The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-08-06
A wild Hsun for a wife.

The engineer stood oiling his loco
motive and waiting for another train.
A wedding party was on the platform,
bidding goodbye to bride and groom.
Il never see wedding party get on
my train said the engineer, chat /
do not think of the time got married
myself. That was several years ago.
Though an engineer, | was rather
wild, and when / courted the daugh-
ter Of the section boss--as pretty an
irish lass as ever lived-the old man
objected. He said if didn't reform
my ways I'd be killed some night ON
my run, and he didn't want any wild
ows and children on his hands. But
the gal and ! made up our minds
that we'd get married anyway, and
trust to luck for the future"
$50 made all the preparations for
an elopement. l had day run, but
one night changed off with another
engineer on purpose. That run
brought me to the little station where
the section boss lived, during the
night. 1t was all arranged that she
should come on board my engine, and
ride to the second station with me,
and there telegraph operator, n
friend OF mine, was to have n minis
ter ready. Everything worked all
right, and the lass was soon seated
behind me in the cab. How the old
locomotive did run that night! She
seemed to fly through the air without
touching the rails, but even then she
didn't go fast enough to suit me. AT
the next station we stopped for orders,
and the orders were to side track three
mile beyond at the coal switch and
wait for No. 6. That was four miles
from l., where the minister was.
1t was pretty rough, but orders had to
be obeyed. We had got nicely on the
switch, and stood waiting a little
while, when the brakeman came run
ming forward as fast as he could run
and from the top OF the front cal
shouted: The old mans coming on
a hand-car. Look out
I turned, and sure enough, thirty
rods away, hand-car was coming
with four men on ii. Somebody had
betrayed us. There was no time to
lose. AS quick as a flash ] decided
what to do. Shouting to the brake
mon to uncouple the tender from the
car, ! told my fireman to jump for the
switch He did so, and / opened the
throttle. Just in the nick of time
the switch was turned, and we bound
ed onto the main track. The old mar
made a run for us, but he couIdn'
make it, and then he returoed to hi
hand-car and gave chase. The ques
ton was now, could l make l.
siding before No. 6 left there? If
couldn't, might have collision.
II pulled the throttle wide open
and while / fired the lass kept he
eye peeled along the tract. She wal
a brave girl, and never faltered
though we ran 90 fast that the engine
bounded and swayed as if it would
leave the rails. Soon she called to me
4 see light / looked, and it wa
the headlight OF No. 6. But LOOKED
again, and could see the switch light
this side of her-she was standing a
L.. l whistled fersely for tn
switch, again and again. could Sc
the engine OF No. begin to puff
they were moving out Again
whistled, and at last they heard me
No. 6 stopped putting, the white switcl
light gave way to red one, and in
few seconds we were glided upon tn
siding. At the station was our minis
ter and in five minutes we were MAJ
b ried. Then we followed No. 6 back t.
the coal switch, and l moved on witt
my train without the loss of any time
The upshot of it all was that when h
), heard OF it the superintendent ovel
looked my wild rum for a wife, an,
: the old man came down and did the
handsome thing by us. I never see
wedding party but / think of tina
. nights ride"
: The RetOrG Courteous.