The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-09-16

baps, because OF what ne mas 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 hovered,
as il fascinated, around engine No. A.
Neither the boys nor old Bryan were
slow to notice this, the latter having &C.
cepted such attentions periodically from
ali the young men. 1t was so inevitable
proceeding that up to the time OF the
MiddIeton's dance they paid no attention
10 it.
But that night something extraordin-
ary occurred.
The next day, as Brier Rose rode down
the street on her hardy little pony, tho
boys gathered around her eagerly, not
withstandlng the fact that she had q
stout little whip in her hand. They had
something new aud strange to tease her
about.
"Brier Rose" called out Jim, as she
drew rein, "you don't care nothin' about
dancin', do youi"
"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
stock7"
Rose looked from one to the other as
the bottled.uP taunts fell rapidly upon
her ears, her checks aud lips growing
scarlet. For once her ready tongue
failed her. Small need to ask them
what they meant. Too we'll she knew.
But was her subjugation apparent in such
o tritie7 And so soon9 And Dave al
vet had said nothing. Emboldened by
her silence they went further.
"What does lie say about it?"
The shamed crimson leaped TO her
very temples and receded, leaving her
face pltifully white. Her wounded
pride now pante for but one thing-a
way out. Probably he knew it, too.
She saw him coming down the street.
"Do YOU love hlma Say, Brier Rose,
do you love Davt1" cried the one furth.
est from her whip,
fIcr courage came back at Dawes ap.
proach, and the spell OF her unwonted
silence was broken.
"Do love him7" she cried, looking
him fairly in the face. ~ come nearers
to hatin' 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 a dead run,
but fast as Rose flew the grieved look
in Dave Constocks blue eyes kept pace
with her
That night Joe 6dgeted around, .n-
eb!e to decide whether or not he should
speak to Dave about the occurrence of
the afternoon. Dawes genial smile and
chccry hopcfulncss were gone. He sat
with his face buried in his folded arms.
Joe coughed Eoisily and said nothing.
Dave looked down at his poor maimed
foot.
"Joe, do you know that little baby
saved from the wreck had brown eyes
like Brier Rose2 l remember the baby
smiled when held it out to the men.
You know my foot was caught and ]
couldn't move. I've never seen Briar
Rose smile at me that way. If had
saved her perhaps she would. Do you
think 50, 'ocT
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 moc'ted
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 tho
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.
Ola Bryan was up in a crowd Of men
in front of the postotfce. 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.
Aba trad- faarlAsslu alnnO .I~ -i@~ OF
the boiler, rubbing the hand rail with O
black oil sodden cloth. She touched the
engine as if she loved it, Every part of
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 liko
born fireman.
His own ma chine called his attention
from the A. Then Rose heard him cry
out, and, springing down, she rushed
into the station.
"A runaway engine coming this wayr
he said hoarscly. "Spite work of dis.
charged engineer. No one on her-going
twenty five miles an hour-a single track
Dawes train only going fifteen the
A and that ore car on the only siding
between here and Red Valley. My
God!'
"Where is it1" cried Brier Rose.
"lt broke away from Horseshoe Gap.
Mesa e 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 Valley"
Rose turned white to her very lips.
She covered her face with her brown