The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-07-11
Race Course Of True Love.

Upon the arrival one day last week OF
Northern train on the Alabama and Chatanoo-
ga Railroad at the pretty Georgia station of
Brandon, its passengers had their interest ex-
cited by the appearance of All unwonted COM
motion amongst the people gathered on the
platform and around the depot. Loungers,
villagers and train-men were all chatting to-
gether over some topic of common intelligence
in style indicating the liveliest feelings in re-
gard to some unusual matter, and the travellers
eagerly inquired the meaning of it all. They
were told that, just before the arrival of their
train, young man and young woman, noun
ted upon foaming thorough breds, had come
galloping up to the station at top-speed to
catch the cars there followed by the fair ones
father in full cry; and upon finding the train
not yet arrived had swept wildly by on the
road to the next station, with their pursuer
still hotly on their track. 1t was plain that
the young people were clipping, and, unless
they could reach the next station by the time
that the cars did, and be aboard apd off before
the elder rider could come up with them, would
be captured and taken back to punishment
This was enough. With one voice the now
sympathetic passengers called upon their con-
ductor to spur the iron horse to the rescue, and
that official gave his engineer the signal to
"pull her wide open and make extra time"
amid the uproarous cheers of the station
Away thundered the train after the runaways
and wrathful sire, and, when about mile out
of Brandon, came in sight of the full chase on
turnpike road running side by side with the
track. Instantly every window in the cars
was crowded with heads, the platform swarmed
with wavers of hats and handkerchiefs, and
the whole travelling company entered intensely
into the spirit of the exciting scene, like any
,,o;o,t o,,J;opoa of lyninbtc ond 1adipS at g
tournament AS they came up with the pursu-
er and passed him, says the Meridian Gazette,
it was noticed that he rode large, very fine
horse, much more powerful and less jaded than
were the animals bearing the fugtives, and its
every leap under whip and spur made the dis
tanoe between them less. Youth and maiden
piled whips also without stint, and kept good
lead, but upon overtaking them in turn the
train passengers saw by the Strengthened necks
and painting sides that their good steeds could
not bear the pace much longer. The girls
dishelyed tresses streamed back in the breeze
like banner of golden threads, the hatless
youth encouraged her and the horses with
cheering shouts, and the passengers cheered
both in the heartiest possible way. The loco
motive was gauged to keep alongside at first !;
but presently the over-taxed animals OF the
lovers plainly slackened their speed, and the
n6ure OF tue pursuing SiIe uleM oniniouoiy
nearer Then the excitement of the travellers
reached feyer-heat; men shouted and swung
hats, women screamed, and the engine whistled
and all to no avail, for the horses could DO
| NO more. A moment it seemed that parental
vengeance must win the day and then by q
happy inspiration the passengers roared for
the train to stop and take the fainting lovers
aboard Down with the breaks it was an in
stant; the cars were brought to the quickest
possible halt; and youth, maiden, saddlebags
and carpetsacks were dragged aboard by
friendly hands, just as the stern old man.
on the fying-horse, came near enough in
his cloud of dust 10 be heard ordering q sur
render. Then screamed the whistle again, and
away flew the train like mad, leaving the en-
ragged father to shake his fist and pistol
impotently at its cheering human freight. OF
the adventurous twain thus enabled to win the
race at last, the lover is only fifteen years old
and the sweetheart thirteen. Disembarking
at the next station, under the hearty congratu-
lations of their numerous rescuers, they were
married at the first parsonage, and went back
to their home Us one on the next southwark
bound train As for the distanced sire, if he
had never got married himself he would never
have lost such a race.