Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-03-30

past
A curious expression crept into the
girls eyes as they followed the snowy
equippage. Then she turned her lum-
inous glance upon her companion. Had
he met it he might have been spared
many hours OF sorrow, for it told, in
that brief moment, what her lips had
never yet confessed.
For the next two weeks Frank Eston
made Frank Norton as miserable as a
man could well be.
Each day the young aristocrat Wis
tied the mill, and each time he lin
gered by Annie Lawton's looms.
The girl herself was puzzle. She
neither repealed nor invited his atten-
tions.
One day he seemed to be in n spe-
cially reckless mood. He wandered
aimlessly over the different floors, and
at last strobe up to Fred Norton.
There was curious light in his eyes,
as he said:
''You don't look happy, Norton.
Does not the world treat you well?"
Better than l deserve, no doubt.
But be careful, Mr.. Frank. You are
near the edge of the elevator"
Young Eston laughed, but did not
change his position. lie only glanced
back. and said:
Il have climbed over too many prec-
ipices not to be sure of my footing"
Then, with sudden animation, he
continued:
"But once, do YOU know, ] was
nearly gone. 1t was on Mont Blanc.
i got separated from my party. l did
not mind that, for / knew one of the
guides would soon find me. Dut all at
once felt myself slipping. l was on
the brink OF chasm hundreds of feet
deep. 1 threw up my arms-so-
and" he suited his action TO his
words, but he did not complete his sem
tence.
A man with an open knife in his
hand had paused, just beside him 0ud
was listening to his words.
AS young Eston threw out his arms
his right wrist fell across the knife
blade. He uttered a sharp eXclama-
ton of pain and SURPRISE and invol-
UNFAIRLY stepped backwards.
His foot went over the edge of the
shaft.
For one horrible moment death
! seemed certain.
But Fred Norton, with lightning
like spring, seized him. He drew him
back to safety.
But great jets of blood spurted from
the wounded wrist. An artery hal
been served. The mans knife had
been like a razor
Women began to cry at sight of the
spurts of blood.
"Hush, It's nothing" said young
Eston, but his voice sounded faint.
The floor around him was already a
pool of crimson.
Telephone for doctor quick or
| dered Norton. Here, Mrs. Howe,
give me your apron. l must use it for
bandages This flow must be
stopped"
The woman addressed ceased her
means, and hurriedly handed the gar
Inent to the young man.
He tore it INTO strips. But, ere he
completed his work, he paused to
place n supporting arm around Eston.
| The loss of blood had caused faintncSs.
The man whose knife had done the
mischief assisted in placing him upon
u pile of cotton, which served as a
couch.
Even as they placed him there, Es-
toms eyes closed The loss of blood
had been fearful.
Norton, with swift and deft fingers,
firmly bound strips of the torn apron
above and below the gaping wounl.
But blood still flowed.
''Ile can't loose much moro an1
i've" he muttered.
For one moment the thought cams
came TO him: eff he dies Annie Law
ton will be my wife" But he spurned
it with horror.
He took another broad strip and
tied il firmly over the wound. lie
placed the knot directly on the sew
cred vein.
Then he lxnelt by the insensible
form and pressed with all his strength
upon this knot. To him, in his
cramped position, it seemed hours boz
fore physician arrived.
After tho artery had been taken up,
the doctor said:
ct was bad wound. He owes his
life to you, MIR. Morton, in so prompt
ly staunching the flow OF blood. Had
you awaited until my arrival it would
have been too late"
| Looking at Eston's pale face, sat
prated clothing, and the pools OF res
over the floor, Fred answered.:
''Almost too late, anyway. His los
of blood is fearful"
Eyes, but his constitution is good
He will pull through, with care"
And he did. AS soon as he wa
strong enough to bear tho excitement
he sent for Fred Norton.
"You are a noble fellow" he sale
frankly. 81 tried TO wrong you, anC
to steal Annie Lawton's love. Yer
repaid me by saving my life"