Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-01-19

be that Lance, such a thoroughly good
fellow as he was, was destined to spend
all the coming years alone. And for a
moment she, too, rebelled at the thong bit.
And then she wondered to herself why
her life had been always so wonder
fully blessed. She was not half thank
full enough, she knew, aud a longing came
TO her to make praise offering at Christ
mas time in gratitude for the happiness
that flied her days.
81 should like" she said to herself, for
getting that her hands were always be-
slowing benefits and that she was never
weary in well doing, 81 should like to be
able to put ray OF sunshine into some
lives, and to do it so they should not feel
1t as charity, but jus bit OF blessedness
that had fallen to them out OF Gods prov
idence. l should not want them to feel
that they ought to thank me, or to be
Father
The north bound express from Boston
had passed through the small stations
that chung along its route, and was rush
ing toward L as il glad to be free from
the necessity of SLOWING up" every few
minutes.
The passengers were settling themselves
comfortably in their seats, several even
trying to get little sleep in the midst OF
the talk and laughter around them. One
girl, who was atone, sat with face averted,
looking out into the blackness OF the
night, that was broken only by the head
lights, seeming like great red eyes as they
passed with rush and roar.
She was plainly, even poorly clad, but
with extreme neatness. And her face
told that her lot, of late, had been a
struggling one, though her petite, deli
cate appearance betokeped meagre
share OF strength for the battle. She had
looked around the car, at the comfort and
wealth there, listened to the cheerful
hum Of voices and little bursts OF happy
laughter, until her own loneliness seemed
intensified, and her prospects harder in
contrast. So she was glad to turn away,
and would fain have shut her ears to all
sound as easily. Then memory took pos
session OF her, going back TO happier
days and scenes, until memory, too, be-
came torture, and she clasped her hands
rigidly In her lap, sternly thrusting back
he impatient tears.
A rush Of cold air around her. The
conductor was going through the car for
one OF the train hands had come in and
was talking to him in low, hurried tones,
then both hastened away. Almost I'M
mediateiy there was H perceptible slack
enug of speed. The train barely
craw led for moment and then stopped
entirely. There seemed to be some con-
fusion forward, and voices occasionally
spoke out of the darkness, but no one
came to enlighten them.
The people looked at each other in
perpexity that was perhaps, t'uged " 18th
a arm; someone asked what he trouhle
was, and two or three of the men
Veut out to Investigate. A whisper of
fire Went Hron"'. and there was H general
exodus from the car.
Rose Lorritne. iuuowed, chill of fear
creeping over her ~ she stepped down
upon tie track. and out into the red
slare that fitted the pace, and shot
lurid rays far toward the sky.
frame, We're bursting from every part
OF one Of the cars That had been drawn
ton safe distance from the rest OF he
train. IT was the mail ard baggage
COS oh, she heard someone say, and cry
of despair. unheard and UNDECIDED, came
from ner lip, rs Sue realized what this
tu.upt To her.
All her life she remembered the scene,
every detail of which seemed craven on
ucE 1ratr irnid the cloud OF uncertainty
hst gathered around her.
lpe background OF dark woods and
Nv, the throug of excited people, the
tlurrying trainmeu with their spades
iut- ttty throwing dift upon the track
'"eer Md around the burning car, run
ming away to get a cool breath on their
heH, ed faces, aud then back again to tue
work. Tnoo or three farmers from some
unseen hahitatiou came calling and run
ming across the tieldS hat stretched away
to the right. On the one side the long
deserted train, on the other the still
pantin engine. aud in the centre the
raging fire, the flames lick ing every inch
OF wood. and iron and gl Sc, while slowly
the windows Tell, one by one, pieces from
the roof dropped into the furnace below,
the safe, red hot, fell through the floor;
the walls were consumed, leaving the
once costly structure but framework of
iron and steel that fell ut last and lay a
ruin on the track.
concluded merit ,reek