Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-11-15

was as refined in feeling as woman.
Sometimes his engine, which hauled
the gravel train," was halted for
several minutes, or an houn perhaps,
in some country place, and at such
times the fireman had an opportunity
to sit alone for time, and was more
than once known to declare to the
head brakeman that he couldn't see.
for his part, what Rodney wanted to
go pokin' about the medders for, look
in into birds nests, n pickin' a lot @
wild stuff to litter up the cab with. -
And he could not see, and Rodney
never tried to make him understand,
what pleasure it was to him to look
upon dainty eggs, or brooding moth
ers, or to take in his hands fresh wild
blossoms. While he was worry young
man he had never seen any one whom
he thought he would like to marry.
He was rather odd in this, as in other
things. But when he was something
over thirty, he met Ray Horton, and
liked her face. When he knew her,
he liked her words and her character,
and one day he told her he loved her,
and became her accepted suitor. 1t
was the time OF the blossoming OF the
golden-rod when this happened, and
Rodney brought her a bouquet of
flowers as betrothal nosegay.
a love them," he said, in his slow,
grave way, passing his large fingers
over them. "They are the bravest,
bonniest flower that any season
knows
Ray was learning to paint at this
time, and as his eyes rested on her
easel, Rodney saids
"Will you paint me spray of my
flowers some time, dear?"
And Ray looked at the blossoms he
had brought, and answered' ''Seme
day when can paint we'll enough, per-
haps. Some day when / love you very
much, and want especially to please
you. Seme day when we have quar-
relied, perhaps, and / want to make
up. Who knows but what all this
may be? You see the refrain of my
words is some day."
"And so, when ] receive my picture,
if we have quarreled," he said still
gravely, carrying out her thought, 81
shall know there is repentance and a
hope for meeting-a little soreness
OF heart for the things that have gone
amiss, a longing for righting? Shall
read these things, RayP"
And Ray had answered, half-laugh-
ing at his serious mood; 'You may
read these things"
There was happy year. and then 9
bitter quarrel. No matter why these
two, who loved each other dearly, said
such hard words. Because they die
love each other, they could speak fal
more bitterly. Both were stubborn
and proud, and neither would ask the
others pardon, or speak one wore
that might lead to a reconciliation
Two years went by, and when Engi
neer Rodney was forced to go to tn,
telegraph Office at Glencoe to sign ar
important message, or to receipt fol
one, he uttered only short, cold words
of greeting or business, and was an
swered no less coolly than he spoke.
Ray had learned painting rapidly il
those two lonely years when she fel
/: she must work constantly to keel
troublesome thoughts away. Her of
ice duties were light, and her brusl
, was very much in her hand. And sh,
stood and painted the ray of golden
rod, thinking of her own words ant
those of Rodney on certain day tw,
years ago. But the painting was no
for him. One of the favorite pupils o
her teacher was to be married soon, an,
the teacher, who thought Ray
' skill something marvellous an,
her taste fine, had asked hel
t to paint this spray as littl
gift for the bride. Ray thought O
Rodney as she painted; thought of hin
as she put the finishing touches to tn
picture; thought of him as the paint
: ing stood on the easel while the color
dried. But it did not enter her hea
to send him any sign that she wante
!. him. And Rodney had looked fror
his engine into low-lying meadows
and sunny pastures brave with hi
flowers, had even got down when ther
was waiting-time and plucked grea
handfuls of the golden, glowing stuff
and sighed and been heartsick, but n
thought came to him of sending Ra
one sigh that he was not content.
1 I" 1t is dry, and | will send it to Mr.:
Early to-day" Ray said one afternoon
speaking of the painting. She took
s from the easel. and wrapping it i
Y paper, laid it on the desk, saying: :"
5 will let Jack take it to her this aftel
. noon" Jack was the messenger bo.
!. She drew an envelope toward he
+ and directed it to Mrs. Early. 1t wa
Q a large envelope, such as was used
r cover certain kind of train ordel
!, Before she had placed the picture will
in it, she heard her signal, and pusl
: ing the directed envelope slight
Il aside, she answered the Office call. an
g presently had written the followin
5 message:
h ~To ENe'R RODNEY TRAIN No. is7.
GLENCOE.
Keep your engine well in hand arour
S Keth's Ledge. Rain has loosened some rails
It The message was signed by Il
e superintendent of the road.
No. 1S7 was not due for five minute
|, Ray directed another envelope, an
v then somewhat awkwardly folded Il
order sheet which was twice as larE
Ir as it need have been. Take these tw
o envelopes" she said to Jack, havin
K deposited both train order and pictur
, s.and when 137 comes. hand the on
| 1srx.......s -, l;,~, - Ear~s ns.a,- Rs,5,,,