ing took hold of his heart. The eyelids of the sleeper had opened slightly and the lower jaw had dropped. An ashy whiteness seemed to have taken the place of the wax-like color on her face. Helen's head had also turned against the cushion and her drooping eyelids showed that she was just dropping into dreamland. A dread entered his heart as he arose to relieve his mind of his fearful misgivings. Tenderly he raised the hand that had fallen to her side and gazed into the face of the poor mother. She had passed away peacefully in sleep, without even a tremor to denote the effort of stepping from earth to eternity. Bert folded the thin, white hands and laid his handkerchief over her face. As he did so he felt a sudden lurch of the train. The next instant it seemed as if the end of the coach was rushing to meet him. He grasped at the seats to stay his flight. Then came a crash, mingled with the sound of breaking glass and flying debris. Only an instant of silence amid perfect darkness, then came the shrieks of passengers and the sound of rushing water. Bert was too stunned for a moment to realize what had happened, then with a knowledge of his location on the line it dawned on his mind that his train was wrecked exactly at a point where he had tried to tell Joe to run carefully. A voice arose above the din just then

"Oh mamma, mam ma - Bert Mr. Conductor take me out of the water!"

Bert made his way in the darkness to the end of the coach now submerged in water, as fast as it was possible to move. The careened coach with end depressed made it a difficult undertaking, but at last his hands came in contact with those of Helen whom he was calling by name and trying to assure that he would rescue her. He found her unhurt, but pinned fast beneath the water which was slowly rising over her. He tore her from the obstruction and made his way backward to the rear end of the car where passengers were battling madly to open the door. He realized that they were penned in, but another avenue of escape suggested itself im

large windows he called:

"This way all; take your time the danger is all passed."

His assuring tone had the effect of quieting the hysterical crowd and then began the work of rescue. Bert was first to drop out of the window into the water whose depths he could not even guess, but when his feet touched the ground he realized that it would be possible to land all his passengers safely. When the women and children were safely landed, he hurried back to the rear car. In each of the cars he could hear voices of excited passengers striving to extricate themselves and of those who had been successful in reaching freedom. Just then the glimmer of a lantern caught his eye.

"Jim!" he called.

"Are you hurt, Bert?" came in an

swer.

"No, get back there quick! Look out for 45."

"All right. Lamps were all out-had to light them."

"Go!"

Back again in the darkness and water Bert made his way. His assuring voice was soon ringing out orders to those who needed only a commander to give them perfect confidence.

"The rear coach is all right. Take the ladies and children into that," sang out Bert as he helped one after another out of the windows.

One after another was extricated, until at last no voice responded amid the ruins of the wreck. But there was one Bert had in mind who would never respond again to call in this world and she was still amid the ruins, but where? he asked himself.

At that moment he heard the answering signal to Jim's flag and he knew help and lights would soon be on hand. Soon kind hearted men were lending Bert sympathy and assistance. When they returned to the coach to look for the body of Mrs. Tremaine, they found water fast undermining that car and filling it with water. Just above the surface, and lying calmly as if in sleep, they saw the lifeless figure of the wo

man.

Tenderly they removed her and as they were approaching the rear car with the body, Bert heard a voice wailing:

"They haven't found my mamma yet. Oh where is she-where is Bert?"

"Who is Bert?" asked a lady who was trying to console her.

"Bert? Why Bert is the conductor." "He is all right dear. He is a brave,

good man and has helped us all to get out of the wreck. He will bring your mamma to you."

Helen was glad to see her rescuer when he came into the coach and clung to him tenaciously.

"Did you find my mamma?" she asked. "Yes," answered Bert gravely. "Was she hurt?"

"No, she was lying with her eyes closed just as you saw her last, when we found her."

"Poor mamma was so sick and tired; but I should have thought that so much noise would have awakened her?"

Bert did not answer. "Where is she now?"

"Some ladies are with her-she is lying very quiet in the buffet. Sit here by me Helen until I count my tickets and see if any are missing-any passengers I mean."

Just as Bert announced that all were accounted for a voice at his side said:

"No, Bert, all are not accounted for. The baggage and express are under water-that means that poor Chambers and Ellis are gone. We can see nothing of the engine whatever-that means that poor Joe and Frank are in it. We looked everywhere, but I guess they're gone. Had we better have 45 couple onto the coach and pull us back to Denton?"

"Yes," said Bert "let us get back as quick as we can."

It was a sad discovery Helen made when Bert broke the news of her mother's death, but his kindness touched her heart when he told her he, too, was made an orphan in a wreck, and offered her his protection.

She was by Bert's side when the little cortege stopped at the open grave which was to receive the last of what had been

dear to her. Her little heart sobbed out its grief on Bert's breast as the clods fell upon the casket. He led her away, saying:

"I will always love and protect you, Helen. She has gone where there is no sickness nor suffering. She is in a land of eternal happiness. I am sure she would be glad if she knew you were left to me, and who knows but she can see?"

Thus Bert won a trusting heart and upon him she leaned for support and love. Months rolled by and the leaves had turned color and fallen. Helen had visited the little mound almost daily to leave there her offering of flowers. On her last visit before the snow fell she saw that someone had erected a simple white slab over the grave, with the sim

ple inscription, "Mamma upon it, followed by an appropriate obituary. She knew who that someone was, for her heart said, "Bert." Her thankful nature was a beautiful characteristic, but down in her heart there was a wish that she could in some manner repay Bert's kindness.

One day when Bert was seated by her side before the glowing grate he broke the silence by turning suddenly and saying:

"Helen, dear, would you like to go to school?"

"I would be delighted."

Then I will give you a chance. I have a friend in New York who has suggested the name of an academy for young ladies and who assures me that it is a very creditable institution. A number of distinguished ladies have graduated from this institution, and it would please me if my Helen could be one of its graduates. Would you like to go, dear?"

"Except for one thing-I know I should be awfully lonesome for you," she said, rising and coming to his side and placing her arms around his neck.

"You shall come home whenever you wish, but you need not leave me unless you wish. We will be just as happy here and I am sure Mrs. Warburton will leave nothing undone to make you happy; besides, there is Flossie, who

will teach you piano and painting and ever so many things you will have to know."

"I want to go to New York as soon as you can send me. I don't like Flossie-I won't study under her-I -I hate her!" she said, vehemently.

Bert wheeled around dumbfounded at the outburst. Never had he heard such words from her before. Helen's flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes told him she was truly in earnest.

are away she is all right, but when Flossie goes to the garden to wait until you come, and I try to meet you first, she tells me I must act like a lady and not go pell mell down the path after Flossie. She says it's not dignified nor becoming of a young lady to do so, especially when you are not related to me."

"Oh, I see. Well, I guess I will close the house and send you to school so that Mrs. Warburton will not be an