Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-12-09


chance" of becoming Colin Delorme's
wife.
How very poor a thing the PRIDE
which she had INDICATED by rejecting
him, seemed to her, as she wept pas
sionately for the chance Of happiness
flung away for words from the lips or
pair eff vulgar women who were no
more TO her than any other disagree
able strangers
g will tell him the truth to- night"
she whispered when she was ca mer
Gle loves me: he will forgive me for
my folly"
But when she reached the h )use sh+
was told that Colin Delorme had gon7
to the city on urgent business AND
would return the following evening
by the o'clock train.
Such long night, such a long day,
as those were to poor Honor IN her
misery of remorse! But at last they
were over, and in few moments the
whistle which announced the arrival
of the train at the small station be-
low would shrek on the evening air.
From a window of her room she
knew she could see the smoke from
the engine mile away, and at one
point, where the track ran like a
thread across an open space, some
what elevated, she could catch sight
Of the line of carriages ere the shrek
Of the whistle told that they were
about to stop.
The puffs Of smoke showed here
and there among the tree tops as she
looked forth, then like long black
serpent, the train darted around the
curve and sped out on the bridge.
There was a swaying of the train, a
sudden crash, which reached her dull
" from the distance, and down
through the shattered brickwork hud-
died the engine and three of the car
riages attached to it-down but few
feet, it is true, but at the bottom was
death to many-perhaps for Coli :
Delorme.
Honor did not cry out, did not faint
but assudden fierce strength seemed to
be infused into her slight figure, as
she sprang toward the door and dart
ed through. Down the corridor, out
at the hall door she ran like creature
f1ying for her very life.
In the drive a horse and buggy
were standing; his host was to drive
to the station for Colin.
Hatless, cloakless. with bare arms
and shoulders cleaning from the
blackness of her dinner dress, she
sprang into the vehicle and caught u
the reins.
The servant at the horses head
made way for her with frightened
glance at her white face and dilateo
eyes.
She turned the animal and dashed
| down the drive, out at the gates ano
on at gallop along the highway.
1t seemed an eternity to her before
she reached the wrecked train, ano
Others were there before her.
Still white as death, still silent, she
drew rein, and leaping out, darted IN
to the crowd, which was endeavorlns
to extricate the crushed and manglet
passengers from the debris abou
| them.
One was drawn forth as she reach
ed the group, and at last her lips un
closed to give forth cry of anguish
Was that shapeless, bleeding, moan
ing mass, of which she saw nothing u
recognize as human save blood
stained hand, and a few tresses
nuthroWn hair-was that the man sh
loved?
She pushed the men aside frantical
". and was trying to win her way e
the dying man, when hand was ial
on her shoulder, and voice tina
made her heart thrill, said:
"Honor, this is no place for you
Go home, my dearest. Even man
heart faints before such horrors a
this"
She chung to him with both hands
trembling ,sobbing, laughing-in short
nearly mad with joy.
"Colin! my love-my love, you ar
safe-uninjured?" she cried lncoher
emily. CT feared feared You ar
safe. Colin, dear Colin!'
"Safe, and blessed beyond measur
to know you care.n And he drew on
of the hands that chung to him to h
Inns. 81 was in the smoking car.
am unhurt, Honor; but many poo
fellow is perhaps dying while tai
to you. Go back, my love, land let m
Give all the all can; for every ma
f who lies dying here be sure some VIC
mans heart will break to day."
GAS mine would have broken ma