The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-19
Our Daily Sport Story

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 Nands embarrassment increased. He glanced out of the window riery- ously wishing the ride was Ut an end. Could it be possible that she had been remembering him. caring for him
 why did you not writer she com tinued after s pause @rcp stopped writing before you had been gone . year.s}ar wanted to near so much, and you promised
 Rand offered some confused expIs- nation. and racked his brains for d safe topic of conversation. Never had he been placed In so trying position Here was g woman who had obviously cherished his memory for ten years and expected that he had done the same for her. How foolish he thought her to cling 10 those childish promises A business man had no time for writing letters to playmstes of his boyhood Helen, he thought. would not betray herself like this. Yet there seenied to be nothing coarse about Ruth's betrayal; she was very self-forgetfuL very sweet.
 The windows of the train were open and the evening air blew in lad en with the old familiar fragrance of the hayfieids The sun had just set behind the hills that he knew so we'll How beautiful II was and he had QfGu AWAY 'cO 1OtiA. E%AANMyf LufAttU AO him again from the peaceful scene and there. were, tears on her lashes.
 Your native hills and meadows have missed you. John. We have all missed you so." .Nf
 Rand could not meet the beautiful light of her eyes A hot flush swept over his face. He must stop her. must tell her of Helen. and go away at once, She laid q hand gently on his arm.
 You know. John, she whispered, "ycu are very, very welcome hons."l
 Rand's agony at the girls tone and gesture was ahnIhilated by a tilup- derous crash. Darkness came upon them with the shiyering of glass. the cracking of strained timbers. The of the road had borne fruit in a fear. full collision.
 Rand lay stunned for a few seconds and ther by powerful. wrenchings freed himself from the debris He stood dazed as a realization of tho disaster forced itself upon his nurnb- ed senses.
 "Ruth." he cried, Ruth. where are your" Frantically he tugged at the splinteFing beams, A few men had rushed to the wreck and were at. tempting to rescue the passengers The mass had taken fire from the engines and the men bent every energy to out strip the flames. Rand worked alone at that end of the car near which they had been sitting, From time to time he called Ruth'S name and once he thought faint cry answered, him. He bent down and peered into the wreck in the fading twilight.s Y -~sssss
 John" The word came to him scaFe6iy audible as he stopped She was held beneath a beam that 1t took his nfightiest effort to remove. He raised her teHderly and carried her to the little grassy bank beside the tracks. Very gently he. held her with great pitterEees in his heart for he knew that she was dying and that she had given him 9 love which he7could not return. At last her eyes unelosed and he bent to catch the words that her lips were struggling to form. '..s ,r5,
 T don't mind. Jehn-v-because you came" She f1esitated
 ''Oh. Ruth he began in an agop- ized voice half intending to tell her all. A faint smile crossed her face and she interrupted,
 T always knew you would come, John. for you promised. but it has been so long
 The man was completely unaerved. He, could not let her die without one kind word--this girl who had found the years so long. He had promised nothing at parting more than a, boys thoughtless I'll come back.
 Ruth" he said unsteadily Her eyes opened again very slowly. Look Ing into those eyes, all words failed him, and stepping. he Kissed her brow
 Later they found him there in the starlight. with the dead girl in his arms. He was wondering if she knew all .s.