross beams, out of
all possible reach of danger.
The train thundered on. She was
safe! But no-just as the rear car
passed over her she raised her head.
The train was at last stopped.
Passengers and trainmen hurried
back to where Mary was lying, the
blood oozing from u cash in the
back of her head. But her hands
still grasped little Allie, who was
safe.
They carried her to the train.
She spoke but once: "Allie-l
saved-her!" and her spirit passed
away.
The fast express stopped at S
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