Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-09-23
LAPORTE, PA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER %. 1892.

an engine with the best of 'em. Bryan's
taught her all the tricks, and he thinks
the sun rises and sets for just her,
"Strange she would defend gopher,
when she's so hard on the boys" OBJ
| served Dave.
"That's just it. That's Brier Rose !
| She's got more tame pets; she's friend
lier with every beast in Weepin' Willer
than with any of the boys. She amt
even got head fur anybody but old
heart concernin' Brier Rose; 1 don't
keer to talk of what she amt got-and
Just now specially bewitched about
him. After keepin' straight for forty
years he's taken to drink. The girl
knows he'll lose his job if the company
gets wind of it. and she watches him
like a hawk"
"What's Bryan's RUM"
"Horseshoe to Powder erik. She
knows every inch of track and siding.
And wish you could sec her handle the
critter. She knows all Bryan does, and
she's heap sight quicker calc'latin' than
the old man. It's wuth while to see her
oil and clean the machine. She goes
over it spry as a kithen."
"She's handsome" said Dave, sim
ply.
"Humphl Handsome is as handsome
does" observed Joe, grumpily. "She
is cold as ice and hard as a rock. It's
my belief that she amt got no heart
same as other wimmin. And sassy7
Lor'r
In spite of what he had heard, or per-
haps, because of what he has heard, all
things, even the melancholy town itself.
grew rose colored to Dawes sunny eyes.
With his unfailing cheerfulness he
waited hopefully for news of his ap-
pointment at Red Valley, and hoyered,
as if fascinated, around engine No. A.
Neither the boys nor old Bryan were
slow to notice this, the latter having ac-
cepted such attentions periodically from
all the young men. 1t was so inevitable
a proceeding that up to the time of the
Middleton's dance they paid no attention
to it.
But that night something extraordin-
airy occurred.
The next day, as Brier Rose rode down
the street on her hardy little pony, the
boys gathered around her eagerly, not
withstandlng the fact that she had a
stout little whip in her hand. They had
something new and strange to tease her
about.
"Brier Rose" called out Jim, as she
drew rein, "you don't care nothin' about
dancin', do youG"
"You'd ruther set all the evenin',
wouldn't you, now2"
"D'you like the name O. Dave, or do
you reckon you'd rather have Com
stock2"
Rose looked from one to the other as
the bottled-up taunts fell rapidly upon
her ears, her cheeks and lips growing
scarlet. For once her ready tongue
| failed her. Small need to ask them
what they meant. Too well she knew.
But was her subjugation apparent in such
| a tride2 And so soon2 And Dave as
yet had said nothing. Emboldeued by
her silence they went further.
"What does he say about ita"
The shamed crimson leaped TO her
very temples and receded, leaving her
face pitifully white. Her wounded
pride now pantei for but one thing-a
way out. Probably he knew it, too.
She saw him coming down the street.
"Do you love hIma Say, Brier Rose,
do you love Davoa" cried the one furth.
est from her whip.
Her courage came back at Dawes ap-
proach, and the spell of her unwonted
silence was broken.
.'Do l love hima" she cried, looking
him fairly in the face. ~ come nearer
to hatin' himl"
She turned her horse sharply, and the
blows the boys had expected fell on her
fiery little pony. He craned his neck
and went up the street on dead run,
but fast as Rose flew the grieved look
in Dave Comstock's blue eyes kept pace
with her.
Tliat night Joe fidgeted around, un-
able to decide whether or not he should
speak to Dave about the occurrence of
the afternoon. Dawes genial smile aud
CHEEKY hopefulness were gone. He sat
with his face buried in his folded arms.
Joe coughed noisily and said nothing.
Dave looked down at his poor manned
foot.
"Joe, do you know that little baby
saved from the wreck had brown eyes
like Brier Rose2 1 remember the baby
smiled when / held it out to the men.
You know my foot was caught and l
couldn't move. I've never seen Briar
Rose smile at me that way. If l had
saved her perhaps she would. Do you
think so, Joe2"
At home, Rose was thinking of the
story of Dawes bravery in the wrecked
train, of the lives he had saved, of his
defense of her.
And to-day in return she had mocked
him. Aye, If the look he gave her spoke
truly, she had cut him to the heart.
Tears-tears in the eyes of Brier Rose !!
The position of telegraph operator at
Red Valley was given to Dave Comstock.
The afternoon freight, heavily loaded,
had just pulled clumsily out of the
| Weeping Willow station, with Dave on