Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-06-26

'HIueE Ut atone NNEtNANAf ANN tNNNEH i
Warren longed for eyes in the back 1
Of his head he did not once let them
get within his vision The way he I
the situation to himself was
that the lieutenant ought to have his |
chance just as he, Warren. had had /
his, and if the soldier were more TO I
her liking he hoped he was man
enough TO take it as a gentleman
should.
The soldier was much to her liking |
that day at all events. They were
having the gayest kind of q time, and
their gayety had IN It the shy ripple
Of happiness easy TO be detected by
ON interested observer. More than
once Miss Danton and Warren passed (
close to them without being them
selves noticed, and both of them were
conscious that the affair would reach
a crisis before night. The girl from the
east liked the imperturbable manner
in which the civilian accepted the de-
feat which was inevitable. At was the
way Of the Anglo-saxon, and a good
way too, she told herself. She want
ed to tell him that some day he would
find good woman to appreciate him,
but She reflected that it would be inn
pertinent and refrained.
It was on the way down that chance
interviewed. The Lieutenant and Jessie
Cochrane were a little quiet, and when
their Shy eyes met they did not hold
each other long. 1t was Miss Danton
and Warren on the seat behind them
who kept the conversational ball roll
ing as the train moved slowly round
the curves Of the steep mountain edge
Presently the pace quiekened percep
tibly. Mansfield, looking for a moment
far out of the big windows, drew in his
head to say;
We're going pretty fast. 1 don't
know what the engineer can be think
ing of. We are right at the steepest
part Of the grade, and he ought to go
easy instead of sending her along like
this"
Still the rate of speed increased
ominously. The car swept round a
curve at Gee which threatened to
hurl it from the track over the precip-
;tous edge OF the mountain. The driv-
ing rod of the engine had broken by
one of those misehances which hap
pen once in thousand years. Wom-
EN- began to cry out hysterically,
wringing their hands and moaning.
Men looked at each other with white,
frightened faces, then made for the
doors and the big windows in panic
terror, everything forgotten except
the horrible fear of death which was
elutching at their hearts. The tradi-
tions Of the Anglo-Saxon race were
ignored, and they were bent on saving
themselves, no matter whom they
trampled down in their wild rush for
safety
Kate Danton was conscious of no
fear, only anger and disgust at the
selfishness and cowardice of the men
who were intent on getting out at any
cost. She saw Jessie Cochrane clutch
at the arm Of the lieutenant instinct
lively, and noticed that young Mans
field turned on his sweetheart face
sick with horror. Terror was knock
ing at his heart and sponging clean
the slate of those things man must
remember. Another instant, and he
had flung himself out of the window
to the mountain slope outside.
James Warren looked into the angry
eyes of the young woman beside him
then at the white-faced girl huddled
on the seat in front. The one to whom
his heart went out in that moment
when life and death hung in the bal
ance was the one who needed him
most. He rose in the swaying, pitch
] ing car, ard stumbled forward to the
place beside her. Conventions were
all forgotten He remembered only
/ that the woman he loved was close to
eternity, and his arm encircled her tc
ward off harm If might be.
All this was matter of seconds
only. Presently the air brakes
caught, the wheels ground into the
iron of the tracks, gradually the speed
/ slackened and the train jolted to &
halt. There was plenty of excitement
Everybody was talking at once, ex
planning and questioning. The mel
who had played the lesser part were
showing speeiously just why they haC
| jumped. 1t appeared that they hat
intended to get at the brakes some
how and that their minds had beer
full of saving the women, thougl
when it came to details their explana
/ tions halted a little. Warren eN
changed q grim and cynieal smile will
Miss Danton at all this voluble talk
One might have noticed that the mel
were really feeling sheepish and tina
their eyes met each other only fur
lively.
As for lieutenant Mansfield, he of
fered no defense, but chose the man
lier part of bearing his shame in 81
lence. He was white to the lips will
| his disgrace, and he hated himsel
with a loathing that was exceeding
bitter. He dropped into the seat be
side Miss Danton and rode the rest o
the way in silence. BY tacit eonsen
the accident was a tabooed topic, Thl
young army officer had shown th'
white feather, and an Of them under
stood that he was prepared 10 aceep
as his punishment the loss Of his plac
in the regard Of his sweetheart iii
was quite out Of the running, and b.
knew IT. The day was one long agon.
of shame to him. 1t was scared int
his consciousness beyond the chanc
of healing that after he had won hi
love he had lost by reason Of his owi
cowardice. 10 did not help matter
that he had only done what four
hiths of the rest OF the men in tn
car had done. The point was that h
had hinched where Warren had stoo
firm.
Three months later Miss Dantoi
was chief bridesmaid at the wedding