The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-03
SAVED THE TRAIN.

In Bar Island City life concentrated it
self upon the bridge. There were paint
ers and carpenters, watchmen and plate
layers, smiths, signalmen and engineers.
These, with their families, q few hang
ers on and some railroad officers who
had made the Getty" their home, consii-
tuted the whole Of the settlement.
And with all of them the bridge seemed
TO dominate every other interest. 1t
was their great topic of conversation.
They were proud of being connected
with it. They felt kind of proprietor
ship in the huge spidery structure.
1t was sociable littlo community,
too; much given TO hospitality and TAX
ing, as is the custom of all small COM
munities, IL profound interest in the pri-
vato affairs of its individual members.
As the Widow Rockwell put it, in dis
cussing with Mr.. Shaw of the City hotel
tho marriage recently arranged between
his daughter and jeff Davis:
It's jest likc'sif there was weddin
in every house all over town"
Had the old people witnessed little
sccno which was even then being enacted
down below i'll the valley they might
have been less confident.
Along the river bank, where a rough
track wound i'll and out with the wind
1ngs of thestream, a man and girl were
strolling moodily side by side.
The man did most of the talking. He
was Il tall, handsome young fellow, with
n fair beard and mustache and face
that would have been pleasant and good
humored under ordinary circumstances.
But it was clouded now, and he spoke
discontentedly, almost Querulously.
who is he, Thea, anyway
II dunno. How should II
They walked OH in silence until they
found themselves Immediately under
meath the bridge, with the great network
OF beams and crossbeams towering above
their heads.
"'Thea, don't like 10 see you an that
fellow chummin up so close together
Who is he? What's he dom hcre?'
There amt no call for you to like
Inns far as can see" rctortcd the girl
IAN us for who he is an what's his bust
ness, he amt told me, an I'm not goin to
ask him."
Pm sorry, Thea" the man answered
hnmbly. 81 didn't mean no offomse 10
him or you, but thought Inc might ha'
told you somethin about himself An
he's had plenty 8 chances o telling you
things, seems to me-"
"'S'posin he has. what thcn?'
What then: Why. Thea. I'm fright
oncd Of this man; jealous of him, if YOU
like. Thea, he hasn't been sayin any
thing-anythng foolish to YOU"
The girl was leaning against one of the
supports of the bridge, her head thrown
mp and resting on the timber, her hands
claspcd behind her back. She just shifted
tho position Of her head, so as to look the
man straight in the eyes, and said in a
quiet, dangerous tone:
81 dunno what You mean, jeff"
Then you dunno what they're sayin
up yonder?'
"lf they're sayin things gainst men
MIR. Burton, they'll be precious careful
not to say 'em to me, guess, or they'd
be some trouble for some one before long"
San if tell you"-
That's What am waiting for now"
The young man hesitated before reply
ing. The threat Of 'troublc for some
one" and d peculiar note OF challenge in
the girls voice as she uttered it, told him
that nc was on pcrlous ground
I'm waitin to hear what they've got
to say bout men Mr.. Burton"
And Mt last he blurtcd ont very clum-
silly and shalnefacedly the cause of his
complaint
They're sayin-mind, Thea, don't
set no store by scch talk they're sayin
as how he's been sparkin up to you an
foolin you, al I-I"--
"And you believed themt'
No, say don't tako no count of
their talk, Thea"
Then why arc you tellin me all this"
The man WAS silent, not knowing how
to answer. He felt himself to be no
match for Althea in an argument.
Thea" lac stammcrcd awkwardly,
III didn't believe a word of it, only II
didn't know what to believe, secin him
always foolin around you, an You listen.
in to him an ALL"
"OhF Her voice trcmblcd little
now. IAN that's bout enough, recl<.
on You believeds how Mr. Burton
was maxim love to me, an you belieycd's
pow listened to him. Is that so, jeff"
IL s'pose so" ho answered rather
shamefacedly. And then for time
neither spoke. At last Althea broke the
silence.
4 IAN you think I'm goin to marry a
man that can't trust his wife moren
thats You think I'm goin to marry
man that believes every word O. them
gossipin old women up town, an then
daren't say what he believes an what he
doesnt2 You didn't mean no oiTensc,
an don't take none. Only there's no