Year: 1875

"ToM is asleep" said his sister The
boy had been sitting dreamily gazing into
the fire, his hands clasped behind his
head, but at the sound of her voice he
answered pleasantly:


Not quite, Ida. l was just thinking
if such things as we read Of in story-books
ever happen. OF course | believe that
some do; but l mean those stories in
which young man rescues strange girl
from unheard of danger; they fall in love
with each other on the instant; her father
sets him up in business, or makes him
present of a few thousand dollars; they
get married and live happily ever after
ward"


All laughed at the picture Tom drew,
and certain sly look passing between ia
ther and mother did not escape the attention
of Ida, who defended her favorite books with
all her might "Of course they do" said
she; land l am sure almost everyone
will agree with me. Don't you, father?"


81 must say, my dear, that cannot
contradict you, and if you would like to
hear story will tell you how your
mother and became acquainted"


"Oh! I know we'll enough how tina
was" said Tom. "You were introduced
by some friend at party, perhaps, and
went to see her once week, all regular as
clock work, until you were married, but


"Now, Tom. that's real mean," broke
in his sister, ito interrupt father in that
way-go on, pa; I'll keep this young cub
from growling," and, changing her seat
for one near Toms, she laid her finger on
his lips.


"Well, my dear, nothing could be fur
her from the reality than your brothers
supposition. Very few stories that have
read surpass this in point of adventure,
and certainly none have been quite as in
teresting to me. Ithappened in this way
You know l formerly travelled a great
deal on the cars between here and B.
Your grandmother was living then, and
used to run back and forth quite often.
never troubled my head much about the
girls in those days and, although | was in
business for myself, cared little about high
hats, canes or cigars


An exclamation from Tom showed that
he was interested, at least, and necessitated
his sister putting her arm around his neck
to prevent repetition of the interruption


lone morning l started, as usual, fol
mothers, securing good seat in the cars
behind a man who was busily employed
in eating peanuts, throwing the shells OF
the floor and splitting out of the window
l opened the morning paper and was soor
interested in the account of an ,acciden
that had happened the day before. Th'
article was long one. had read thu
paper through and we had left the city fit
teen or twenty miles behind US when ;
cry from lady opposite caused me tt
look out of the window. We were abOu
crossing road and saw that a horse, at
tached to box-wagon, was running ava.
and coming toward us at the top OF hi
speed. also saw that very pretty young
lady held ON TO the reins as tightly as pos
sible and exerted all her strength to stol
the animal, which had got completely be
yond her control.


"What induced me to do it, l don
know; but, acting on the impulse of tn
moment, l sprang up and pulled the con
Meeting line Fortunately l was in III
last car, and we were not running fast a
the time. remember hearing the whist
from the locomotive, signifying "dow1
brakes" and that one man, who seeme
to divine my intention, tried to stop me
Hurrying to the rear platform took M
position on the step, and as soon as tn
train slowed up jumped off. l was non
too soon, and just had time to catch tn
tail board of the wagon as the horse. NOR
than ever frightened at the sight OF tn
train, tore across the track. 1t require
all my strength to hold on, and, if l ha
not been pretty quick and active, shoul
/ have been thrown aside and killed. How
ever, l managed to get in at last, and tai
ing the reins, would, in all probabilit.
either have pulled the horse over into IL


vehicle OF my arms from the sockets IT.