El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-09

darkness for a headlight that would
warn her of No AS approach, Norah
listened until midnight had come and
gone Then. worn out with working
and quarreling she fell asleep and for
Sot her RESPONSE Utilities When the de-
layed freight train at last thundered
by she awolxe, but too late to flag 1t.
and No. A went on its way, whistling
around curves in a manner to make the
startled woman's blood run cold She
rushed to the door and waved the
lentern frantically but xafnIy and then
sat down in terror. AS she thought
about what might occur if Pat was
now honeward bound and No. A
crashed into him. her imagination
pictured him mangled wreck. and she
accused herself OF every conceivable
kind of neglect She heard the roar
CT water rushing through canyons and
creeks on its mad rush downward, and
Il seemed to her that death and de-
struction would surely follow in its
pathway. She moaned piteously. 20
Patrick OBrien, If We ever return to
poor Norah, We may have the last
word widout me interferin'."
Presently headlight flashed into
view and No. 8 came around a curve
It whistled twice which was a signal
for stopping. Mrs. OtBrien's horror
SLT1ck6n ears Caught the Suuuu
They're bringin' Pats body" she
sobbed, and fell fainting TO the floor
Five minutes later shivering,
drenched crew Of men alighted and the
passenger train proceeded cautiously
up hill.
Pat o'Brien entered his home with
hurried steps. On opening the. door,
lis wife, just recovering consciousness.
made an effort to greet him. She
threw herself in utter abandonment of
soy and grief into his outstretched
arms crying. BE ye really alive. Pat?"
ITO be sure Norah.' replied the
wondering husband, But I've had a
mighty marrow escape. honey. Number
"A crowded US at Maxon curve and we
saved our lives by jumping from the
car. The car was smashed to pieces
and / reckon III lose my job. Num-
Der 9 picked US up at the curve We
were badly shook up, but that was
ALL so don't take ON, little woman ]
can get another job. somewhere and we
can school the kids and be together.
20 1 don't care for yes losin' out
Pat It's We I was weepin' for.
knew something had Happened to We.
end I thought ] had been the death
of vel" and she related her part OF the
misadventure between sobs and en-
braces.
While Norah was alternately bewail-
ing her neglect and caressfng him. big |
Patrick O'Brien was doing a little |
private naeditating. He was thinking /
that since no worse luck than the loss ,
Of a handcar had .befallen him he I
might consider the circumstance a for
tunate one. 1t had brought about
wonderful and gratifying change in I
his wife. When he pressed her TO his /
heart and assured her of his forgive
ness it was in tones deep and con-
yincing
From that day Patrick O'Brien never i
ceased to bless his hairbreadth escape i
from No. A. The collision gave nm
a companion the depth OF whose aftec-
ton he had never before discovered.
He, did not lose his position. Hav-
ing been a faithful employee in the past,
the railroad company merely repri-
manded him. In short time he was
given a place where the little O'Briens
could secure school advantages. It
was a promotion to foreman Of yards
in a lively town. with raise OF salary.
Never again did he consider the ex-
pediency OF living apart from his wife.
AS he and Norah travel onward he re-
fleets that it sometimes requires trou-
bic, fancied or real, to bring about the