Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-08-31

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-
poihtmelt at Red Valley, and hovered.
as if fascinated. around engine 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. It was SO inevitable
proceeding that up to the time of the
Middleton's dance they paid no attention
to 1t.
But that hight something extraordi-
nary occurred.
The next day, as Brier Rose rode
down the slrceton her hardy little pony,
the boys gathered around her eagerly,
notwithstanding the fact that she had
stout little whip in her hand. They had
something new and strange to tease her
about.
"Brier Rose" called out Jim as she
dancin, do your
YOU'D ruther set all the evenin,
wouldn't you, now?"
"D'you like the name O Dave, or do
you reckon you'd rather have Com
steck!'
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 trife? And so soon? And Dave
as yet had said nothing. Emboldened
by her silence, they went further.
"What does he say about it?'
The shamed crimson leaped to her
very temples and receded, leaving her
face pitifully white. Her wounded
pride now painted for but one thing-a
way out. Probably he knew it too.
She saw him coming down the street.
s@sDo you love him? Say, Brier Rose,
do you love Dave?' cried the one farthest
from her whip.
Her courage came back at Dawes ap-
proach, and tho spell of her unwonted
silence was broken. s.
3"Do l love him" she cried, looking
him fairly in the face. II come nearer
to hating himr'
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 a dead run,
bat fast as Rose flew the grieved look in
Dave Comstock's blue eyes kept pace
with her.
That night Joe fdgeted around, un-
able to decide whether or not he should
speak to Dave about the occurrence of
the afternoon. Dawes genial smile and
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 l
saved from the wreck had brown eyes
like Dricr Rose? remember the baby
smiled whom l held it out to the men.
You know my foot was caught and l
couldn't move. I've never seen Brier
Rose smile ut me that way. If had
saved her perhaps she would. Do you
think so, Joe?'
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 today i'll return she had Knocked
him. Aye. if the look he gave her spoke
truly, she had cut him to the heart
Tears-tears il 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
the rear platform Of the way car.
The "A having come down on the rear
of the freight as second engine now stood
on the siding waiting to go back to
Horseshoe for the midnight express.
Old Bryan was up in crowd of men
in front Of the postofice. Brier Rose
watched him anxiously. As long as he
kept away from the Owl she felt easy.
He knew she was watching him. He
also knew that she would not hesitate
to come after him if the Owl proved too
strong an attraction. Therefore he kept
away.
She trod fearlessly along the side of
the boiler, rubbing the handrail with
black, Gil sodden cloth. She touched
the engine as if she loved it. Every part
If it shone like the sun. Every valve
worked with precision. Every screw
was secure. Joe laughed to see her
fling a shovelful of coal into the furnace
like born fireman,
His own machine called his attention
from the "A. Then Rose heard him cry
out, and springing down she rushed into
tho station.
"A runaway engine coming this wayl"
he said hoarsely. "Spite work of dis
charged engineer. No one on her
going twenty-five miles an hour-a
single track-Dave's train only going
fiftecn-the al and that ore car on the
o.lly siding between here and Red VAL
ley My God!'
where is it?' cried Brier Rose.
at broke away from Horseshoe Gap.
Message is from Prairie City. It's
already passed Prairie City, headed
straight for here. It's bound to catch
Dave before his train gets to Red VAL
ley"
Rose turned white to her very lips.
She covered her face with her brown
hands. Only for a moment, though.
Then she flung back her head and looked
Joe full in the face.
81 can save himr' she cried. She
sprang for her engine and climbed into
the cab.
sRose! Roser roared Joe in dismay.
Rose turned her white face toward
him imploringly. "Be at the switch,
Joe, and listen for my signals as you
value Dawes hfer' she cried. Then she
pulled the throttle valve out to its full
extent. The engine shivered all over,
and at fifty-two miles an hour the a.,
driven by Brier Rose, leaped down the
track to meet the runaway.
There was not moment to lose. A
certain number Of miles, lessening every
moment, lay between the numbering
freight with Dave on board, and the
cruel, senseless, runaway engine. Be
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