Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-04-14

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HME.SSsIS NJ through Davis
NSMVIM X>S//I vile. Among
TZSaMHEThf/Ip its patrons tht
u sHtMAlgzzS/ N. and D. il
known as the "Pumpkln Vine" be
cause some one had once said tha
the trim went about as fast as
pumpkin vine grows in wet weather.
The rolling stock consists OF an en-
CINE, passenger coach, q mail and
express. car and four freight cars
EARLY each morning the train leave;
DafisSillc, sauhters across ths fieldl
to Nankitt. then back in time for din
her; in the afternoon the same pro
gram is gone through with, the Pump
kin Vine getting back to Davisville
like schoolboy afraid of the dark.
Il is some nineteen miles between
the towns and by strict attention to
business the four trips are generally
made in twelve hours. The conductor,
Abe Rogers, acts as brakeman; IL
increases his pay and gives him exer-
else.
The n. & D. is parallcled almost its
entire length by the old State road,
and boastEul young men are wont to
match their colts against the battered
pony engine as it pufs along on the
other side OF the fence. Truth to say,
any plug can distance the locomotive
as it bumps over its grass-grown
track. There is story told OF hun.
ter who once got aboard the Pumpkin
Vine with his gun and his dog. When
he saw q quail or q prairie chicken he
aimed from the ewindow; If he brought
down bird Che dog would leap Oh,
aud it and jump on the rear platform.
People who are fond of flowers step
oil, gather bouquet of Flora's paint
brush and prairie pointers, take o
short squirt after the crawling train
and Chamber on again.
On May day the Pumpkin Vine
stood at the Nankitt station, u build.
ing of about the size and architectural
pretensions of cigar box. 1t was
warm for the time of the year, the
perfume of crab blossoms drifted in
through the open windows of the
coach and the passengers sprawled
about in the lassitude brought on by
the first heat. A group of Swedes
jabbered together in corner, wag-
ging their yellow boards over the
misdoings of one Peter O!eson of their
people. Several Nankitt lawyers
were on their way to Circuit Court
and Tom Hargrove sat on the ann OF
seat, swinging his feet and talking
to old Squire Phinney. local j. 2.
A travelling man came in, tugging at
two valises. BE sunk into seat and
wiped his forehead. "Awful wealth
er," he sighed.
The conductor helped lift cultiTa-
tor into the baggage car, then he went
to the door Of the waiting room and
shouted "Allabud" TO the canuonstove.
"Allebud, he said again on the plat
form, waved his arm to the engineer
and hoped Oh to the rear platform.
The whistle blew and the trees and
barns began to slide slowly backward.
A young man and woman ran
around the corner OF the station.
s'Stop that train" the man yelled to
the conductor. They ran down the
track and before the conductor had
done anything the girl had swung her
self up on the rear platform and the
man had followed. They stood look
ing at each other with palpable relief.
'1t's dangerous getting on car in
notion" the conductor said, sternly.
"You don't get no damages if you're
killed."
"I know, but we had to make it, "
the man said when he had the breatl
to spare. eve thought you wasn't
going to stop it," He had on hon.
est, sunburned face, his clothes were
of broadcloth, his new boots creaked
and his paper collar was somewhat the
worse for the heat.
The girl had the beauty OF seven
teen color, without feature or soul.
She had adorned herself in multitude
OF bows and bangles and saw the world
from under the caves of huge white
hat.
They entered the car with the con
sciousness born of being in love.
sLooks like bride and groom,
doesn't it?" Tom said carelessly to
Che snuire. s.Hullo, that's Hink Bar
low."
"Thought ho went. to I-oway," the
squire answered, Gall the Barlow
boys sold out here"
'I guess he'n back visiting; I'll sc
and speak to him." Tom walked back
to where Hink and the girl had found
seat. "Bowdy do? Won't you In
troduce me to your wife"
Kinks face turned deeper re-
than ever the sun had painted il. "Sht
amt my wife-exactly-yet, ne STAN
mered.
The train was running along side
the State road. Hink suddenly started
mp and looked out of the window.
'It's him." he exclaimed excitedly
she must "a saw Us get on.
Tom looked toward the road and saw
aman standing up in blackboard likI
q Roman cbarioteer. shaking his fis
and apparently hurting opprobriou
epithets at the train.
ssWc can't stop this here train now,
they could hear the conductor shout
.'for we've got to be in Davisviile bJ
$780," 1t was then 1880.
''I'll beat your old cow, them" tb
man yelled back IN deEisien, "Tel