Presbyterian College - Pac Sac Yearbook (Clinton, SC)

Page 28 text:

20 THE COLLEGIAN out further trying to hinder her. One hour later, Anne was on her way to the depot. Not one word had she spoken to her husband after her last rash ones. Her passion of anger was subsiding and she was be- ginning to see her folly. Her better nature was begging, yea beseeching her to return home. But then she said to herself, Charles spoke too commandingly to me when he had no just reason to keep me at home, and therefore I am going. At last the station was reached, the train sighted, and still she had not convinced herself that she was doing wrong, but her courage was failing her. Why Anne, what is the matter? asked her cousin Har- ry, as he passed her seated in one of the coaches. You look as if you were on your way to a funeral instead of an outing. O, I'm all right, Harry, don 't worry about me, she replied, brightening up for an instant but falling back short- ly into a still more serious look as he passed on. These words, uttered thoughtlessly by her cousin, went to her heart and there, with all the former wooings of the bet- ter nature, caused her to make a Hnal resolve. She would go back. Five minutes later she had left the coach and was hur- rying on her way back home. Charles had already taken Mary and gone to his work, but she had resolved to go home and niake ready a pleasant surprise for her husband at his home- coming in the evening. A long weary day had almost passed for Charles Lamb. Try as he might, he was unable to drive away the scene of the morning. Had he dealt gently enough with his wife? Maybe it was as she said, that he, getting out in the open air so much, could not fully sympathize with her. Then he thought how faithful she had been since their marriage, taking all responsibilities and cares of the home off his shoulders. But little Mary, as she questioned him and cross-questioned him for the purpose of passing away the time in the close quarters of the switchman's small station, brought vividly be- fore him such thoughts as made him unhappy. How was it possible that his wife could at this time be so selfish?

Page 27 text:

THE COLLEGIAN 19 to go again. The excursion leaves at seven and is due to be back by seven this afternoon. Think of it Charles, a free tick- et and Mary can stay with you as the weather is uncertain. No, Anne, I don't like to take any chances. Mary would be better at home with you. And besides, he said, speaking more deliberately, last night I had a strange and awful dream. In my dream, as I was coming home from my work, I saw a funeral procession go slowly by and, observing that it was a child which was dead, I inquired as to who it might be, when some stranger said to me, 'Why have you not heard? It is little Mary Lambf I was just going to inquire as to the cause of the death when I awoke all in a tremble to find that it was but a dream. I'll tell you Anne, that dream put me to thinking, and ever since my conscience has been saying to me. 'Charles Lamb, you had better not let that wife of yours go away today on the excursion, for, if you do, some- thing distressing is sure to happen. i Superstitious! my goodness! Charles, I am surprised, above all things else, that you would give yourself up to such fancies, replied Anne growing somewhat indignant and let- ting her temper, for the first time since her marriage, get the better of her. And as for Mary's slight cold, she continued, that will not stand any argument when you can wrap her up and take her down to the switch-station. But Anne, le he began, when he was cut short by his now indignant Wife. I don 't see anything to hinder my going on the excur- sion today. So now, Charles Lamb, you may say what you please, and with that she arose hastily and left the room, banging the door behind her, like a pouting seven-year-old girl. Charles sat dumbfounded. Not a single time before since his marriage had his wife been so completely given over to anger, and so indifferent to his wishes, so how could he help being shaken? For some time, he sat puzzled to know what he should do. Yet, he finally came to the conclusion, she was in a heat of passion and would be sorry afterward. He knew that and so he decided to let his Wife go on the excusion with-

Page 29 text:

THE COLLEGIAN 21 With such thoughts as these he had filled in the few spare moments of the day, when he was not engaged in changing the levers before him, giving various trains the right of way on certain tracks. He had seen the excursion go out. No wife had waved at him from the window, but how could he expect that when she was going away against his will? He had watched it with an eager eye, as long as it was visible. He couldn't help feeling that she would be sorry and would be herself again, when she came back. But had he not been in fault. even more than she? This question stared him con- stantly in the face, and by and by, reached his great and ten- der heart and made him cry within himself, Yes, I was to blame, and for both Anne's and Mary's sake I will smooth matters over as soon as possible. At last the whistle of the excursion train was heard and in a few moments the train was coming down the main line at a rapid rate. Charles gave her the right of way. But stop! The little girl by some means, had got out and was upon the main track, not heeding the approaching train. Charles quivered. My God l he uttered, as if trying to pray. Only a moment in which to act. What should he do? Could he shout to his little girl? No, for he would certainly frighten the girl and bring her into a state of confusion, whereas otherwise she might notice the train and get oi the track in time. There was one possible chance to save his lit- tle girl. He might open the switch and turn the train into the side-track. This would mean a great catastrophe-his wife and others probably killed.. His hand grasped the lever. A short conflict in his mind ensued. He could not. He withdrew his hand. He staggered. U God! was all he could utter, and then fell in a swoon. Five minutes later the mother with her child Was bending over the swooning man, anxiously awaiting the return of life. She was trying to make him understand that Mary was savedg how, through providence, she had stayed at home and chanced to be coming down to escort them home, when she had seen