Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-02-09
WON BY A WRECK.

cOurag6menU, urSeu uuo BOUu loOhlllS
young fellow who was bending low over
her chair, land led me to believe that you
cared for me. "
Indeed, Captain Winter l am exceed
ingly sorry if my behavior at any time
has induced you to form such an entirely
erroneous impression of my feelings TO-
ward you.
The junior captain of the Black hussars
drew himself up promptly at these cold,
cruel words
"You mean what you say, Miss Ian
eastern
"Certainly!''
lis there-any one else?'
"You have no right to ask that, Cap
tain Winter" Violet answered, with ring
of defiance in her clear tones.
~ have every right" he returned Bit
terly. SIT is the only thing that would
excuse and justify your rejecting me in
this heartless manner You have treated
me shamefully, Miss Lancaster. F."
'Hush Don't talk SO loudly" she in
terrupted. Then she added
"You will keep your mistake to your
self"
"You need not alarm yourself. have
not the slightest intention OF wearing my
heart on my sleeve for all the davis to
peck at But here mean to remain UNI
til you tell me whether or not have O
favored rival"
"Please take me back to the ballroom
at once. Dancing has commenced and Sir
Felix will be looking for me.
He neither moved nor spoke. Seeing
that the only way to escape was to answer
his question, she murmured almost below
her breath:
"There Is no one else"
"Then," he replied, "you have been
simply playing with me. The other fell
lows affirm that the girls of garrison
town are fearful f1irts and amuse them
selves in making playthings Of military
hearts. never believed it until tonight.
will detain you no longer"
When they met again, it was on scene
of horror, and amid sights and sounds the
memory of which is burned into Viole' s
brain forever. The down express in which,
not by generalization, both were passen-
gers had in the fog dashed into sore
empty trucks standing where no trucks
should have been just outside the little
station of Southwold
The rear carriages escaped damage, and
it was in this part that Captain Winter
was travelling
When the sickening crash came, his first
thought Vas for Violet Lancaster. He
knew she was in the train, for their eyes
had met for one brief instant at the ticket
office at the point of departure.
Now, CAY tain Winter, half dazed, but
10 hmm cod ~ tho ~
carriage, where he had been dreaming Of
his lost love, and looked wildly around for
her. Alas! She had been, he knew, in the
ladies' compartment, near the engine,
which was now only hideous mass {
smoking r. ms. He caught the burly
guard by the arm.
"There is lady under there. Great
heavenl Why do you stand gaping here?"
s'We think all are out sir, said the
guard, moving uneasily under his strong
grasp "Leave co. sirl There's no call to
pinch me like that I didn't upset the
train"
C didn't see what / had got hold Of
You must move this wreckage. See''-
pointing to shattered glass window at
their feet, which still fore lluttering pa
per legend, Ladies' Only" "She was in
here. l saw her get on at Leedsp'
'sWe darent move it until the liftil !,
jacks come, sir, put in the station mas
ter, who had joined tho group. IF there
is any one there, we should run the risk
of crushing her,"
Captain Winter looked around the circle
of faces. All looked back at him inquir-
jngly, as If seeking q leader.
"VolunteersP' he said briefly. "Men,
she is my sweetheart
With smothered cheer they leaped on
the wreckage and worked like demons co
clear It, Captain Winters military train
ing stood him in good stead. His direc-
tions were Sharp and clear, and to blunder
was impossible. Weights and strength
were we'll adjusted and the heavy mass
was raised and so propped that it could net
slip, and then they found what they were
seeking.
A porter saw her first. She was lying
as If asleep, her dress undisturbed, her
lovely head unruffied
Captain Winter had hurried forward at
the first cry that tho lady was found He
stood now, white faced and rigid, and all
the others instnctively turned away their
looks from him.
The doctor came forward at once TIC
carried one arm in an improvised splint
and sling. 1t was broken, but, with the
spirit OF self sacrifice which is chalacteris-
tic or his profession, he forgot MS own
pain in trying to alleviate that of others.
Deadp' he said briskly. "Not bit OF
IT. She's only tainted. doh,t pei'eve
she has scratch Garry her up 20 1ne