The Grit-advocate., 1901-02-01

prairies, who would serve to shorten
the weariso.ne journey.
As the train proceeded the heat o.
TIE car forced the party to the door
way to catch the slight breeze impaired
by the motion OF the. train. Groupe I
in as comfortable attitudes as the con-
ditions permitted, the party was in
the height of merriment over dis
cussion of the reason for calling the
station they were approaching by the
strange and unpleasantly sounding
name OF Chugwater. when a sudden
jar, followed by frightful, crashing
sound, caused each to grasp at the
nearest support. At the same instant
a slight female form was seen flying
out over the trestle spanning the
canyon they were crossing, and Jennie
shrieked:
Grace has fallen into the canyon. -
She leaned far out over the plat
form of the now stationary coach. but
before she had completed her startling
sentence another form flew past her
down over the side of the trestle and
could be seen working it's way hurried
ly along the steel girder to the side
of the canyon, and to a ledge Of rock
on which she now saw the petite, un-
conscious form of her companion, ly-
ing doubled and soiled, twenty feet be
low.
A coupling had broken, the two parts
Of the train had come together with
such momentum as to force Grace tc
release her grasp Of the platform rail-
ing and she was now lying where the
slightest movement on return to con
seriousness, would precipitate her tc
the bottom of the canon. two hundred
feet below.
Instantly the stranger had grasped
her danger, and with the agility Of Z
trained athlete, had clambered over
the side Of the trestle. allowed himself
to slide down the steel supports to tha
first girder, across which he sprang to
the rescue of the silent form, which
might be that of life or death.
An involuntary shout of joy came
from him before he reached her side
lifted her head from the side Of which
the red blood was slowly trickling, and
discovered she was breathing and was
apparently not seriously injured
Something in the white, blood stained
face, the pitiabe weakness of the
dainty form now nesting closely
against his breast, caused strange
fiuttering at his heart strings. Strong
ly impressed by her gentle manner, her
piquant form and fairy-like face dur
ing their ride up the road. he had cast
more than one glance OF deep interes,
in her direction, and now as she lay
painting, broken, helpless, senseless in
his arms, a strange yearning to which
he had never before yielded, took pos
session of hi mand he cried despair.
ingly:
Grace. Grace, come back. can
not let you die. Live, live for me-"
AS If recalled to life by the pleading
of the tones, the pretty brown eyes
opened, and a look crept into them
which caused the young stranger tc
more strongly clasp her to his breas,
and his heart to beat furiously against
hers.
AS full consciousness returned
Grace realized the position in which
she was held, and blushing divinely
gently drew herself away.
She quickly returned in terror, fol
below her she saw the death she hac
escaped and the fright took from hel
all her strength. Notwithstanding hel
feeble protests the stranger took he
again into his arms. as lightly and ten
de.ly as though she were a child ant
started along the narrow, dangerou!
ledge. from which a misstep woulc
hllxl H.