Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-03-22

guess some Of 'em would be young, to
maybe some little babies; mayby q I.
Ter about my age. They're all a-loo
ing at the sun for the last time if tn,
only knew it,"
What kind Of a queer feeling W,
this? He tried to whistle it of, bat
only came back the stronger. FL
frogs singing had never disturbed hi
before. but tonight it sounded weir
and sad, and after awhile the very stal
came out and looked at him as if the
knew something about il. -.-Sl'Ii
"What a strange thing it must be
die ] Maybe somebody'll be waitin an
waiten for some Of those people to com
home"
Not in his remotest past could b
remember any love, but somehow b
understood this waiting.
The frogs sung on, the young moo
sailed slowly down the heavens, and b.
and by the tramp climbed off the fenc
and slouched. away down the road
Hanging beside stable door be ba
seen a lantern when he passed tina
afternoon, and he crept up, hooked i
off the nail and went on his way. H,
he'd no definite purpose in view excep
that he was going toward The gully, anc
it might be useful. ~ never did dc
anything, and I always got along. But
It's pity to let them all die. Better to
have one old Teller go. I wonder how
il feels to dep
He shuddered little and seemed TO
hear the voice again. "Shoot him deadp'
He sat down by the roadside and
said sullenly: ut amt none OF my
business. I amt got nothin 10 do with
it. 1t don't concern me any" o.
But after awhile he went on again.
at must be 8 o'clock n.w," he said.
The night had grown dark and cloudy
only a few ftars glittered at intervals
through the flying rack. The tramp
had reached the head OF the gully. 1t
VAS not very deep, but suficisn: to
'ause a terrible disaster. The track
Hoped around curve few yards be-
Iond and Just here ran over narrow
bank Of earth slanting abruptly down
IN either side.
The tramp lit his lantern, Eand tax
NJ of his coat, wrapped ii carefully
'rHund. Then he lay down on the
les, fat on bis faes,and began TO creep
lowly along, squirming and crawling
Ike a worm.
Ater a seemingly endless time Of
rec ping and feeling carefully with bis
ards he fell the smoothe cold steel Of
he track en- | abruptly. One rail had
cen removed just at the highest point
, the gully.
Now lie had nothing more TO do but
'ait And be killed. He wondered
ow it felt to be sbot. A strong de-
re TO get rp and run took possession
him, but he might just ~ well be |
hot saving the as now. so he lay still. |
"Maybs won't be killed. I might |
il through some way. An cd mol
cunt like me nd be lilsly to get |
,rough with . whole hide. Anyway,
won't be much less. II 'twould only |
,me!"
II seemed an hour since he had lain
lere; then he heard the fumbling and
10 distant "whoo-o-whoe-o-,"
ID in . minute the train rounded the
lrve. The tramp flung his coat into
10 gully and sprang TO his isst, WAY
6 the lantern up and down over his
'ad. Five pistol shots rang out
larply above the noise Of the train,
Q lantern tumbled into the gully, and
q tramp fell forward across the track
Q engine coming to standstill with
two feet Of his body.
Instantly clamor Of voices arose,
9 engine pulled brsa.hlesaly. lighls
shed through the darkness. the tic.
re examined, the lantern, ths coat
d an empty pistol were rescued from
Q gully, and the tramp was lifted BY
dozen pairs Of hands.
"Hs is deadl" they cried. Shot
adj Murdered by train wrseksrsv
A young doctor elbowsd his way
,ough the crowd. He was Of tall,
presence. and ihsy fell
X before his authoritative voie..
MAKE way, thers!"
Hs knelt down beside the tramp and
or rapid examination said: "The
n isn't even seriously hurt. There
MI a Gnah xrnund IN Al hin H.