Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-02-26
WON BY A WRECK.


her dainty shoe.
But you have given me distinct en-
couragement, urged the good looking
young fellow who was bending low over
her chair, land led me To believe that you
cared for me- 4"
Indeed, Captain Winter 1 am exceed
ingly sorry II 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
"Certainlyr
'Is there-any one elseY"
"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. 1T is the only thing that would
excuse and justify your rejecting me in
this heartless manner. You have treated
me shamefully, Miss Lancaster. "
"Hush! Don't talk so loudly" she In.
terruptcd 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 l mean TO remain un-
I'll you tell me whether or not / have
favored rival.
"Ploase take me back to the ballroom
Mt 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 ono else
"Then," he replied, "you have been
simply playing with me. The other fell
lows affirm that the girls Of garrison
town are fearful flirts and amuse them
selves in making playthings of military
hearts j never believed il 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 Niolet's
brain forever. The down express In which,
not by prcmeditation, both were passen-
gers had in the fog dashed into some
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 was 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. Captain Winter, half dazed, but
quite unhurt jumped out Of the smoking
l..
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 of
smoking ruins. He caught the burly
guard by the arm.
"1hcrc is lady under there Great
heaven Why do You stand gaping here"
We think all are out, sir said the
guard, moving uneaoily under his strong
grasp. leave go, sir There's no call TO
pinch me like that. / didn't upset the
train.
" didn't see what / had got hold Of
You must move this wreckage. See
pointing 10 "a shattered glass window at
their feet, which still bore fluttering pa
per legend, Ladies' Only" "Shc was in
here, ] saw her get on at Leedsr'
eve daren't move it until the lifting
jacks come. sir, put In tho station mas
ter who had joined the group of there
is any ono there, we should run the risk |
of crushing her. -
Captain Winter looked around the circle |
of faces. All looked back at him inquir.
ingly, as if seeking a leader
"Noluntoers' lie said briefly. "Men, J
she is my swccthoartr'
With smothCrod cheer they leaped on
the Wrcckago and worked like Demons to
clear it. Captain Winters military train.
ing stood him in good stead His direc-
tons were sharp and clear, and ~ blunder
was impossible. Weights and strength |
were well adjusted. and tho heavy mass
was raised and so IrUppcd that it could not |
slip, and then they found what they were
seeking
A porter saw her first. She was lying |
M if asleep, her dress undisturbed, her
lovely head unrufllCd.
Captain Winter mad hurried forward mt
the first cry that the lady was found. He
stood now, white faced and rigid, and all |
the others instinctively turned away their
looks from him.
The doctor came forward at once. He
carried one arm in an improyiscd splint
md sling 1t was broken, but, with tho
spirit of self sacrifice which is chaIactcris-
tic of his profession, he forgot his own
pain in trying TO alleviate that Of others
" Dead he said briskly Not bit of
1t. She's only tainted. / don't believe
she has "a scratch Carry her up TO the
station and we'll soon have her round
My dear sir, that arm is unfortunately
broken, as Captain Winter was eagerly
trying to shake his right hand Try the
other If you don't mind and then bear a
hand with the lady. l am helpless, and
the less she is shaken up the better. "
"Violet, said Captain Winter half an
hour later as they sat by the fire in the
station master room waiting for the re-
lief train To take them on, 1.-THE regiment
IS ordered abroad "
Il know" she said in low tone 81
saw it in The Gazette"
Trains in sight, sir, " the guard pop.
ped his head in to say
"All right. Wait minute, Violet I
should have come TO SEQ you before | left
England to know-was that true answer
1ou gave me two years agoS" he added
abruptly.
ttNn |