Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-08-05
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"Then he pressed me to go again an
spend Sunday at the cottage. | put
him off, but he wouldn't take mo- for an
answer. So, whether for fear of hurtin
his feelins, or because | couldn't keep
away, l can't say, but l yielded, an
went After that | went several times,
an each time | got deeper an deeper
| in love with Johns sweetheart, aye. an
what seemed worse, l couldn't help
KNOWN that Mary was troubled the
same way. But | will say this, never
tried to make Mary love me, an never a
word of love passed between us, but.
sometimes, thought | saw trouble in
Johns eyes, an then I'd VOW to myself
to go no more.
"0ften enough I'd be on tn front O.
tn engine, or on TIL tender, when we
passed the stile that summer, an do as
would, 1 couldn't help but look to
catch her eye. An l never missed.
though she waved her hand to old John.
Zone eyenin', in the early autumn Of
that year, we were goin' at as good a
speed as the incline would let US, an
just gettin' towards the cottage. John
had sentme round he front o. then
CINE with my oil-can, an couldn't help
lookin' ahead to see if Mary was strand
in waitin' at the stile. Yes, she was
there as usual. right in front of us. for
The line curved 20 the right just at the
stle. am was hidden from view behind
a little wood. could see her print dress.
an the same white linen bonnet she
wore when first saw her in the garden
on that spring evenin'. Oh, how my
heart went out TO her, an how that old
wicked feelin' towards John rushed
through me, an made my nevres Jingle
from head to foot
MARY had her back towards us--a
very unusual thing-an' | remember
Wonderin' why. Then the usual three
whistles sounded, short an sharp. She
turned instantly, an threw up her
hands like one demented We went
thunderin' down TO the crossin' where
she stood, an saw her eyes starin' at
me, like Goals Of fire set in a face as
white as chalk. She fascinated me.
Just then old John shut off steam.
an ! heard him doin' a thing he'd nes er
done afore-reversin' the engine An
of a sudden Mary seemed to wake up
an find a horrible dream true. for
heard. above the roar of the train. the
grindin' of She rails, and the shrek OF
the brakes, that had been jammed hard
down. heard one piercing scream. 1t
was word-my name-'Harryl'
"0f course all this happened in
breathless second or two. Half life
time is sometimes squeezed into half a
minute, sir. | took my eyes from
Mary's face as we passed her, standin'
as if turned to stone, an looked ahead
Heavens! what a sight! Bearin' down
on us at a great rate of speed was an
engine an tender-a runaway! II
was comm down the bank, tender first,
an we were timed to meet at the june
ton. saw it all in flash. The train
was jumpin like bucllin' horse, an,
with my body all Of a tremble, I'd as
much as could do to get back to the
foot plate.
There stood John Wrigh, of course.
l seemed to see him, and naught else
He'd done all man could do. an was
standin' stock-still, with one hand on
the lever. But it wasn't his stiffness
that made the tears start to my eyes.
1t was the look on his face. II made
Inc nearly forget the doom to which we
were rushin'. ! can't describe il. I'll
was the look of man who has nothing
left to live for-whose hope had becu
suddenly wiped clean out forever.
THE instant he saw me his face
changed. He sprang towards me, ar !
seizin' me by the arm with a grip OF
steel, spoke in a hoarse whisper. that
could be heard above everything: |
Jump Off, my lad-you've time-you
can do IT, Jump ofT!-for her sake
she loves thee-for her sake Harry
for heavens sake!'
Il SAID: Nay. John
"'Quicl<,' he says. Harry Harry! |
Jump for your Mary's sake!'
Il swung one leg off the engine-life /
was dear-an' prepared for a spring
into the grass. Then a great surgin
love for this man came over me, an /
turned sudden-like, an took him by |
the hand, an l says: John, well stick 4
together, an die together-if it's Gods |
will-for her sake An he just gave me
that sweet look, an stepped in front OF /
me, as if TO put his great frame be-
twixt me an death, an there came a
crash as if heaven an earth had met.
an l seemed TO roll over an over, an
then it felt as if the whole earth had |
risen up an smitten mean knew no
more.
81 woke from a troubled dream that
seemed to have lasted a lifetime. an
opened my eyes, half conscious. an not
sure but that was still dreamin' Then
slipped off again, an ! remember
thinkin' that the sweet eyes that
/ me had seemed TO meet. were the
-as of my o-11a r,fliou auwn1 An fbev