Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-30
me with How dye do, Mr.. Atwa-

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twice before we reached our final
destination, and this lonely pine-bar.
rem was certainly neither of our
stopping-places.
"What is it, Carew? 2" | asked,
swinging myselfon the ground where
the conductor stood with his lantern
in hand looking under a car.
Only journal box heated. Con.
found that Warren ! what made him
report all sound " with such a worn
box as that? These patent boxes
are continually getting hot in the
shortest runs, and amt fit for ex-
presses at ALL"
We can cool it in fifteen minutes
sir" said one of the brakemen, who
had his tow and water all ready for
packing it anew.
Fifteen minutes and we were
just running on time with the Light
ming to catch us at B."
" It's too bad to get in behind the
Lightning train," said
I" Worse for me than Mcleod ; for,
though Warren's to blame, / catch
the curses. Well, Trueft, do the
best you can |"
In spite Of Truefit's sanguine pro-
phecy, it was full twenty-five minu-
tes before we were again under way.
| had gone back to Isabel Mcleod,
whose dilated blue eyes were glanc-
ing from one to another in the ap-
prehensive agony of terror that no
one but nervous woman can fully
appreciate.
" Frank-Mr. Atwater? do tell
me what is the matter !"
"Only 'hot box there is no
occasion for uneasiness."
Upon " your sacred honor ?"
upon " my sacred honor. Why,
Isabel, how frightened you are l
can see you tremble, even here. What
is the matter, child ?"
"Sit down and l will tell you,"
she said, hurriedly, motioning me to
a vacant seat directly back of her
" know it is a piece of mad folly
a-a delusion but | must tell some
body, or shall go mad p
l sat down, leaning forward with
my elbows on the top of the seat she
occupied, so that my face nearly
touched her heavy black veil.
" First promise never to tell him
John"
l promise"
" Well, then," she went ON, speak
ing in a husky, nervous whisper,
" he is very peculiar-full of the
strangest fancies. When | first mar
ried l thought it was merely super
She paused.
well, now 2" | questioned.
" Now, | do not know what to
think. Oh, Mr. Atwater, ought not
to say so, l know, but l am the most
creature in the world z"
Isabel p
1" | am He threatens sometimes
to shut me up in a mad-house, and
perhaps l should be happier there
than subject to his whims and cruel
ties. Why do you suppose he bro't
me here tonight 7"
81 am sure | do not know"
"He told me-" she whispered,
clasping her hands tightly together
as she spoke, " that we were coming
to death tonight, and that we must
come together ! Oh, Frank, what
do you suppose he means?"
"Only to terrify you'll said, sooth
ingly. "He is bundle of old Scotch
and always was"
"And, Frank, once when thought
l heard footsteps close behind us,
and turned my head to see he jerked
my arm and told me not to look
that-oh, Frank, it makes my blood
run cold now-that it walking at our
side p
"But, Isabel, surely you will not
allow yourself to be influenced by
such folly as this"
II told you it was folly" she an.
swered, dejectedly but"
A hand was laid on my arm at this
hand of Carew, the con-
ductor.
"Frank, look here, want to speak
to you," he said, hurriedly. "Come
here--out on the platform"
| followed him out into the stormy
darkness of the March night, where
his lantern CLEANED like sullen, ,shif-
ting eye.
"What is it ? Anything wrong ?"
eyes, and no. Ofcourse you know
we're nearly half an hour behind time,
with not quite thirty minutes between
us and the Lightning"
eyes. What of it ?"
"Well, that old fool Mcleod has
turned crusty, and says if we don't
run out on the side track at Speeds
vile, the next station and wait for the
Lightning to pass he'll not be answer
able for the consequences"
"Who wants him to be answer
able 2" demanded, with considerable
acerbity, not to say disdain.
"Well, he says it's bad night
track slippery, and all that sort o.
thing and l suppose it's all very
true. But you know the Lady Frank
lin, of old. She'll keep the thirty
minutes between us and the Light
ming won't she 2"
II should say there was no kinC
of doubt as to that. Amt you going
to make up that lost time 2"
"Thats just the trouble. That
crack-brained old Scotch fool wants
to stop and lose another half houl
which we may just as well gain, and
run into Bon time, as to com,
trailing along behind the lightning
But Mcleod refuses to run her unles