Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-11-29
The Morning Train.
BY OLIVE E. GRAVES.

O05h SLO SAOHAot 'N--
beside the train with an order, some
one took 1t from him and dashed up
to the stenographer's office; her chair
was vacant, her machine with half
finished letter still between It's rub
Der rollers, awaited her return.
Morning after morning, week after
week, and month after month she had
listened to that wild, exultant cry of
the monster as it rushed in with its
human freight. On a clear morning
its shout: 81 come-from the sea
the seattle sea; | come from the
sea-come from the seal" brought
the roar of the breakers dashing
against the cliffs, yet breathed of
green fields chilly with fresh dew, of
young calves, kicking out their heels
as they rushed down the steep slope
and came to a stop in the cold water
of clear stream; its cry of freedom
called defiance to man, while its echo
breathed peace in its tale of natures
freshness and purity from the fields
through which it passed.
To the girl listening with strained
expression on the pale face, its cry
was threatening, accusing, pleading,
and as the last echoes floated away,
they were drowned by the cry Of a
human soul in mortal fear. She saw
him again, standing beside her on
the rear platform of this same train,
bored expression on the handsome
face above her, heard his voice as in
an awful sickening dream:
Surely you must have understood
that it was impossible, such mar
riage now would ruin my prospects
forever"
But you promised, you promised"
Eyes, as many a fellow has prom
ised in an idle summer, lured by the
scent of honeysuckle, a pair of beau
tiful eyes and a splendid August
moon"
"But you must, you must. l am not
the only one to be considered; there
is another-another life to be consid-
ered."
"The devil there is! And you think
it possible for me to marry you after
this? Why, two months from this
very day am to marry my cousin.
But 1 did not dream it had come to
this. Here, take this and let me
know when it is gone"
The bills fluttered from her nerve
less fingers, were caught in the draft
of the rapidly moving train and
whirled away.
co.. very we'll" And with a graf
ing laugh he leaned over to flick the
ash from his cigar. Just then the air
was rent by the shrek of the whistle,
as the train dashed on to long
bridge with a hollow roar. Suddenly
something seemed to snap in her
head, and with strength born of
desperation, she had thrown the
weight of her slender body against
him as he leaned out over the steps;
for a moment he had swayed, clutch
luR WllQl1 ~ OOulCIuln6 W stay lio
fall, and then with that horrible cry
that rang yet in her ears, he had
pitched headlong down, down into the
rushing waters below. She had
watched duly until his body disap-
peared, then with a scream she had
rushed back into the train, calling on
the passengers to save him. She had
been conscious that some one caught
her as she fell, then all had turned
black.
There had followed weary months
of waiting, and when at last the wait
ing was over, the tiny life fingered
only a few weeks. Afterward there
had been, nothing to keep her, and
waiting only until the grass was
green on the little grave, she had left
the old home, the little she had
learned of stenography was brushed
up, and when fate placed the chance
of a clerkship in the superintendent
Office in her way, she had accepted
1t, with the prayer that here, listen
ing to the cry of that awful whistle,
she might atone In the eyes of her
God for that wild moment Of despair
in which she had sold the peace of
her soul.
No man knowing her sin, she
prayed that he who did know would
accept her atonement in the per-
Torrance of the most soul-racking
duty her mind could devise. She
knew that when it was completed she
would be freed from the horrible
smothering, choking sensation that
bound her in its thrall when the whis-
tie raised its voice, bringing with 1t
the overwhelming fear that some day
when 1t burst upon her she would be
unable to resist the impulse which
goaded her to leave 1t all. to go far
away, where she would never hear
that paralyzing whistle.
Each morning when her days work
began the prayer had gone up: Don't
let it come to-day, God-oh, not to-
day! Give me strength to bear 1t,
for If l go away can never come
back, and when / meet thSY baby /
will not dare touch her nor speak to
her, for the stain will still be there.
o, God, give me strength yet a little
longer, for when 1t is all over l must
see the baby; mine, mine, my own lit
tie darling. Give me strength, my
Father, until 1t is over. You have
promised: Though your sins be scar
let, they shall be white as snow
Help me to wash them away"
Each day the struggle had grown
stronger. At the first shrill note her
fingers would clench on the arms of
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