Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-03-17

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She slid from the loft to the mound
OF hay in the floor, then crept ont at
the side-door, and, keeping the barn
between her ard the house until she
reached the hollow, ran to the rail-
road track, crossed, and followed it
to the woods. She did not pause in
the cool, inviting shade, but ran on
and on until she reached the steep
hill, which the track wound around
sharply.
From the summit of this hill she
knew that she could see Will much
sooner, and it would soon be time
for his return, so she scrambled
breathlessly to the very top, and
then threw herself down, drawing
sigh of intense relief, as her eyes
swept the landscape, ard fingered
exultantly on the low, Imprinted
| house.
aft even you loved me-but you
don't dad" she murmured, looking
at him longingly. mo one loves
me. 'cept, maybe Will. P'raps he'll
be sorry I'm gone. Oh, If we was
only rich, and ! had my--my moth
er. want my mother So"
Then she fell into an exquisite day
dream, in which mother and love
and beautiful things were hers-sueh
a lovely dream-ifi it had only been
true.
She clapped her hands excitedly,
and laughed in glee.
| cannot tell how it happened.
Perhaps a rabbit started the first
stone, as it leaped along the edge of
the excavation, and others were ad.
ded, as one unkind or needless word
will gather multitude OF sorrows,
until mass of debris lay on the
track, under JAMES startled eyes.
Just then the train came in sight,
far up the valley, its way clearly
marked by the line of white smoke.
Now it rushed into the tunnel,
three miles away, with smothered
shrek, and came out with roar.
Then the crossing was reached,
and she heard the warning. bell plain.
ly.
What should she do-what could
she do?
A dozen plans rushed through her
bewiidered brain as she sat there so
helplessiy, and let the precious mo.
ments go by.
She caught her breath and looked
at the embankment below the heap
of fallen dirt.
She fancied that she could already
see Willis face there. white, and still,
and dead
Then she sprang up with cry OF
horror, and darted toward the side
OF the hill nearest the coming train.
The descent was steepest there,
marked with huge powders, With
here and there scrsggy bush.
jamie did not hesitate, for the
train was already in sight again, and
so near.
She thought only cfthc kind, boy
ish face that would be looking from
the cab-for her!
Nobody never loved me but
Will" she breathed, as she dashed
on.
The whistle screamed down brakes
as Will saw her plunging down the
hill, clutching at the bushes and
leaping the powders like mad
thing.
Something is wrong" he cried to
his fireman. Chats jamie, and
know her-she amt doing that for
the fun of the thing. Will the brakes
never work? She's mad She will be
killed. All. my poor little Janiel"
The brakes worked at last, but
Will pressed one grimy sleeve across
his eyes, and crouched in the cab,
for be felt a peculiar Jar just as the
engine stopped, and knew, as well as
though he stood with them, what
the excited crowd had foun ben, ath
the iron wheels.
"Will, oh, Will"
II was pitiful, pleading cry, but
he shrank from it as from blow.
"She wants you, Haines," said the
conductor, looking in. "She is your
little jamie, isn't shei"-for all the
road Officers had come TO know her.
"She's-sbe's hurt bad, I'm afraid,
only she don't seem to suffer much.
Let Jake run in your place till we
get to her fathers"
"Will, oh, Will"
AS the cry came again, Win leap
ed from the cab and hurried to the
spot where they had laid jamie upon
the fresh, green moss.
aJanie, my little Janiel" be groan-
ed, as he knelt and clasped her in his
arms.
''The track, Will--the dirtl' she
gasped.
But the trainmen. who had gone
on TO learn the trouble, came hurry
ing back With white faces, to tell
what they owed TO little jamie.
81 only wanted to save you, Will.
l didn't think Of the rest" she said,
very slowly, caressing his face With
one hand. II was going to run