Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-02-17
HEROINE MlLLY.
How She Saved the Train Which
Bore Her Engineer Lover.

Il guess poor Jim VIII nave u ~
without his supper Tonight" saic
Widow Hosmer, as she peered anx'
iously out into the bleak, rainy twi'
light Pete has sprained his leg SO
slipping down out of the hay-loft
that he can't take step on II, ano
| s'pose you and will have to finish
| the chores, Milly.'
"All right, mother. can milk Ole
/ Speckle as well as not; and then we
have only to close up things FOR the
night. Pete managed to get the nay
down before he got himself done; but
| do think he is the most awkward
unlucky creature that we ever had on
the place Here 1t isn't a week since
he almost cut his thumb off, and It's
mercy ne didn't burn the house
down yesterday, when he went and
started the great fire in the fireplace
without ever taking the boards or the
chimney"
yes, that's so; he does seem Bit
unbalanced. but | feel sorry for the
poor fellow He's grooming dreadful
with his leg. | gave him some lnl-
ment for IL. and he went to his room
| And now comes this dispatch from
jim. and no one to go to the station
with his lunch"
Never mind mother, we'll fix II
/ somehow" answered pretty, Drown
eyed Milly, as she hustled about, put
4 ting on her waterproof and overshoes'
preparatory to finishing the chores;
and the darkness hid the rosy fush
with which she said, as the first tink-
ling streams of milk made music IN
the tin pail: Mother, believe l can
carry Jim's lunch down to him my
self"
Mercy, Milly! I'd never dare 70
let you-the night so dark and the
| road so long and lonely! NO, indeeo'
child; Jim would never allow II.
Il know, but it's too bad Tor the
poor fellow to go without MS supper
this cold, bleak night, and l know
every inch of the way with my eyes
shut" 49,,
Mrs. Hosmer shivered a little as she
drew her shawl closer against the
keen. autumn blast, and one could see
that her resolution wavered a little.
"A cup of nice, hot coffee from home
would seem sort of cheerful to him,
she said, In a meditative tone, ana
It's proper kind of you to make the
offer, child; but l doubt it's being
safe for you going so far alone"
mo one would be likely to be out
such night as this, unless 1t should be
some of the neighboring farmers, ana
even If there were, the darkness would
hide me-"
I'm afraid to let you go, Mily. I've
hoord ~ tramps and"
"rI tell you, mother. I'll take Jim's
revolver, He left ii in his room the
last time he was home
We'll" began Mrs. Hosmer, doubt
fully. though you'd never dare to
use It," :,
yes, / would, il 1 really needed to,
responded Milly; 80 let us call IL set
tied, and go in and get something
nice put up for lunch
Really pleased III her maternal heart
for this regard for her sons comfort
Mrs. Hosmer gave a reluctant consent
for Jim was her only and almost IDOL
lied child, little Milly being only the
daughter Of dear, dead friend, whose
child Mrs. Hosmer had gladly taken
to her home and heart.
The farm was small, and Jim de-
tested farming, so a man was always
employed on the place, while ambi-
tious Jim risked life and limb as an
engineer He was now handsome
stalwart fellow of twenty-six, whose
broad shoulders, bronzed face, and
merry eyes were secretly enshrined in
Mnly's heart as her ideal of all that
was noble and manly. Jim, too, had
an ideal and often, as he sat waiting
on his engine he pictured future
fireside to which he could turn for
rest instead of to his barren boarding
house. and the woman's face that al
ways smiled his welcome was wonder
fully like the little picture Of Milly
that he carried in the pocket OF his
blue flannel shirt. Many time the
engine light shone over the sweet
face as it lay on his grimy palm IN
intervals of work, and Jim would
whisper softly, BY and by, niue
girl" as he carefully slipped 1t back.
Working faithfully and steadily
secretly laying the foundation of that
ideal home, Jim had gained the re-
spect and confidence of his employers
and was on the road to promotion'
But his work now was somewhat
varied, and when the busy season
came and freight was moving freely
he often ran wild train" through
Rockfield, as the little place was
called. where a station had been
erected for the accommodation OF
the surrounding farmers.
on these occasions he generally
sent home a dispatch, as in the pres
! ent case, and on his return found a
tempting lunch waiting his coming
and sometimes, if the weather was
fine. got glimpse of Mily and his
mother and a moments chat. his
dispatch tonight read;
Run through Rockfield tonight
inst ahead of ten o'clock express
reaching there about a quarter OF
! ten.
II will start only just in time to
get there as the train arrives SAID
Milly. as they made the coffee and
frizzled some slices of ham, IF
walk fast / can get there in fifteen
minutes. and don't believe the
coffee can get cold in that time, ali
wrapped up in this big bottle and
shut up in the pail
lyon might carry 1t in n little pail
land set it on the stove in the station
till Jim comes" suggested Mrs. Hos
mer.
81 don't believe there would be
fire there; and besides, I would rath-
er not go in. l can't bear Tom Ken
nedys compliments or company
shall just stop under the porch TIL
the train comes, and then I can hand
| lin, the lunch nail and slip away