The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-07-27

she had turned it away, and, fright
ened at what had DOSE, I FASTENED
to ask her forgiveness.
"Tut tut said she, placing her
hand over my mouth. "If that is
true, you will surely let nae go with
you, for a fate worse than death
awaits me here. Say yes"
Aud what else could Isay?
And all this took place while Jim
was at the back end of the tender
taking in watef. aud when he came
forward to the cab, Nelly was de-
muroly perched upon my seat. 1
gave him the hint to keep mum,
and pulling open tho throttle away
we started out on our wild night
ride.
How the old Ariel few over tho
iron parallels. Accustomed as
was to the noble engine, I yet some
times quaked with sudden terror
and shut off the steam. I was
thinking of Nellie then and life
never seemed so sweet before.
Then, as the speed slackened, 1
would give my noble steed the rein
again, and true to the touch, she
would leap ahead like a thing of
life. Past houses, villages, and
towns, seen ahead for a second, and
then far behind US. All the while
I stood by Nellie, with one hand
upon the throttle and the other
upon the reversing lever, peering
ahead upon the track illuminated
by the Ariels headlight.
1 dared not look at Nellie, for all
our lives depended upon my vigil
ance. I knew not what moment 1
might overtake the train. So
stood with her SO near me,
yet so far from me. Sometimes I
spoke to her, and she would put her
lips to my ear to reply. Again, her
little hand would clasp my arm as I
sped over soma rough piece Of road |
that threatened to shake the iron
monster to pieces, but a word !
would reassure her.
At length, in turning a curve,
saw the red light in the rear car Of
the express, and SO suddenly that,
had not been on my guard, there
would have been one less passenger |
coach on the road; and who can
tell where Jack Everett would have |
been? But 1 was prepared and
there was no danger.
Ny whistle was recognized, for
there was not another like it on the
road and, no doubt, wondering
what had sent the Ariel after them,
they stopped for me.
"Well, Tn beat!' exclaimed
Charlie Adams, the conductor.
whats in the wind now, Jack ?"
For reply I gave him the letter.
"W-h-e-wl Here, Jack, see what
you make of it."
1 held the missive up to the light
and read:
"Conductor Adams My daugh-
ter, Nellie Maylord, is running away |
from her home. l have reason to be-
lieve she is on your train. Send her
back to me on the Ariel in charge Of
Everett. Use force if necessary.
"JoHN MAYLoRD."
I think I gave longer and more
emphatic whistle than Charley.
"There is some mischief at the
bottom of this" said 1.
"Exactly, Jack, and if she was on
nly train I would not use force to
send her back to the old hunks
nary bit! I would take her the
other way and keep num-"
"Then, Charley, I will put her
aboard your train, and send her
along. She is in my cab now."
Charley gave vent to an excIama-
ton more forcible than elegant, and
after told him how I came to have
Nellie there he wrote on the back Of
John MAYORS letter:
MIDWAY BETWEEN c. AND Al
Nov. II, 11:3O P. NJ. (
"John Maylord, Esq.-The Ariel
has overtaken me and I have your
communication. Miss Nellie May
lord is not on my train, nor has she
been on it this trip.
CHARLES ADAMS"
"There, Jack, that does not tell
him that she will not be on. Now,
let US hustle, or 1 shall not make
time"
The transfer was quickly made,
but not without some regrets on my
part, and l started back.
John MayIord was waiting for
me.
"Where is she?" he asked, jump
ing into the cab.
I feigned ignorance and passed
him the letter.
Some prodigious oaths escaped
from his lips, but as they were not
directed to me I had nothing to say.
Then he hurriedly left me.
This was not the last Of it, how
ever. I was put through course
of questioning the next day that
would have done credit to crimi
nal lawyer, and if l do not mistake,
John MaylOrd, Esq, went away
none the wiser.
l met Cbarlev Adams too