Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-09-09

lier with every beast in Weepih Willer
than with any of the boys. She amt
even got a head fur anybody but old
Bryan; you notice make no mention of
heart concernin Brier Rose; don't keer
to talk of what she amt got-and just
now she's 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 hawk"
Whats Bryan's run.
Horseshoe to Powder erik. She knows
every inch of the track and siding. And
l wisht you could see her handle the
critter. She knows all Bryan does, and
she's heap site quicker calclatin than
the old man. It's with while to see her
oil and clean the machine. She goes
over it spry as a kitten"
"She's handsome" said Dave simply.
"Humph! 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 sassy? LORI
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 lowered,
as if fascinated, around engine A.
Neither the boys nor old Bryan were
slow to notice this, the latter having ac-
copied such attentions periodically from
all the young men. 1t was soinevitable
proceeding that mp to the time Of the
Middleton's dance they paid no attention
to it.
But that night something extraordi-
nary occurred.
The next day, as Brier Rose rode
down the street on her hardy little pony,
the boys gathered around her eagerly,
notwithstanding 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 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
stockv'
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 10 ask them
what they meant Too well she knew.
But was her subjugation apparent in
such a 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.
"Do 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 the spell of her unwonted
silence was broken.
do l love him:' she cried, looking
him fairly in the face. Il come nearer
TO hating him"
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 few 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 sal
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 Rose? | remember the baby
smiled when i held it out to the men
You know my foot was caught and
! COuluIL ulONt. We uCNtI scch DIltl
Rose smile at me that way. If / haC
saved her perhaps she would. Do yor
think so, joel"
AT home Rose was thinking of tn,
story of Dawes bravery in the wrecked
train, of the lives he had saved, of hi
defense of her.
And today in return she had Knocked
him. Aye, if the look he gave her spok,
truly, she had cut him to the heart
Tears-tears in the eyes of Brier Rose!
The position of telegraph operator a
Red Valley was given to Dave Comstock
The afternoon freight, heavily loaded
had just pulled clumsily out of th'
Weeping Willow station with Dave 81
the rear platform of the way car.
The "A having come down on the reai
of the freight as second engine now STOOD
on the siding waiting to go back t
Horseshoe for the midnight express.