The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-12
MY HERO.


proud Of the rough and ready ways OF
our western men and RECALLED my girl
friends with stories OF their bravery.
really didn't know much about brave
men except what had read In novels.
Nevertheless often kept my assoc
ciates spellbound with my tales of
heroism.
was so fascinated with my stories
that on my return home l was on the
lookout for some OF the drastic scenes
had depicted. was not disappointed
In viewing scene, but was disap-
pointed In the bravery Of just such
man as had selected for most OF my
heroes. was at the time on pas
senger train of the Iron Mountain
railroad In the first car, and In front
OF me was my typical brave He wore
his hair long under the broad brim OF
his sombrero. and pair of enormous
revolvers were stuck In his belt. lie
couldn't have been more than twenty
five or twenty-six years old and was
very handsome. Somebody told me
that he was an express messenger.
It was about 10 o'clock at night that
felt jog, and the train slowed down.
Then the forward door few open, and
a masked man stepped In with shot
gun in his hands, the butt Of which he
Immediately brought to his shoulder.
pointing the muzzle at the passengers.
"sit stlllg' he yelled in a stentorian
voice. "Tn shoot up the car IL any
one movesv'
He hadn't more than spoken the
words before another masked man
passed in front Of him and demanded
the yaluables OF the first passenger he
reached. He relieved several OF them
before he came to my hero. As soon
as he caught sight Of the messengers
revolyers resting useless In their
holsters he sneered: You're a purity
one, amt you? I'll take your guns.
You needn't trouble yourself to touch
EN-
He snatched one Of the pistols out
of my adored ones belt, then the other,
and raped the owner over the head
with its butt. bringing a stream of
blood over his face. Then he took
what money the man had and his
watch and chain and passed on to the
next passenger. When he got to the
end Of the car he went out. the man
at the door still pointing his gun at
us, In this position we remained till
we heard a shout, and the man at the
door went out. Pretty soon after this
the conductor came into the car and
told us the robbers had gone.
But what an awful fall my hero had
made from the pedestal on which
bad placed him! He was still wiping
the blood OF bis face when the train
moved on, and every one was guying
him. We stopped at the next station,
and he arose from his seat to get of
/ was angered that he had nulllfed
the ideas / had given my eastern
friends OF western bravery. Just as
he was going cut Of the doorway
cried:
"Cowarir'
He turned and looked at me in way |
! shall never forget
where do you livef+ he asked !
quietly.
'In Little Rock"
Maybe I'll call on you in few
days" be said, maybe not"
He spoke in such q soft, sad voice |
that regretted what had done.
After got home kept thinking Of
my dethroned hero. Before the rob /
berry I thought should fall In love
with him because he looked so hand
some and brave. After he spoke to me
in that sad, half reproachful way /
thought / should fall In love with him
because felt SO sorry for him. I
couldn't understand why he was going
to call on me. but hoped he would,
because / wished to apologize for call
ing him coward we girls are queer
things anyway. Three days after my
arrival took up morning paper and
read the following under big black
headlines:
Last night John Wharton. the express
who was on the Iron Mountain
train that was held up a few days ago, 4
kicked in the door OF a little cabin in the
shot two OF the men who had
done the robhing, killing both of them,
and captured two others single handed.
What doomed up before me after
reading the words was the messenger
himself at the car door, looking at me
sad and reproachful when called
him coward, and the blood welled UP
In both checks. / had hoped that he
would keep his word and call on me,
but now / hoped he wouldn't How
could look him in the face? Iii
thought all day about 1t and wondered
Ii 1t was my taunt that had made a
brave man Of coward or II he had
been a brave man all the while
failed to see how he could have been
with two big reyolvers in his belt.
That afternoon he called.
"You were somewhat hard on me-"
be said, "the other day. Since then I
have tried to- !
| didn't let him finish, but made
straight for him and was so unmaiden-
y as to throw my arms about his neck,
had no sooner yielded to this impulse
han | recollected myself and, releasing
him. covered my hot cheeks with my $
hands. felt my wrists clasped, my :
hands were removed, and l saw two i
indy eyes looking into mine.
Since then he has been my hero, and !
take especial pains that he shall be :
10 other girls hero. II
One Gay asked him why he submit :