The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-14

she saw horrible look Of abject terror
settle on the face Of the stranger, and
then she saw no more.
When she once more woke to con-
sciousness she WAS lying on the ground,
surrounded on every hand by the dead and
dying. ..
On the track above was waiting train,
evidently but just arrived.
At the foot of the embankment, down
which they had plunged, was the wreck OF
the doomed cars, now burning fercely.
Mildred raised herself on her left elbow
and looked about her.
By the light of the burning cars she
could readily distinguish objects, and at
no great distance she saw form which
she OF once knew TO bo that of the mother
of the young girl who had sat IN front OF
her
A little further away, horribly burned,
was what she felt rather than knew to be
all that was left of the girl herself.
Something moist trickling down her
face and terrible pain in her head, made
her essay to raise her right hand.
The attempt was failure, and then
she knew that her right arm was broken:
At that moment she saw coming toward
her, with conciliatory look and fawning
manners, the detested stranger. He
had something in his hand. 1t looked
like her own hat, and, inv oluntarlly, she
attempted to put out her hand to take It,
The effort caused o spasm of pain; a
faintness seized her, her head whirled,
and she fell back unconscious.
"Good!" exclaimed the stranger, in
tone of satisfaction, and fastened to
where the dead girl lay, after crushing
the hat he carried little more-lt was
pretty we'll crushed already.
In few minutes he returned, accom-
panied by strong -limbed man, evidently
farmer.
This is my poor darling" he said,
pointing to Mildred. Take her up gently,
1 fear she is Lady injured. Carry her td
your house. and have the carriage ready
as speedily as possible. I will join you
presently. wish to do what 1 can for
one or two of these poor sufferers. All!
how thankful I ought to be that Gods
great mercy spared me while so many were
hurried into eternity"
The young farmer muttered something
not overcomplimentary to the manage
ment Of the railway, and raising Mildred
as tenderly in his arms as q woman
might, bore her away.
The fearful scene was alive with men,
and even women, hastening from one
group to another, and doing all in their
power to alleviate the sufferings of the
wounded. Being thus occupied, these
good Samaritans had little time for any
thing else, and so the scheming stranger
passed unnoticed.
Now, then," he muttered, as his late
companion disappeared with his uncon-.
scious burden, what have to do must
be done quickly" and once spI roaching
the body of the young girl, he bent over
it and scrutinized it closely.
NO, she could never be recognized In
the world" he muttered half aloud. Her
hair, what little there is left, is the same
color as the others. Her dress ard outer
garments are all burned. Her hat have
disposed Of, and this one shall take its
place. Now, then, if, as suspect, Mr..
Eugene Cleveland was on that train that
just came up, I'm ready for him, and
raising himself, he was about to walk
away, when he saw q group OF three OF
four men, one Of them carrying lantern,
coming toward him.
Luck fayors mel" he exclaimed in high
glee. @Here comes the young husband,
sure enough, and the conductor is With
him.
IF she was aboard the train after oul
last stop.- she must be off here some.
wnere," the conouc.v, sryIns. ~
have looked everywhere else.
-Ah, here are few" he suddenly added
This poor woman, remember her dis!
tinctly. She was seated near the young
lady you described, she and -"
Great God! can this be she-can this
be Mildred?" suddenly broke in Eugene,
as he stood before the remains of the un.
fortunate young girl, who, in life, had sc
closely assembled his bride.
Il think mott hope not" hastily OK.
claimed his friend, at the same time en-.
deavoring to turn him away.
But an object lying close by had caughl
Eugene's attention.
That's her hat, i" he cried out. "Iknou
it. Yes, this poor, disfgured body musi
be all that is left of my once beautiful.
Mildred; God help me; how can 1 evel
bear it,"
"Ah!" suddenly exclaimed the con.
ductor, turning upon the stranger; Ayou
were in the same car, and near these peo
pie. Do you know who this was?"
Don't know her name" responded the
man, glibly. she was young lady
travelling by herself. Sat in the seal
directly opposite the one I occupied. }
noticed her in the waiting-room OF thu
Grand Central Depot. She seemed to bt
in trouble; wanted to take ticket te
Riverside, had 20 take one 10 Cos Cob.
.Alasl all hope is now gone. 1t is,
indeed, my poor Mildred and Eugene
bent over the form of his supposed wife.
The stranger having accomplished his
object, hastened away. Soon he arrived
at farm house, and to his great relief
sow carriage waiting before the door.
He hurried in.
We'll start Mt once" he said, address.
ing the farmer, whom he met in the hall.
And then Re entered the room where Mil.
dred was lying III on the lounge.
Mister" said q woman, coming In just
as he was raising the unconscious girl in
his arms, L tell you a doctor ought to
see that poor child at once; her head is
badly injured, and her right arm broken. v
"A surgeon, and as good one as
thero is in this country, will see her
in less than half an hour, Of that
YOU may be sure, said the man, warmly.
and as the somewhat mollifed house
wife stepped out of the way, he carried
Mildred to the carriage.
He had taken his seat by the side OF
his unconscious companion, and the
horses had just started, when two men
slowly approached bearing body be-
tween them, while two more followed
after.
One of these last looked up for an in
slant, and his eyes rested on the form OF
the unconscious young woman.
The next moment the carriage had
passed and was gone, and Eugene Cleve-