Wilmington journal., 1874-01-02
MY ELOPEMENT

"Jiu, you may take her into The
house tonight"
The ''hel" referred to was Ariel
one Of the stauncbest and fastest pas
senger engines that ever ierked train,
and Jim was my stoker.
"Au right, Jack, he answered, as
stepped down from the cab and start
ed toward the town.
1t was just dark, of cold, stormy
November day, and If ever there was
Everett, seated ten minutes later III
time, and q steaming supper at my
command.
but tn happiness was too great t.
be lasting. + was but half through
my onslaught on mine ho-t's cuisine,
when my s.oker, thc bes: fellow in the
world, only little wild ct times, came
! rushing into the room.
'I'il DO blowed if ] amt half a
mind to let you finish the job" said
| he. I'D give half-doller if could
-.ae like that"
And he stood back nnd sezed with
admiration at my display of talent for
ea ing when hungry.
! 'FCorne. come, what's up?" asked.
holding mp the half Of biscuit, and
preparing to follow mp the ssccess with
the o,her half.
Good heavens, Jack. how often do
you e't?" he asked. but without Civ
ing me time to reply. he added: ''But
| I've got to stop You now, for old May
| ord is down to the station swearing
| Ike marine, because you got the
| tart of him, and got away before he
saw you"
Ma,l 'rd was theSup rintendent, and
~ | knew something was wrong some
where, I replied: Tell him i will be
down after supper.
"That won't do Jack You've CO.
to catch the express, vsnd che has been
gone twenty minutes ROW. We've got
| the engine out of the house, and al
fired up. She'll be blowing up b. .he
time we get back
1 will no: say that uttered very an
orv words. but scmething stuck very
hs d il my throat, half 8 biscnit,
uppose. seized an apple from tire
able and tossed it to Jim, who knew
had not been to supper and then I went
ior my hat and started.
[ found Maylord pacing to and fro
in the storm Of snow and slee,, and
r wiling like hungry dog.
'Cau you catch the express before
ohereaches town 2" he asked hurriedy
~ can try, bat why net telegraph ?"
asked.
"rhat's tla mischief OF it. ne snsrl-
ed. ''T:le wires are down"
well, speak lively, fer there's TO
time to foolsHay," said 7, not rvmarl.a-
by good tt;mored as the prospec:
Moreover. had Eo very particular
liking for John Msyiord. E~q.
He toGk letter from bie pocket ana
gave It to me.
Catch the train, Jack. and give the
letter to conductor Adams Whateve,
he gives yn,a, bring back to tn.- withor'
delay" Now there vas something
quite mysterious about this, but, SO
lar, I had no right to question, SO l
turned TO jim &ud asked ii he Lsd ia
ken any water.
''Nary Z drop Jack"
Never mind the water" cried May
lord. you have enough to run down.
Mr.. Maylord, am running this
engine, and can't do it without water
Ii you can, just take my place"
He turned away with something
like an oath, and I backed up 10 the
tsSAE AtNcc.
just as / stopped, & vciled lady
~prang up lightly into the cab.
"Iou must let Eno 80 with you,"
she whispered, at the same time step
ping further back into the shadow. s,.
that my fireman might not see her.
l was amazed at her sudden appear
ance and strange request but before
[ could reply, she drew aide her veil,
revealing the beautiful face Of Nellie
N Msylord
'sWhy, Miss Maylord, you canno
mean IT.. 1 exclaimed: vet at the
same time I really hoped that she did;
for, to tell the truth. Jack Everett was
knew Il but myself, and 1 had hitherto
been content with a smile OF word,
which she often gave NE, notvith-
standing he- fathers frowns. To have
her SO near to me, and talking with
me, rushed me up to the top shelf OF
hopeless bliss.
''I must GO, NJ. Everett said she,
Il know it may stsern strange TO you.
but when one is in danger ONO n -.st
DO strange things 20 escape
''In danger q
''Yea, and 1 want you to save ne.
AS she said this. she lifted her lus-
trous eyes to mo and gave me look
that surprised .aa out of Inv usual
prudence. / replied II will protect
sou with I-y life, if need tc, tor love
you ncttcr than ny OWE
I could not sc. acr face then, :or
>ae had turned it away, and, fright
eae3 at what I had done, 7 fastened
TO ask her forgiveness.
Tut tut T. she said, placing her
hand over InJ month. If that Is
true, you surely will let nee go wit.
you, for s. fate worse than death awaits
ne here. Say yes
And what could I ssv?
All this took place while jim was st
the back end Of the tender taking IN
water, and when he came back to the
cab Nellie was demureiy seated upon
my seat. ] gave i'm the hint to keep
mum, and pulling open the throttle,
awav we started OLA our wild night
ride.
How the old Ariel iiow avcr the is.,n
paral,elsl Accustomed as was to tla,
nohlo engine yet / sometimes quaked
with sudden terror, and SHUT Of the
steam. / va thinking of Nellie then,
and life never seemed SO sweet before.
Then as the speed sisckenei. ] you'd
give ny noble ste q the rein again.
and true to the touch. ste would leap
ahead Ike thing OF life-pesr houses,
villages and towns. seen ahead for q
second, end then far behind ~ Ali
the while 1 arood by Nellie with one
hand on the throttle and tho other on
the ro~ecsing lever. teerire ahead on
sbe .racts illuminated hy the Ar:als
head light.
I dared ,os look at Nellie. for
cur Ives depended ca ny vigilance.
| lsns,*r 3.ot whom might uvsttaso the
train 50 I stoo.l :. til her s.1 I.esr NE,
vet too far from nao. -or,latiuac, I
spoke 10 her, and she would pat up
Eer lips 20 ,!y car II reply. Again
| the little hand wouii clasp my aYEl as
l sped over some rough Eaeeee o: the
Dad that threatened TO shake the irol
monster to pieces, but word wou,d
| reassure her.
| At length, in turning curve. I saw
| tho red light On tie rear of the
press, and SO suddenly. that bad / OF
! \ L.