The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-09
THE EVENING STORY
A Train to Joy.
GBy Anita Wentworth

A Train to Joy.
IBy Anita Wentworth
| Yes, she wore the blue and white
dress which had been her wedding
gown, much against Aunt Nykirk's will,
and the latter had said disagreeable
things in consequences; even going so
far to prophesy that something
would happen
But what could "happen?" Simply
nothing. Was not this the old reliable
evening train, forever on time and with
tout a hint of hoodoo or any other
Iblood-curdling thing in its record?
lquestion satisfactorily in her own mind
and, from a multitude of feminine
trinkets in her wristbag, flashed out her
ticket and waited complacently Tor the
conductor. BY and by. as the "old re-
liable" rolled along, the moon came up,
revealing the landscape in picturesque
panorama, and the owner of the blue
and white gown laughed at the proph-
ecy. fattened her pretty nose against
1.-THE dusty pane and fell to enjoying
1.-THE scenery.
Suddenly above the peaceful hum of
1.-THE train rose demoniac shrieks from
two locomotives. The next moment a
| terrific shock sent the passengers in
all directions.
Out from beneath the wreckage of
1.-THE shattered northbound crawled
half dozen men and women; one with
q cruel slash across the left cheek and
remaining four were only shaken up"
Among the latter Rose Engle strug-
gled to her feet and stood, white and
| trembling, endeavoring to grasp the
possibility of the 'old reliable max
ling such departure.
| While the others began the search
for their belongings, or for friends less
lucky than themselves. she stood still,
wondering whether it was the blue and
white gown or the wickedness of her
Intention which fulfilled Aunt Nykirk's
prophecy.
Not since the word from up north
THAT Jack had gone back to his old
habits and was actually Sowing his
iearningS broadcast" had she taken
time for sober second thought. A year
lago when she kissed him goodby in the
low doorway before he went to the klon-
} dixie he had pledged himself to continue
in welldoing; and she had rested In
his promise.
t. Often she entertained herself pictur-
: ing the home they planned to have on
| his return-one with large airy kitch-
en-, plenty of sunshine and lots of hap
/ pinesS.
f But when the word" came she de-
) cided that Jack Engle's wife was a
shamefu1ly neglected woman, especially
as he had not written for months. Then
: a wild determination to be free from
0 the man who had gone back to his old
habits and didn't care seized her and
well, here she was on her way to begin
|
stranded and alone!
Aunt Nykirk's parting shot rang in
her ears she chung to a twisted Sec
ton of the vestibule.
I'D expect something to happen II 1
should start on such an errand. bank
t ing only on hearsay, and wearing my
: wedding dress. Bless me! When folks
take the bit in their teeth and rush
headlong I always think OF Jonah.
Shaky little Mrs. Engle cast for-
rified glance down over the blue and
white gown, now streaked with dus:
and CRIME and torn in several places;
Some one beckoned to her from the
, farther end of the wreck Why did she
stand there like dummy when people
needed help? :
Away she went, over broken ties and
/ around an overturned boiler from
3 which the steam Missed vindictively
8 the blue and white gown f1uttering II
e the moonlight like flag of truce
' All there they were! A man prone
s on the ground and kneeling by his side
i, was a physician with his open medI-
D cine case.
"Stay by this poor fellow" said the
a doctor as she came up while go FOL
= WATER and he was gone =,
y In A few moments he returned and
C pouring something from wal INTO
j basin of water, gave 1T to her to hoio
| while he bathed the unconscious man
t face.
/ She turned her head away. She
e could not bear to look upon anolhei
: victim of the headlong--
e 'Too badl" broke in the physician
: on the self-condemnation. 1T Is
really too bad! He was going hom a,5
t with a years hard earnings WIN
d which to surprise his WlIe: ,,,o5 and
e The slender hands tremoled anu
s the basin came near falling TO tne
3 rround. Jack could have saved, too
: if he had loved his wife, but ne
a hadn't. ..z II,
r his natient that he did not notice hel
: agitation. so he followed his Thoughts
g al1diblv and continued: "Engle IS
o fine fellow. I'll warrant his "lIe
| proud Of him. ~,
man of medicine and the basin 1eii u
the cinder-parched sward, spliilns
Il the contents over the blue and WHITE
p gown. - .,,a, +batr
; said he. stern1y; sit may be that m,
u friends life depends on your quie
l, with a. desperate effort she refiiiet
20 the basin and resumed nsl r., p tlse m
$, t1rned face SO familiar In every out
"a line. e.-o,,
e It depended on her, did it? Surei.
this was the atoning hour! heasI,
"a heard Jonah in his extTemity' VIZ ua
q her petition of agonized silence pre-
=, vail?
,.E AS If in answer, the man to D.
= nroud of slowly opened his eyes AM
n made an attempt to rise
Te "Ah, Jack, old boy! You're comini
g. around all right cried the ooc. ..a
lie supporting him and giving MIN re
a viving draft. A..
is After a few minutes. when tn
r ether grew stronger the physical
al CONTINUED in tender, kindly tone:
D am glad I was with you, seeing w
wars booked for casualties. Som
80 ,oieht have taken your none
and left YOU to die. AS it is, every
- thing is all right
IL ooh Horton, I am so glad. too, TO
q nv wife's sake!" and Jacks nan
"a sought that of the doctor.