The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-06-12

utA nv hlluc1 U'''OIe 1 experienced
a str snsation [ lid not know
wha vt 1 suppose it was love,
but n. said a word about i5 to
her. reasoned that it would be too
presumptuOus- might lose me nv
situation.
Il did not know then that L was
qualified 10 10 anything better in the
newspaper line thau to grind on the
Gazette at ground pay. L made my
self wretcLed at times wishing she
would Keep away from the office, so
that l might forget her. But drew
a long breath Of relief the next time
sue appeared, and answered her ques.
tons about this and that thing Jour
nalistic, and listene to her blissfully
when she told me what a glorious pro-
fessiou she thought it and what al
ornament TO it she considered me.
She sounded me frequently on my
ambitions, and told her freely what
were my hopes.
You are welded to your work,
she said to me one day.
Il am, replied
Then she looked at me with an
expression which l did not under
stand and changed the subject. [
never saw her outside Of the office. 1
was practically penniless, and she
accustomed to luxury. l was not in
society. Our lives had little in com
mon. l loved her The thing for
me to do, as a sensible person, was to
make the best of 1t silently, and l did
so. Did l do right, Perk?"
Precisely, Billy. Get along"
We'll, after while her engage
ment to one Of the great men Of the
clty-name Jones-was announced.
and It fell upon my narrowed soul
with much the gentleness Of a thun.
derclap. felt bad, Perk. but at the
same time felt glad-glad that had
not made an ass OF myself.
Il had been sorely tempted, heaven
knows. At the first opportunity
had dropped into the Office to re-
lc'.-d her camera III the coat closet
shook hands with her and told her as
clearly as ! could-n knowing what
10 say-ho- delighted 1 was, and.
sir, she II quarely about with
out VIZ Jft me high and dry.
looking every bit, 1 doubt not, as
foolish as l felt. That was in Janu-
any. The wedding was to occur in
June.
Il worked like a cold weather hv
and tried to forget her. ! succeeded
pretty we'll. Her visits TO the Office
had ceased with my well-meant con
gratulatory performance, aud this
made it easier for me, although nv
heart beat like shorthand Whenever
L heard a female voice from the
private Office, and the sudden swish
OF skirts caused me to Jump violently.
But L did not see her again until
Msy-three weeks before the we'd
ding. She had been in Chicago.
believe, paying farewell visit 10
scLOolmate, aud Incidentally"
Never mind that, Billy" inter
lected Perkins. You don't know
what she was doing incidentally.
Come 70 the poilt."
Widger bowed grayely. alright.
Perk. L thank you. / was alone in
tue office one stormy night, fixing mp
string of airy falsehoods for the next
day, when the telephone bell rang
like forty fires. / put the receiver to
my ear, held it there for perhaps a
minute. yelled yes into the trans
mitter, bOlted into my overcoat aud
turned out the light.
Il was at G., S. aud y. shUlJs G-s
minutes later, aud, swinging onto tue
rear platform OF the caboOse attached
10 q wrecking train, i'll IN hour I was
on the scene ii the wo, 81 railway
smash-up IN the histeEyot Minnesota.
Ever see a spihtered passenger
train at night, PerkSsfSsfFIte faces star
ing at you by lauterb light, groans
seeming to rise outkaf the earth.
steam. smoke, horror? j never real.
lied until that night what au awful
thing darkness is-darkuess TO which
there IS no limit-that almost sufio-
Gates man aud strikes him blind.
Tune and agoiu l involuutarily passed
my hand before my face 90 clear q way
In the blackness FOR my eyes.
There was a station not far away.
aud after getting what information
could / took my way i'm that direction
10 get off some dispatches for the first
editions ui the morning papers.
stumbling along as beet could.
year1ing for light light. light. Ard.
Pers j there was light
Celestial fire. Billy
Something like 81. + stumbled
over a body finally had been
dreadIug iti aud praying that ] might
be steerel clear of that sort of ob.
stacles ~ gave ont tho faintcst kind
OF moan when T struck DO. and T 10.
coiIed as much ~ fifteen feet. Think.
Then I took firm grip ou myself aud
approached it again. because That
seemed 90 Doc my duty
The man or woman, Whichever No
was, lad evidently crsvleI ont of the
wreck aud tried tY 60 somewhere. 10
had failed wretciejIy. 7, was lying
SO the long, wet erase AZ quite 't,le
distance from The track. 10 might
not be found for hour ii + passed 10
by. Nevertheless, hcsitate1. 4
confess 10 with shame.
Then 7 knelt by ITS side and
passed my hands over It's cold. rain.
washed face aud bedraggled hal. It
was a woman. put my finger Co it7
pulse. 10 was alive
The futter OF tine straiuinr hear
acted like strong atmuiaut upon
NE, / Intel the Im1 form iu nav