Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1919-09-19

went DOWN IN Sne BOILING waters.
'Oh, Margie darling, love you better
Il need you more than be"
Mother wishes it, John" had been
her defensive answer. And II don't
want you to quit being my friend. I
want you to come to see me often"
II cannot bear to see you again,
Margie." In the bitterness of his dis
appointment the words had burst from
him miserably. ~ never want to see
you again unless 1t is In the hour of
death"
In the hour of DEATH" she had
echoed unhappily, holding out trem-
bling hand which he could not trust
himself to take. "Good-by then, John,
until the hour Of death"
Gibson All out for Gibson!"
The coach door banged open and the
train drew to a standstill In a pros
porous little town halfway across the
West.
gay group, bringing the fragrance
of carnations with 1t, came in at the
2SGA VI TIC COdCu anu LUX ScHlS UG-
hind O'Neal. There were three young
girls in the party, an elderly woman
and two young men. From the girls
chatter O'Neal learned they were 60
ing an hours ride down the road to be
present the next day at morning
wedding at which the three young
women were to be bridesmaids.
"Oh Madge. you'll be almost too
busy, after this wedding. with MILL.
ners and dressmakers, to help anybody
else got married, won't your The
voice OF The girl rose clear and loud.
Right you are. Laurestine" One of
the young men laughed as he spoke
and his voice, strangely familiar to
O'Neal, somehow grated on him. zoe
tober Is only two months off, October,
when Madge plays the part Of leading
lady at my wedding!"
1.-TWO months is long time. Many
things may happen in two months"
O'Neal clutched the arms Of his
chair. It was her voice, and the man
who laughed was Sheriff. Leeds! Sup
pose they should recognize him! Once
she had told him, banteringly, that she
would know the back of his black
head, the shoulders Of his over-big
body, across the Mississippi river"
I'm a coward-a Weakened cow
ard" O'Neal rebuked himself, but I
can't face her-I can't face them to-
gether."
The next moment there was q ter
rife wrench Of the car, a creaking and
grooming of steel and timbers and the
engine went down in the boiling wa
tiers of the river through the broken
bridge. By strange sort of miracle,
though the baggage car hung down
into the water, the passenger coaches
till stood on the track, In imminent
danger at any moment Of being drawn
Into the food.
The engineer and his fireman had
gone down to death, but none Of the
passengers were more than bruised
and shaken. and there was frantic
exodus from the coaches to the safety
Of the solid ground beside the track.
rs everybody out and safer" Mar
jorie Ballew, standing white and
shaken on the sodden ground, asked a
man beside her.
"All out but one man." he answered.
Hes not hurt, but one Of his legs 10
fastened some way. They've sent up
the road for tools. but it's doubtful
whether they get back in time to get
him out-you see, the coach Is likely
to 60 over any minute"
"Who is hep she asked pityingly.
Says his names John O'Neal.
Wants Rev. Philip Lavender Of Wood.
side. N. T., Informed, If"
But the girl was gone.
O'Neal, waiting calmly. felt a light
touch on his shoulder, and looked UNI
into pair Of terrified blue eyes.
'Margie" He caught her arm in 4
tense grip. go backl'
106n.s -. hnaa1had and Ais 1900