The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-24
A TROLLEY PARTY.

AutlerlHO CNlStcu upon uoScltleS, CnOugn
sho quickly exhausted them. After no.
quiring tho bicycle habit and riding like q
professional upon one, she had violent
attack of trolloyosis. Coupe brougham
and fancy traps were unairod, horses
stamped their idlo hoofs in tho stable. and
coachman and footman loungcd about un
occupied, whio sho went hero, there and
everywhere OH tho trolley cars.
ooh, mamma" she said as they sat din.
ing ut the close of tho day, tomorrow
about this time expect to DO starting out
on trolley party. am giving it tomor
row night in celebration of my birthday
Tho car is to DC most beautifully lighted
with colored electric lights rcd, blue and
purple, tho mandolin and guitar clubs
will be there, and it is just going to be
fine. They have promised to tako us ovc1
tho whole system. Wo shall leave here
promptly at $3.50, and by ID we shall re-
turn and finish with n dancc."
My dear" calculated her delicate
mother, who only left tho house for two OF
thrcc health resort trips during tho year
L do wish your father wcro living or that
you hadn't broken your engagement with
Roylston Hannum; you SO need some one
to look after you"
why, mamma. it's quito corrcctr' said
Katherine, q shade crossing her face at the
mention of Roylston. "Thcso trolley
parties aro such q fad now, and Mrs Bank
son Is going with us as chapcron. ] sent
out the dearest Invitations. designed iol
mo by Hutton's best man. MI. Ferguson
said he never saw anything cutcr-tht
shape of tho trolley car they were, YOU
know-and'-
Mr.. Fcrgussonr' repeated Kathcrino's
mother intcrruptinglv. 81 don't like him.
IIp &c font Qr,,
my room, James, in half an hour" Ant
tho cnnuicd invalid roso from tho table
and climbed tho broad staircase to her
apartments above.
AT exactly tho timo Katherine had indi.
Gated her guests had filed into tho bcauti
fully illuminated car. They were enjoy.
ing their trolley treat with music, joking
and laughing, and tho car rolled up one
avenue and down another.
After many bcguiling turns and q long.
up hill trip, the car brought Thorn to the
chief park. Tho motorman gave closest
attention to bis business, but tho conduct.
or made trifling errands through tho car,
and intrudcd his largo physique several
times between Katherine and Mr.. Fergus.
son when that dnpper young man was
most affcctionately Attempting to teach
her tho use of his banjo. Katherine,
I
tho intruding conductor, tried in vain to
throw off an invisible cloud that seemed
to settle upon her gay spirits whcnovcr he
camo near.
Roylston Hannum was .oung man OF
fine fortune, individuality and talents.
When he became engaged to tho versatile
Katherine, 1t was q social event TINT gave
much satisfaction. When tho engagement
was broken, after years Duration it was
expected that she would ut onoe marry
some ono else and that Roylston would
go to ruin. Neither of these expectations
came true. katherine had golfcd, bicyclcd
and trollcycd the time away. He had in.
vested in and become the president Of the
largest trolley system in the city, WORKING
day and night and with u quiet persist.
cncy that won the esteem Of his most cap.
tious critic. His most captious critic III
this case was Mr.. Fcrgusson, whose attcn.
lions to Katherine were every day more
marked and remarked
In his private Office RoylSton had over.
heard knthcrno's order for u trolley car
Indeed ho had Como to tho telephone him.
self and promised that tho car should be
decorated and the order carried out lust rs
sho wished. Then when the time came
to detail Il motorman and conductor &c
this special service, ho had put on "a con.
ductor's cap and coat and electrified the
men i'll tho oilico by telling them he would
look after this part of tho business Then
no drew tho cap far over his eyes and
boarded tho brilliant car as its conductor
Nature is slumboring mute, love"
tw0ngcd tho mandolin and guitars and
sang the sweet voices of the trolley party.
They had just finished tho ascent of the
steep hill i'll the Park and wcro hcginninp
tho long and ri cfn
descent on the other side. Gravity was tho
only motor power needed here, and it.
force must DO subjected toa skillful uso OF
the brake.
All ut onco tho motorman, with q face
rs white Us chalk looked down tho car &c
tho conductor, standing in tho vcstibule,
and mado few quick signs to him. What
tho motorman signed to him was: "Tho
brake won't work and tho cur is running
away. What can wo do!'
Tho conductor turned n shade palcr,
and hastcning to tho motorinan lent his
splendid strength to tho turning OF the
brake. 1t still refused to act, and tho cur,
gathering momentum ut every turn of the
wheels, sped down tho incline like % to-
boggan.
Katherine and her guests woro still sing.
ing and laughing, unconscious of danger.
Mr. ferguson, now twanging ut tho fan
dango which they hummod, was doing
somo very pretty Spanish steps. Tho car
lurchod, his banjo dropped and all as onco
tho guy party realized the awful fate that
threatened them.
Many of tho women shriekcd, and oil OF
them, like flock of frightened canarics
In cage, flow to tho door to escape. Tho
mon sat pnralyZcd or called to tho con-
ductor Turn tho brake, why don't you
you foolv'
The conductor pnid no heed, nor did he
hear. His attention was concentrated OH
somo point of mechanism in tho brake.
Suddenly he bocnmo conscious of tho