Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-11-07

~S itants, which nestles cosil,
TN\ in a broad valley between
the foothills of one of the mountainou.
Western States, pierced by one of the
great iron arteries of commerce of the
Gould Southwest system of railways.
The time was the month of May, 1888.
AT the period mentioned | was asso-
'ciated with my brother in the publica-
I6h of small weekly paper in this
tiourishing little town OF D. L be-
came acquainted with almost every one
in town, and was always ready to par
ticipate in such of the social pleasures
as the limited population allowed.
The roller-skating craze had seized
the town during the preceding winter,
and of course all the girls and boys
learned to skate. The society boys and
girls of D. were like all boys and
girls of small towns, in that they di-
Yided themselves into "sets" or crowds.
and it is with the members of the set
to which belonged that my story has
to deal. For present purposes we will
know them as Maggie Reynolds and
William Byron.
Maggie Reynolds was the ac-
knowledged belle of the town, and she
carried her honors with becoming
grace. She was slender, delicate
little bunch of nerves, of the brunette
style. The only daughter of wealthy
parents, she was spoiled, petted and
willful She was both vivacious and
pretty, and of course a most agreeable
companion.
William Byron, who, by the way
a1nca frinnI nf ,,,ina
dispatcher in the service of the rail
was good mate for Maggie, and from
the time the pair became close friends
at the skating rink everybody thought
1t would be match.
Byron was also of small stature. He
had seen deal of the world and was q
ready wit, very much of a gentleman
and exceedingly well thought of by
the girls, as well as by the public gen.
orally. He was temperate and indus
trious, which, taken in consideration
with the fact that he was an excellent
dispatcher, established him in the con-
fidence of both his chief and the super.
intendent of the division.
William Byron and Maggie Rey-
nolds were both graceful, finished
dancers, and, as they learned to skate
together. made the most accomplished
and disappearing couple that fre-
quented the rink. They We're together
so much that the rlmor of their en-
gagement was finally accepted as q
fact.
The rink was to close for the sum
mer with a grand masquerade and
skating contest, numerous plizes be-
ing offered. 1t was known.that Mag
gle and VIII intended to contest for
the first prize, and everybody said
they would win it. | never knew the
causes which led up to a change of
this programme. but the change was
made, and it was an expensive one-at
least | always thought it had very
strong bearing on the events of the
succeeding hours.
l am not a believer in premonitions,
but can recollect very distinctly that
1 never looked upon the friendship be-
tween the two with even the smallest
degree of favor, and L knew Maggie's
disposition and feared that she was
merely having little pastime at Wills
expense, and | felt equally as sure that
Will was deeply in love with her.
When the night for the contest final
ly arrived, the whole town assembled
at the rink, and from my position in
the gallery l could see every one in
the hall. Maggie had arrived, accom-
panied by her mother and brother and
Will was on the floor few minutes
before she arrived She went i'm
mediately to the gallery with
her mother, while Will remained
on the floor below, mingling with the
merry throng of maskers, and | no.
ticed that he was not in his usual
spirits He looked and acted i'll at
ease, He was nervous, and acted as
though he knew he was being scruti-
nized, Maggie did not wear her usual
bright happy smile, and did not act as
though she intended to skate.
At the last moment before the con-
test began, a well-dressed, dapper
young man, passenger brakeman en-
ployed on the road, who passed a
good deal of his time in D, and
whom [ had often seen at the rink,
and noticed as an excellent skater, as
cended the gallery stairs and sought
Miss Maggie's side, and they exchanged
few words, and Maggie arose, accom-
panying him to the floor below. In a
moment they appeared together in
full view of the audience, which di
yined in a moment the meaning of the
move. Maggie and Will had quarreled
and she was going to skate for the
prize with Mr.. Sander, for that was
the name of the good-looking and ac-
complished young skater.
Will left the rink before the contest
was over. without exchanging a word
with Maggie.
As soon as | could get away from
the contest | searched for but could
get no trace OF him. know now that
he did not close his eyes in sleep that
night.
The next day was beautiful one.
When Will entered the trainmaster's
office at the depot at s o'clock a. IN.
and relieved the man who had been OF
since midnight, he looked badly, ant
the other dispatchers noticed that Ii
was nervous and unsteady. He sa
down at his table, took the key in
mechanical way, and commenced work
He was handling the north end of tn
line between st. Louis and D
fortytwo miles of road.
1t was busy dav. Besides the tw