The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-05-11

ger whom I oould trust, With direo-
tions to givo il to Molly herself
Then travelled all over town to got
leave Of absence for the next day. I
was going TO take the day OF anyway.
but I thought I'd rather got IL hon
esily i'll could.
got permission for Joe Mcdonald
to run his engine on my train and that
suited me-; I needed locomotive /,
carrying out my plan and Of course
knew my own best.
The rest OF the night I spent in somo
necessary carpenter work.
A long day tho next was. obtained
q marriage license, and with that in
my pocket felt that could defy any
cross grained grandfather.
EARLY in tho afternoon got up
steam in forty-scvon, aud 10 seemed
rs il tho minutes were hours until
o'clock. III had to toll tho sohome to
my froman-I'd got leave for him
too.
was gottins protty nervous when
wc startod out n littlo before o o'clock.
Wo ran slowly up tho road, md
then got on to aldo track that OK
tonds alongside tho main road about
ten milos and Was just then FREQ from
cars. luckily.
At last wo heard the rumble OF tho
express in the distance. Then Ipull1d
the throttle and we began to mako
good speed, SO that our gait just
equaled that of the express, and we
ran side by side, first, second. third
car.
That was the one had told Molly
to be in, and on the farther side, 50
tsat her grandfather should not SEQ
my engine.
We fell back little and ran even
with the rear platform of the car.
Would she have the courage to do it?
Such a slight little thing as she was,
and it would need such pluck.
Could she escape the old mans vigi-
lance?
Yes; there she wns on the platform
Quick now. There was tho result Of
my nights carpenter work-a plank
long enough to reach from the cab of
my locomotive to rho platform OF tho
car. provided with rail, so that tn,
perlious walk might be made rs safe
as possible.
1t was fitted in place anil she stepped
were deathly pale.
How anxiously Watched every step,
keeping one hand on the throttle lest
either engine increase or slacken its
speed and the plank be shaken or bent
from the straight line.
Hall way across! A little falteriag
rs she glanced down Mt the flying
gravel.
Courage, my darling" | cried.
People were beginning to crowd to
the windows, and out upon the plat
form rushed the brakeman and half
dozen passengers, and among them
grandfather Stackpole.
No one dared to speak for fear that
Molly would lose her balance. The
brakeman steadied that end of the
the bridge and the deacon wrung his
hands in misery.
Almost over, two steps more. and
then l pulled her in and smother ed
her with kisses, while tho fireman
slackened our speed and played en-
gineer for awhile
The plank. Molly's dangerous bridge,
fell to the ground as the express pulled
ahead, and we noticed that the feat
had been accomplished just in time,
for looked out and saw only three
quarter mile stretch Of tho sido track
before us.
We reversed the engine-dear old
forty seven that had won me wife
and within AN hour I was the husband
of the sweetest little woman that man
ever loved my Molly, here.
"What became of grandfather 2"
He soon forgavc Molly, and has al
ways been kind to us. but his heart
is still darkened to Toms SOFAS,
whom Molly insisted on hunting n.y.
in Maine.
We found them both prosperous
farmers, who had no need of grand
fathers help, and this fact seemed to
confirm his determination to have
nothing to do with them.
Grandmother has visited them, and
she Is the same kind-hearted old lady,
devotedly fond of Molly, and attached
to our two boys, Sam and Abijah. -
Atlanta Constitution.
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