The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-06-25

~ AAffA SNNAAANi NoASt. 1 tDLlun holm
KNOWN that Mary was troubled the
same way. But l viii say this. | never
tried to make Mary love me. an neyera
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.
often enough Ia be on III from n
tn engine, or on nh tender. when ~.
passed the stile that summer. an do a.
l would, | couldn't help but look to
catch her eye. An | never missed
though she waved her hand tooId Jobn
"One evenin'. in the early autumn of
that year, we were COin' At as grood ,
speed as the incline would H.. us am.
Just gettin' towards the cottage. Jobp
had sent ire round to he front o. then
CINE with my Oil-can. an couldn't helm
lookin' ahead to see if Mary was stand
in waitin' at the Stile Yes. she N,,>
there as usual, right in front Of uS. for
The line curved To the right Just al Tho
stile. an WAS hidden from view behind
a little wood. could see her print dr,->sS
an the same white linen bonnet Sb.
wore when first saw her in the garden
on that spring evenin'- Oh. how nv
heart went out to her. an how that ola
wicked feelin' towards John rushed
through me, an made my nevreS tincrle
from head to foot.
Mary had her back towards Ms,
very unusual thing-an' | rem-mher
wonderin' why. Then the usual three
whistles sounded, short an sharp. She
turned instantly. an threw up her
hands like one demented We went
fknnI,1riu' H.aKs-ra -,
she stood, an ] saw her ewes Stariu' sr
ne, like Goals of fir. Set in :: fs... as
white a. chalk She fascinated me-.
lust then old John shut off steam.
an ] heard him dOin' a thing he'd u..I or
done afoTe-rsversin' the engine, All
of sudden Mary seemed 10 wake UD.
an find horrible dream true. for
heard, al.Oyc the roar of the train. III.
grindin' q The rails. and the. shrek Of
the bTaLcs, that had been jammetl hari
down hc-'Id one piercing scream 1t
was word-my name-'Harry,'
''Of course all this happened in a
breaIhless second OF TWO. Half A life
time Is sometimes squeezed into half
minute, sir. l took nv eves from
Mary's face as we passed her. standin'
a. # turned 10 stone. an looked ahead
Heavens. what a sight, Rearin' dow IL
on US at 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 l saw IL all in a flash. The train
was jumpin' like buckin' horse. an'.
with my body all of a tremble. I'd a.
much as | could do TO get back To the
foot plate
There stool John Wright. of course
/ 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 nlv ewes.
1t was the look on his face. 1t made
Inc nearly forget the doom to y hich We
were rushin'. l cant describe it. 1t
Was the look of a man who has nothing
left to live for-whose hope had been
suddenly wiped clean out forever.
The instant he saw me his face
changed. He sprang towards me. an.
seizin' me 10y the arm with grip Of
steel, spoke IN Il hoarse " whisper. that
could be heard above everything:
Jump off, my lad-you've tim,-you
can do il. Jump off,-for her sake
she loves thee-for her sake. Harry
for heavens sake,'
Il said: Nay, John
Quick he says Harry, Harry,
Jump for your Mary's sake
Il swung one leg off the enCint-lifc
WAS dear-an' prepared for spring
into the grass Then a great Surgin'
love for Tins man came over me- an |
turned Sudden-lil>e, an took him by
the hand, an | SAYS: John, well stick
together. an die together-if It's Cons
will-for her sake An ne Just gave me
that sweet look, an stepped in front Of
NE, as If 10 put his great frame be
twiNt me an death. an there came 4
crash as if heaven an earth had met,
an | seemed To roll over an over. an
then II felt as if the whole earth had
risen up an smitten mean knew no
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