The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-09
EVENING STORY
The Hour of Life.
BY S. B. HACKLEY.


had ceased. but the night was inky
black. O'Neal sat in the train, his big
hands clasped around one propped-up
knee, his sensitive face bent over them.
his warm Irish heart aching with a
new sense of the grief from which he
was fleeing.
1t had been four weeks since Mar
jorie Ballew had told him of her en-
gagement to Sheriff. Leeds-a four
weeks whose every moment had gone
to arrange his affairs that he might
make this prospecting trip to the state
of Washington to find a home where
he would not have daily to see her as
Leeds's wife.
Sheriff. was the .;randson of one of
the aristocratfc founders of the town.
and had fortune besides, and he.
John O'Neal. brought up and educat-
ed tho he was. by the chiIdIess old
minister of the place, was but the or
layer.
But o'Neal had not thought this
would make any difference to Mar
JorleIMarjorie whom he had loved
since he first carried her lunchbasket
to school, and fought Sherry Leeds
Tor calling her "red-head!"
He had waited to ask her to marry
him until he could tell her that his
orders for house building material
warranted him building house for
himself, only to find she intended to
marry. Sheriff. Leeds.
But you made me believe Won
loved mel" he had cried helplessly.
oh, Marjorie. darling, love you bet
teri need you more than he"
Mother wishes it. john" had been
her defensive answer. and II
don't want you to quit being nv
friend l want you to come to see me
often"
4 cannot bear to see you again.
Margie." In the bitterness of his dis
appointment the words had burst from
him miserabiy Il never want to see
you again unless it is in the hour of
DEATH"
I'm 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
| prosperous little town halfway across
the West.
A gay group, bringing the fragrance
of carnations with it. came in at the
rear of the coach and took seats be-
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 we're go
ing an hours ride down the road to
be present the next day at a morning
wedding at which the three young
women Were to be bridesmaids
"Oh, 'Madge, you'll be almost too
busy after this wedding, with milliners
and dressmakers, to help anybody else
get married. won't you?" The voice
OF the girl rose clear and loud.
Right you are, Laurestinei" One
ha
and his voice, strangely familiar to
I O'Neal, somehow grated on him. "Oc-
tober is only two months off, October,
when Madge plays the part of leading
lady at my wedding!"
Two months is a long time. Many
things may happen in two months"
O'Neal clutched the arms of his
chair. 1t 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"
| Pm 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 a ter
rifle wrench of the car a creaking
| and grooming of steel and timbers, and
| the engine went down in the boiling
waters of the river thru the broken
| bridge. By a strange sort of miracle.
/ tho the baggage car hung down into
the water. the passenger coaches still
stood on the track in imminent danger
| at any moment of being drawn into
! the flood.
| The engineer and--his fireman had
gone down to death, but none of the
passenger were more than bruised and
| shaken, and there was a frantic ex-
| odus from the coaches to the safety
of the SOLID ground beside the track.
''Is everybody out and safe" Mar
| jorie Ballew. standing white and
| shaken on the sodden ground. asked
a man beside her.
"All out but one man." he an
| swered- Hes not hurt, but one of his
legs is 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 go over any minute"
Who is he? ?" she asked pityingly.
Says his names John O'Neai.
Wants the Rev Philip Lavender of
Woodside. New York. informed. if"
But the girl was gone.
ONeal, waiting calmly, felt A light
touch on his shoulder. and looked up
into a pair of terrified blue eyes.
"Mareiei" he caught her arm in
tense grin. GO bacl1!"
John" she breathed, and his heart
beat strangely. ioyous1y. while there
came calls of distress from the elderly
kinswoman and the girls outside the
car, IF it is the hour of death for
you. am going to pass It with you,"
Come out. Madee," pleaded Sher-
rtlrs voice thru the open window.
Don't risk your iife!"
There was no answer from the girl.
Leeds voice hardened with fear.
Marjorie, I'm coming in to carry
you outW
Go. Marjorie,' besought o'Neal
hoa rsely, Go. darlingr'
Marjorie slipped the solitaire off
her finger and passed it thru the win
dow to Leeds
You need not come-vou have no
authority over me now, Sheriff." she
said tensely; 81 didn't know where my
heart was when I promised to marry
Nnr1 Irrnx1r rnrnri,,