Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-06-02

ia the presence OF a graYeF trouble
An elopement was what SAINT began
: to plan On her part, she longed fol
a local wedding with all the neigh
bors present and the circuit-rider on
hand TO perform the ceremony. which
was to be followed by supper and
. dance. For weeks she pleaded Tor
this, the realization of many day
dreams, but SAINT was firm in his re-
fusal BY clumsy innuendoes he tried
to point her to the true state OF at
fairs; but his was an awkward mind
with a limited range of expression,
and hers was an honest little soul
unschooled and unsuspecting.
II was a dreary November day
when he picked Jen up on his way
to the mines and gave his consent TO
the plans for the wedding. Her JOY at
this welcome news frightened the
dull day for him, and as they waited
for the loading at the summit they
sat by the siding and discussed the
arrangements for the festivities with
light-heartedness that had not been
theirs OF late She watched him as
he oiled the Streak.
Presently they started down with
/ the IL empty freight-cars. The fur
| ry Of snow had increased and now fell
in big, damp flakes, which melted as
they reached the ground. Wet and
shiny in the late afternoon light. the
winding rails stretched before them.
The train slipped along with a speed
that made SAINT uneasy He glanced
back and noticed with some relief
that the men were busy Tightening
their brakes.
Pete" he called above the thunder
Of the train, go back an help 'em.
Put the brakes down hard!"
There was a note In the command
which caused Jen to glance up quick
ly. Something she read in his set
face confirmed her fear. She saw the
darkness and the storm swallow the
fireman as he clambered back over
the low coal-ears.
Whats the matter?" she cried.
IT'S all right. little woman" an
swered SAINT, his hand on the levers,
his eye scanning the track ahead.
He turned TO the engine again and,
cutting off the steam, applied the air
brakes. For moment they could not
realize the truth. Then il broke upon
them The wheels were sliding on the
slippery rails. He could not stop the
trainl
Jen's voice reached him.
Amt there no way to slack up?"
Yes. If We had Pete. But l can't
make him hear"
What dye want him for?"
ITO poke the sand.box out there. 1t /
must be clogged up!"
viii that save u.s."
"Mebbe."
who cares?" she cried. Lets go 4
down to Kingdom Come to- /
gether / amt been sure o. you some
how. But this way / am surei"
She chung to him where he stood 4
peering out through the window at
the quivering disk which the head.
light threw before them. Blurred. in
distinct things came flying toward
them. Their brains danced with the
mad swing of the engine.
Pictures flashed through SAINTS
mind. He saw the long tangent be-
yond Culver's Jump. the twisted wood
and iron Of the last wreck near the
track He saw himself crushed be.
meath It. And off in New York he
saw the wife, who once loved him,
rocking their boy to sleep in her
arms.
"Molly!" he groaned.
Jen faced him.
Who's Molly?" she demanded.
The words choked him. Then he
whispered hoarsely, my wife"
Where is she?"
''In New York"
For a moment a fury seized her. 4,
She caught the ferrule from the noe. :
ret Of his jumper and raised it TO /
strike him while they stood there
iwaying
It'll be hard on the poor kid" he a
aid absently. He was fond o. me" 9
The uplifted hand fell and the an.
,er died out of Jens face A strug.
de. brief as it was poignant, swept
lver her.
"Fll save yer for hint" she cried.
nd before he realized her intention
he climbed out through the little win.
low on her perilous way to the sand. Z
'ox. The fury of the snow choked
nd blinded her. The downward
lunge of the train brought her TO
er knees on the running aboard and
7ould have flung her on Madly she :
lung with bleeding hands to the lev y
all that ran along the boiler, and y
raging and sobbing, she worked her =
ray on, inch by inch. An eternity :
eemed to pass before she reached the y
There, still clinging to the y
all with one hand. she flung back the u
d with the other. Her cropping fin.
ers told her that the box was nearly
lied with clogged sand. She loosened 81
with convulsive movements. She
-aited moment Yes, there was a
of speed. They were al.
sady on the much dreaded tangent c,
1f fha sand was sitting dnv-,, = - : n.