The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-27

And when she stretched out her arms
and cried: Colin, my love, my dar-
ling, come back! Do not go from me! l
love you'll love you!' he was too far
away to hear or heed, and only a bird,
perchcd on a branch far above her head,
saw the girl fling herself down among
the grasses Of the May time and sob as
If her heart would break.
1t did not comfort her so very much,
after all, to know that now no gossip
could say she had Jumped at the
chance Of becoming Colin Delorme's
wife.
How very poor a thing the pride
which she had vinGHated by rejecting
him seemed to her, as she wept passion
ately for the chance Of happiness flung
away for words from the lips of a pair
of vulgar women, who were no more to
her than any other disagreeable stran-
gers!
II will tell him the truth tonight"
she whispered when she was calmer.
HE loves me. He will forgive me for
my folly"
But when she reached the house she
was told that Colin Delorme had gone
to the city on urgent business and would
return the following evening by the Z
o'clock train.
Such a long night, such a long day
as those were to poor Honor in her mis-
cry Of remorse! But at last they were
over, and in a few moments the whistle
which announced the arrival of the
train at the small station below would
shrek out III the evening air.
From a window of her room she
knew she could see the smoke from the
engine a mile aOay, and at one point,
where the track ran like a thread across
an open space, somewhat 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 q long black serpent,
the train darted around the curve and
sped on the bridge.
There was a swaying of the train, a
sudden crash, which reached her duly
from the distance, and down through
the shattered brickwork huddled the en-
CINE and three of the carriages attached
to it-down but a few feet, it is true,
but at the bottom was death to many
perhaps to Colin Delorme.
Honor did not cry out, did not faint,
bat a sudden fierce strength seemed to
be infused into her slight young figure
as she sprang toward the door and dart
ed through. Down the corridor, down
the stairs, out at the hall door she ran
like a creature flying for her very life.
In the drive a horse and buggy were
standing. His host was to drive to the
station for Colin.
Hatless, cloak]ess, with bare arms
and shoulders cleaning from the black
ness Of her dinner dress, she sprang into
the vehicle and caught up the reins.
The servant at the horses head made
way for her, with a frightened glance at
her white face and dilated eyes.
She turned the animal and dashed
down the drive, out at the gates and on
at a gallop along the highway.
1t seemed an eternity to her before
she reached the wrecked train, and 9TH
ers were there before her.
Still white as death, still silent, she
drew rein, and, leaping out, darted into
the crowd, which was e%ndeavoring to
extricate the crushed and mangled pas
sengers from the debris about them.
One was drawn forth as she reached
the group, and at last her lips Enclosed
to give forth a cry of anguish.
Was that shapeless, bleeding, moan
ing mass, Of which she saw nothing to
recognize as human save a blood stained
hand and a few tresses Of nut brown
hair-was that the man she loved?
She pushed the men aside frantically,
and was trying to win her way to the
dying man, when a hand was laid on
her shoulder and a voice that made her
heart thrill said:
Honor, this is no place. for you. Go
home, my dearest. Even a mans heart
faints before such horrors as this"
She chung to him with both hands,
trembling, %sobbing, laughing-in short,
going nearly mad with joy.
Colin, my love, my love! You are
safe-uninjured?' she cried incoherent-
ly. II feared-I feared You are safe,
Colin, dear Colin?'
Safe, and blessed beyond measure to
know you care" And he drew one of
the hands that chung to him to his lips.
Il was in the smoking car. I am I'M
hurt, Honor, but many a poor fellow is
perhaps dying while I talk to you. Go
back, my love, and let me give all the
aid l can. For every man who lies dying
here be sure some woman's heart will
break today"
LAS mine would have broken had you
died." she whispered, releasing him.
And he Joined the many who were
orking for the lives Of the unfortunate
passen gers, while she returned to her
cousins, confident of the existence of a
God Of mercy.
Six months later, when a notice of
the marriage of Colin Delorme and Hon
or Campbell appeared, Mrs. Gays &C.
quaintance Of the venomed tongue met
and accosted her.
"Itold you that if Colin Delorme pro-