Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21

carriage with the galloping horses, and de-
sisted. He was evidently going to wait
for the vehicle to come up.
For the next few. moments the suspense
was weil-nigh electrical. The crucial anx-
fety of the two young people seemed to
communicate itself in some mysterious
manner to the other occupants of the car.
and we all sat breathless under the weight
of a silence which was surcharged with
suppressed excitement. When the drum
ming of the horses hoofs became family
audible the young man could endure it 10
longer. With a hasty Excuse me a mo
ment' to his companion, he left his seat;
and I craned my neck from the window in
platform.
What are you waiting for, Graffo?" he
demanded with the air of one who is made
bold by the occasion.
The conductor jerked his thumb over his
shoulder in the direction of the chase.
Some drummer got left at the union
depot, 1 guess. Serve him right If we
didn't wait on him.
Don't you fool yourself"'-the young
mans manner of speech was distressingly
That's Mr.. John Bostwick- II you don I
pull out before he gets here I'm dead
man. Do you saver 90
The conductor laughed, and rejoined with
what appeared to be intended for rough
pleasantly "Oh, come off! What are you
giving me?'
| had not noticed that the young man
had offered to give him anything, but he
ignored the inquiry and burst out: Facts.
by Jove! Cold facts! l tell you my plool
will be on your head if you wait till that
carriage gets here!
"Pshaw! dive mean it, honest? WHAT
Won been doing to the master mechanic?
Mother one of your fool pranks, l bet
you
| The chaise was in plain view by this time.
and it presented the unusual spectacle Of
a sauare-shouldered gentleman, with d
fierce military mustache and very RED
face, leaning far out OF the carnage WI
dow and gesticulating violently. Ihe young
man saw. WINGED and mace answer VI
mingled plea and protest.
Franks nothing! It's business this time,
| I tell you. Give Ike the signal. quick De,
! fore it is too late. Miss Bostwick's mixed
| up in it, and
The conductors hand shot above his
head and hung there fiuttering like mis-
shapen flag. There was an answering
| cIangor from the bell and a Missing Oh
steam. and the wheels began to revoive.
| The Young scapegrace and his neW-made
confederate sprang aboard, and gave my
attention to the oncoming carriage.
| The cabman was certainly most reck-
| less driver. He dashed his horses Gown the
| stem slope, and for palpitant second
| 20 ltisiop with the moving train seemed III
| eyitable. 1t was happily aVerted at tne
| critical instant by the mad-cap son OF MIN,
! shi who stood up in his place and dragged
the nIungiug animals back upon their
launches by main strength But the sud-
| den cramping Of the vehicle )ammeo II pc
tween a coal car and the iron lever Whlch
| operates the switching mechanism pioch-
ing The doors as effectually as If the OBJ
| structions had been placed with nance
| aforethought. had brief glimpse OF the
and forth between the doors, thrusting first
| at one and then at the other, and then the
| moving train swept around curve, ana
could see no more.
;v,fo wit n q
! sigh of mingled regret and relief the young
man had rejoined his companion. who,
| thanks to the drawn shade and closed win
| dow had apparently neither seen nor heard
aught of the exciting episode.
Are we safe, Alan?" she queried, her
voice a-trenble with trepidation.
safe as a church. Didn't you see him?''
II saw nothing. but I thought 1 heard
sudden and dismayful realization-"Oh. it's
my father and he's hurt-I know he is!
| Stop the train. Alan; stop it, 1 say; I'm
| going backr'
| Eleanor. don't you see everybody's catch
| ing onr'-this in an agonized whisper. He
! isn't hurt, tell you; not at ALL That was
the driver you heard. yelling at his horses
Are you sure you're telling me the
| truth?"
.'Of course I am: didn't I see it? The
| fellow drove down betwt en-the switch stand
| and a coal car. and your father couldn't
get either door open. He wasn't hurt an
| atom but he acted as If he was a good
| deal disappointed
: Disappointed. You may depend upon it.
! He Is simply furious. I'm awfully afraid
| he'll dc something desperate yet
Il don't see but what he will have to II
\ he stops us now. He can't get to Lavarock
| ahead of US. and fifteen minutes after we
| arrive you'll be Mrs. Roderick.'
| She went silent at that as what modest
| young woman would not: but after little
she plucked up courage to ask about the
| details. Her companion explained
| after l left you at the house / wen,
| down town and wired Hardwicke, the agen,
| at Lavarock. telling MIN there would be a
| hotel parlor arrival. He is to arrange
| with the county clerk to keep his Office
| open that l can get the license. and tc
| have the minister ready. ] can drive to the
| court house and back In ten minutes. and
! we can have 1t all over with while tbs
| passengers are at supper and be ready te
| go west on Number 81
| Its very dreadful. Alan" she muir.
INJURED. $50 pitifuIly different from one's
| ideal weddingr'
That's so"-cheerfully-"the isn't am
! ideality to spare. for fact. But we cam
help that II we hadn't made the dash
| your father would have packed you of t.
Chic between two days. wouldn't he?"
He said he would: and I'm afraid he
meant it. And yet he has always been very
good to me. Alan. before-before this, yor
| know" 49, = = -
Il know; but he meant business this time
And that isn't all. After had my Mttlt
| seance with him this morning-when
| asked him outright II We mightn't be mar.
| ried like other people-he abused me like a
| sheep thief: said he'd write to the genera
| manager and have me discharged, though
he didn't mention upon what grounds he
But how could he do that?'
] Il give 1t up. There u nothing ON record