The Monmouth inquirer., 1896-02-27
A TROLLEY PARTY.


Katherine existed upon novelties, though
she quickly exhausted them. After ac
quirIng the bicycle habit and riding like
professional upon one, she had a violent
attack of trolIeyosis. Coupe, brougham
and fancy traps were unaired, horses
stamped their idle hoofs in th stable, and
ooachman and footman lounged about I'M
occupied, while she went here, there and
everywhere OH the trolley cars.
"Oh, mamma" she said as they sat din
ing at the close OF the day, tomorrow
about this time / expect to be starting out
on trolley party. ] am giving 1t tomor-
row night in celebration of my birthday.
The car is to be most beautifully lighted
with colored electric lights, red, blue and
purple, the mandolin and guitar clubs
will be there, and it is just going to be
fine They have promised to take US over
the whole system. We shall leave here
promptly at $3.50, and by 12 we shall re-
turn and finish with dance. y
"My DEAR" ejaeulated her delicate
mother, who only left the house for two or
three health resort trips during the year
81 do wish your father were 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 quite correcti'' said
Katherine a shade crossing her face at the
mention of Roylston. These trolley
parties are such fad now, and Mrs. Bank
son is going with us as chaperon. sent
out the dearest invitations, designed for
me by Hutton 8 best man. Mr.. Ferguson
said he never saw anything cuter-the
shape Of the trolley car they were, you
know-and'-
MIR. Fergussonr' repeated Katherines $
mother interruptingly. II don't like him.
He is a fortune hunter. Bring my tea to
my room, James, in half an hour" And
the ennuied invalid rose from the table
and climbed the broad staircase to her
apartments above.
At exactly the time Katherine had indi-
Gated her guests had filed into the beauti-
fully illuminated car. They were enjoy
ing their trolley treat with music, joking
and laughing, and the car rolled up one
avenue and down another
After many beguiling turns and long,
up hill trip, the Car brought them to the
chief park The motorman gave closest
attention to bis business, but the conduct
or made trifiing errands through the car,
and intFuded his large physique several
times between katherine and MIR. Fergus
son when that dapper young man was
most affectionately attempting to teach
her the use of his banjo. Katherine,
though she paid no conscious attention z
the intruding conductor, tried in vain *
throw off an invisible cloud that seeErad
to settle upon her gay spirits whenever he
came near.
Roylston Hannum was q young man of
fine fortune, individuality and talents.
When he became engaged to the versatile
Katherine, it was a social event that gave
much satisfaction When the engagement
was broken, after a years duration, it was
expected that she would at once marry
some one else and that Roylston would
go to ruin Neither of these expectations
came true. Katherine had golfed bicycled
and trolleyed 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 quiet persist
ency that won the esteem Of his most cap
tious critic. His most captious critic in
this case was Mr.. Ferguson, whose atten-
tions to Katherine were every day more
marked and remarked.
In his private Office Roylston had over
heard Katherine's order for a trolley car.
Indeed he had gone to the telephone him
self and promised that the car should be
decorated and the order carried out just as
she wished. Then, when the time came
to detail moterman and conductor to
this special service, be had put on con-
ductor's cap and coat and electrified the
men in the office by telling them he would
look after this part of the business. Then
he drew the cap far over his eyes and
boarded the brilliant car as its conductor.
mature is slumbering mute, love-
twanged the mandolin and guitars and
sang the sweet voices of the trolley party.
They had just finished the ascent of the
steep hill in the park and were beginning
the long and more correspondingly steep
descent ON the other side. Gravity was the
only motor power needed here, and its
force must be subjected toa skillful use Of
the brake.
All at once the motorman, with face
as white as chalk, looked down the car to
the conductor, standing in the vestibule,
and made few quick signs to him. What
the motorman signed to him was: 1.-The
brake won't work and the car Is running
away. What can we dos'
The conductor turned shade paler,
and fastening to the motorman lent bis
splendid strength to the turning of the
brake. 1t still refused to act, and the car,
gathering momentum at every turn of the
wheels, sped down the incline like a to-
boggan.
Katherine and her guests were still sing
ing and laughing, unconscious Of danger.
Mr.. Ferguson, now twanging at the fan
dango which they hummed, was doing
some very pretty Spanish steps. The car
lurched, his banjo dropped. and all at once
the gay party realized the awful fate that
threatened them.
Many of the women shrieked, and all of
them, like flock of frightened canaries
In cage, few to the door to escape. The
men sat paralyzsd or called TO the con-
ductor, "Turn the brake, why don't you
you foolv
The conductor paid no heed, nor did he
hear. His attention was concentrated on
some point of mechanism in the brake.
Suddenly he became conscious of the
shrieking, frightened women crowding to
Jump out. Crossing the car in bound to
them, he laid his hand like grip of iron
upon Katherine slender wrist and ordered
them to take their seats. His cap was
pushed back now, and they could see the
face Of Roylston Hannum.
He bent down to Katherine and whls-
- - = 4 n n r.