The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-27
THE BIG POLICEMAN.


falling-mean spring rain, which had
mixed itself up with q cold rain in such
manner that when it came dashing
around the street corner it caused pro-
fame pedestrians to say words which
would look i'll if printed, and the 10th
er kind to say "My goodness, or
something equally relieving to pent
up Indignation.
Looking down, the big policeman
saw n little woman, attired in some
kind of gray stuff and with big pathetic
eyes, standing beside him, and somehow
she seemed frightened at the crowd, the
passing vehicles, the changing street
car bells, and the constant passing of
the cars themselves. She was white
and shivering, and her garments, wet
through, chung about her in hinder
ing fashion, which kept her from rapid
movement, and rs she stepped close be-
side the big policeman he felt n curious
desire to take her up, much rs one
would take up child and carry her to
place of safety. She hesitated mo-
ment and then she attempted to go for
ward, but, alas, whether the rain blind
ed her or she just then remembered that
she was in haste and must at any risk
go on her way, she attempted to cross
over the track just in front of swiftly
moving car. In vain did the gripman
shout, in vain did the bell ring. The
little gray clad figure fiuttered on and
the crowd just behind her, feeling that
a tragedy was about to be enacted, was
hushed into instant silence. The big
policeman also comprehended the aw-
full danger of the woman and his teeth
came together with snap and his fine
eyes flashed as he sprang after her, his
hand outstretched i'll frantic effort to
reach, grasp and pull her back Tho car
was almost upon him, the noise of the
grinding wheels filled his ears, he knew,
as men know whose wits are ever ON
tho alert, that it was risking his life
for the life of q stranger, but mighty
effort, the flinging of his body forward,
and tho deed was done, the woman was
drawn out of the reach Of the cruel
wheels; but tho big policeman's left leg
gave the passengers i'll tho car sicken-
ing jar as tho wheels passed over it and
the tragedy for the crowd had been fur
nished.
Nobody noticed the woman, who, un-
hurt, mingled with the crowd and went
her way, but had they done SO they
would have seen her crying behind her
veil and every now and then clutching
her fingers together as if in mortal mis-
cry. And she was miserable, poor little
Marie Denton, who was only a dress
makers assistant and who had lost her
mother, her only known relative, only
a few weeks before. She had cried SO
much in the little room she called homo
at night that sleep went away from
her and she was so exhausted when
morning camo that she could hardly eat
her meager breakfast, and it was late
when she started for tho down town es-
tablishment where she was employed.
TWAS this thought that impelled her
when she tried to Cross the street and
which had resulted in such disastrous
fashion for the big policeman. Marie
remembered that his glance had fallen
upon her kindly, and while she had
made no effort to push her way to
where ready but tender hands were car
ing for tho brave fellow who had risked
his life to save hers, yet she registered
vow in her heart that she would new
er rest until she had told him how
grieved she was at his hurt and how
much she appreciated his heroism.
He might hate her for being the
cause, but Marie was u bravo little
woman whom her duty confronted her,
and she knew as well now as later on
that she must do what she could to
atone to tho poor fellow who was en-
during the torture Of an awful hurt.
All day she worked in silence, but
she saw the picture of the kind eyes
ever before her. and she resolved that
she would buy an evening paper and in
tho account of the accident would as
certain tho namo of the man who at one
bound was raised to the dignity of hero
and who was hero, too, as great as
any OF those whose names were blaZon-
ed OH fame's banner. What if he WAS
only policeman and the saving of life
was Ill the line of his duty? No man is
required to risk his own life to save
that of another, and us Marie remom-
bered that, save II bruise or two, she
had escaped without injury while her
rescuer was suffering, and all for her
sake, she whispered low to her heart
not the hero" or "a hero" but my
hero. +" And she blushed little as she
said it, but somehow it was so much
like music to her that she did not drive
it away, but kept it near her and around
it wove dreams.
When she started homo in the evening
from the first newsboy she came across
She bought paper and with rare good
fortune finding seat i'll the car which
bore her homeward she quickly unfold
ed tho nannr and hnnnn To rnn,, 4In