Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-02

ily and they would repudiate such scheme with
Indignation But now will not consent that you
should marry We do not agree on SO simple
a thing as the definition of honesty and duty
What folly, what madness, to suppose we should
not ruin one anothers lives l have adored my
father ever since | knew his dear face, and he is
nobleness all through. He could not think mean
thought, or set sham above a reality. | have
loved you for a year, and you have hurt me with
your mean thoughts and your reverence for shams
again and again. 1t is the last time. | choose
my father. Go, Will Hayes, and come
again."
So they parted, with anger and injustice and
bitter longing both sides, and with pride which
forbade either to make atonement Rose went
to the great office in Stafford, and studied with
fierce determination to succeed born not of
her consciousness than of her wish to have
leisure for regret. She duly won her certificate
and obtained the excellent place of night operator
at the great junction station at Fairfield, where
twenty rushing trains, incoming from north south,
east, west, depended on her slender hands her
sleepess eyes, her sensitive ears for safety. She
faithful, tirelss slillful. She was earning
money which every month gladdened the girls at
home. She helping her father to bear his
burdens with new courage, inspired by her cheer
full self-sacrifce Was she happy? The nights
long. She was not always busy. There
so much time to think, even when her hands were
occupied. She missed home and home tenderness
than she had thought possible. She missed
Wills impetuous ardent constant devotion She
missed even his tyranny, and mourned it. But she
never dreamed of giving up. And she knew by
heart the significance of Adam Bedes saying:
"There's nothing but what's bearable so long a
work. The square O four is sixteen, and
you must lengthen your lever in proportion to
your weight, is as true when mans miserable
when he's happy; and the best O. working is,
it gives you a grip hold O. things outside your
own lot"
There came rainless August. Day after day
the sun shot fiercer javelins of heat Night after
night stiffness of slow suffocation seemed to
encompass the earth. But as Rose went YEARLY
to her work darkening twilight, a nameess
tbril1 md in the air warned her of coming
tempest. In moment an inky blacllness botted
out the world a whirlwind clutched at her flying
figure, and she struggled GREATNESS up the plat
form of the station, the heavens seemed to open
in a vast sheet of flame the building trembled in
the crash of thunder, sudden fire flashed from her
little Office, and darkness of midnight had set
tied once more over all things. She CROPPED her
way forward, stumbling against a man.
SIS it you, Miss Myrick?" he gasped. For
Gods sake don't stay here! That bolt struck the
instrument and burned out the magnet. The rooms
a 6eath-trap. Come away.
81 can't Mr. Rice 1t is time for me to go on
duty Something may happen to the trains in
this awful storm. Is no one else here?"
"Not soul, Miss Myrick It's the haf-hour
for supper, though it's so dark There's no train
for forty minutes It's as much your life is
worth to NEEDLE with that magnet | beg you to
come.'
Another flash of binding light another crash
as of crumbling world.
Don't stay Mr.. Rice, said Rose, quietly. You
have YOUR wife and child to consider. But my
place is here
He made a feint to remain, but she closed the
door of the Office behind her, as If to make his
dismissal absolute, and he was glad to go. She
found the matches. lighted her lamp, and sup
piled the magnet fury of rain and wind dash
ing against her window, flame OF lightning seem
ing to scorch her eyebahs. She tried the instru-
ment, and found the circuit secured. Her nerves
were tense with excitement She went to the open
door to breathe A CHASTITY brilliancy brighter
than any daylight touched the earth for a swift