The Washington times., 1902-02-02

gravel grinding under the wheels, and
Lem pulled the brakes, and so did sixty
three. but we couldn't hold her. Seemed
as if nothing would stop her. even after
both throwed the reversin' bars
Yes she replied as she stroked his
face, we all know that you did what you
could. You were brave and true, 1
| know
He smiled and then drew his head
closer to her. He lifted his hand and she
saw hat 1t was cut and bleeding.
Without a word she turned back her
skirt and tugging al the petticOat tore
out strip of muslin. Then she wet this
in the pail and wringing it out carefully
bandaged his hand.
He opened his eyes again and looked at
her for long time, silent and with
satisfied expression on his face. Then
/ he spoke in a low voice.
I'VE didn't jump like them fellows
| down on the river division the time they
struck washout; we stuck by her till
she went over. Old Lem had the throt-
tie when she fell, snd guess he's buried
under her,
She did not tell him of the fate of
Lem. Over in the splintered and steam
! ing cab at that moment the section
hands were prying away the fingers
which in deaths grasp were still on the
/ throttle.
| Didn't kill none OF the company" he
asked.
No she said. mot one"
Glad of that for your sake" he replied.
after the nice way you talked to me,
would hate to know that any of your
friends had been killed on a train I was
helpin' to pull. 1 knowed, though, that
I'd have this some time or another. You
never can tell when you are railroadin',
but you are bound to get it some time.
Then he was quiet again.
Away of in the distance she heard a
low rumbling; it grew louder and more
distinct; then a loud whistle and the
changing of a bell The man by her
stirred. and in a whisper said:
They are coming-the wrecking train
She looked down the track as the earth
began to tremble. great burst of yell
low light struck the rails, and with an
other Shrek the train and its men were
running on the scene.
She drew closer to the injured man.
Groups of men hurried by her, carrying
great iron machines, picks and bars. The
darkness began to flicker with scores of
fiaring torches. The blows of the axes
and the picks started and increased as
the men at the jacks kept up a click,
click as the iron strained in the cogs
under the overturned cars.
Again another group of men approached,
ana one of them knelt by the man and
examined the wound. Then he felt all
over the body and looked significantly
at the conductor, who held the lamp. as
he pushed his hand several times against
the mans side.
Once more he looked at the head and
then twisted the baDdage back in a care
less fashion. The physician looked at
Miss Hodson, and without a word shook
his head slowly, and then arose and
walked away.
She understood that silent shaking of
the head. and the slower breathing of the
man whose head rested in her lap empha-
sized the meaning.
Jim. Jim, she whispered, can you
hear me-?
He smiled softly, but the eyes did not
open She lifted the wounded hand and
laid it across his breast. AS she did So
she noticed carnation stuck in the but
ton hole of the blue jumper he wore. and
il was still more Redeemed with his blood
Again she called him softly. but no an
swer came. She listened at the heart, hut
il was still.
Great choking Jumps came into her
throat. She leaned over and kissed the
bruised forehead. and then a torrent OF
tears burst from her eyes. For a while
she still held his head, looking into his
face, and rearranging his bandage.
Come. Grace" she heard some one re-
mark, and looking around. saw the stage
manager, who was Joined by the conduc-
tor and another man. Come, poor girl;
YOU can do no more for him
She looked at them, but spoke not a
word.
From the torn and stained jumper she
pulled the carnation and fastened it in
her bosom. Then she laid the head of
the dead man tenderly on the grass and
rose.
The stage manager put his arm around
her as she pressed close to his side, and
they walked away.
Every summer Broadway florist sends
n wreath OF carnations to little town
down in Virginia. where they are laid on
Il grave in a rough and scattered buryinS-
ground on the side of the Blue Ridge.
And if you should ask him who sends
them. he would tell you The girl with
the beautiful shoulders.