Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-06-11
WON BY A WRECK.

DHb you HuNc given Su-
enlargement. urged the good looking
young fellow who was bending low over
her chair, land led me to believe that you
cared for me- "
"Indeed Captain Winter / am exceed
ingly sorry II my behavior at any time
has induced you 10 form such an entirely
erroneous impression Of my feelings to.
ward you"
The junior captain Of the Black husec rs
drew himself up promptly at these cold,
cruel words,
"You mean what you say, Miss Ian.
eastern
Certainly
"Is there-any one else?"
"You have no right TO ask that, Clp
tain Winter, Violet answered, with ing
of defiance in her clear tones.
~ have every right, he returned hit
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 "
"Hushl Don't talk so loudly, F." she In
terrupted Then she added:
"You will keep your mistake to your
self"
"You need not alarm yourself. I 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 I'M
til you tell me whether or not / have a
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 10 escape was TO answer
his question, she murmured almost below
her breath:
"Therc is no one else. "
"Thcn," he replied, "you have been
simply playing with me- The other fell
lows affirm that the girls Of n garrison
town are fearful flirts and amuse them
selves in making playthings of military
hearts / never believed it until tonight.
l will detain You no longer. "
When they met again, it was on a scene
of horror, and amid sights and sounds the
memory Of which is burned into Violet's
brain forever. The down express in which,
not by generalization, 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
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 a hidcOus mass of
smoking ruins. He caught the burly
guard by the arm.
There is lady under there. Great
heaven! Why do you stand gaping here"
We think all are out, sir, - said the
guard, moving uneasily under his strong
grasp Leave 60, sirl There's no call to
pinch mo like that. l didn't upset the
train"
" didn't see what / had got hold Of
You must move this wreckage See''-
pointing to a shattered glass window at
their feet, which still bore futtering pa
per legend, Ladies Only" "She was in
here. l saw her get on at Leeds"
1--WE daren't move it until the lifting
jacks come sir, put in the station mas
ter, who had joined the 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-
ingly, as if seeking IA leader
Volunteers" he said briefly. "Men
she is my sweetheart
With a smothcred cheer they leaped on
the wrcckagc and worked like demons to
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 mase
was raised and so propped that 1t could not
slip, ard then they found what they were
seeking.
A porter saw her first She was lying
as if asleep, her dress undisturbed, her
lovely head unruffled.
Captain Winter had hurried forward at
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 hin.
The doctor came forward at once. He
carried ono arm in an improvised splnt
ana ding 1t was broken, but, with the
spirit of self sacrifice which is Characters
tic of his profession he forgot his own
pain in trying to alleviate that Of others
"DeadP' he said briskly. "Not a bit of
1t. She's only tainted / don't believe
sho has a scratch. Carry her up to the
station and we II soon have her round
My dear sir, that arm is unfortunately
broken" ~ 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. / 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 masters room waiting for the re-
lief train to take them on, 1.-THE regiment
is ordered abroad F."
II know" she said in q 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.
should have come to see you before left
England to know-was that "a true answer
you gave me two years agoS" he added
abruptly
mo" answered Violet quietly, all the
coquetry gone out Of her, sit was not. ]
have been dying for you ever since. -