Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-01-14
trying to back the wedding train Off

But there wasn't minute. Every
one saw the danger. A couple of
yards to spare would have made
things safe. No use to try more!
The men leaped Off. Tom pulled Ell
len out; he tried to get her away,
and he would have only she was so
frightened, and clung to him so
so tightly. She might have escaped
with him, but as It was she impeded
him. She flung her arms close
around Tom, and embraced him.
| But he shook her off. there was no
time for kissing then She fell; he
| dragged her clear of the crash; but
splinter struck her, and cut into
| her neck severing an artery. She
| lay bleeding to death almost, when
gentleman, a doctor, ran up and
| helped her. She was carried to the
cottage hospital, dying, sir!
Tom had a narrow escape, and
when he fancied Nellie was safe he
assisted the tidal passengers. From
one of the very first compartments
he dragged out an insensible girl,
| and when he looked at her he nearly
dropped her light form.
She was Phoebe Mayburn!
Phoebe in his arms! Was she dead?
Dead! Oh, misery If so, thinks l.
But maybe best.
He laid her gently down, and
| tried to ascertain whether she still
| lived. Yes. her heart was beating.
He waited. She would recover. OBJ
livious of all else, he awaited her re-
turn to life. She opened her eyes,
saw him kneeling beside her, and
seemed scared; but in a minute she
knew him, and crying out, oh, Tom.
Tom; my darling Toni she tainted
in his arms again, at once.
| This was a most perplexing pre-
dicament for Tom Deane. He had
made up his mind so completely
that she was false that he knelt like
a man struck. But when she came
to she hugged him. and seemed hurt
at his behavior and coldness. He
got her away after while, but his
appearance was terrible. He had
made a discovery. Phoebe loved
him as we'll as ever, and he loved
her still.
Making inquiries, he was guided
to the hospital whore Nellie lay. He
was admitted; ana his tears dropped
on her hand as he pressed it pitifully
in his own. She was so weak and
pale. An hour before she had been
full of life and health, joyous. II
anxious. Now she was a wreck,
bruised, dying; and as she gently
returned the pressure of his fingers,
she whispered
80 Tom, will you forgive me?
am dying. Oh, forgive me, dear!
loved you we'll; indeed l did. But
you never loved me like you loved
Phoebe.
"'Yes, Nell, yes, he muttered.
oh, don't talk of dying
''I must tell you,' she gasped.
oh, Tom, loved you from the first
day we met, and I vowed | would
make you marry me; | did. I'm
ashamed to say it-but / loved you
dear. Phoebe went away, and | de-
ceived you. stopped her letters:
l made up her messages to you. Tom,
am rightly punished. cannot be
your wife, dear; but you will marry
her when she comes back
"'She is back, he murmureu, too
stunned to think much or to reply
to her prayers for forgiveness.
Phoebe was in the tidal" that
smashed us up
go 1t is the Lords will. / see His
hand In it, murmured the dying wo-
man. God forgive mel Tom, kiss
me once more
He kissed her, sir; and when he
told me this himself, he cried at the
very remembrance of 1t, days after
Heaven bless you, Nellie. for.
give you, my lass. Say no more, my
girl; say no morei
Il came up myself, sir, afteI
this, to inquire, and managed to look
in. There was the nurse and the
doctor looking on the bed, and be-
side 1t was sitting poor Tom Deane
holding the cold, dead hand of Mel
lie Askhern.
1T was a sad time, sir; but luck
lily Phoebe Mayburn was spared the
details. She had | conclusion, and
WHen she al lenStn recovered Sne
couldn't think of, or remember, the
accident; and knew nothing OF the
details for many month. She beg
ged Tom to tell her why he haG
ceased to write to her, and II ht
still cared for her; which in hi!
heart he did. He knew 1t all the
time. Then plucking up heart ht
told her all the truth, and Phoeb,
forgave him, after long cry, ant
much soothing, as it wasn't all hi
fault, she said.
After few months more:
year after the smash-when Ton
had been promoted to driving, b,
and Phoebe were married quietly
and their first joint act, as man ant
Wife in our village yonder, was tt
put up marble tombstone to tn,
memory of Nellie who had beer
killed on the railway On her wedding
day.
That's the story, sir: and here