Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-07-10
Duty Versus Pleasure.

wen, III you won IaBe me TO the
ball, | know of plenty who will"
cried the girl. "You cannot care
much for me or you would join the
party"
"You know / would if l could
Mamie" said Eben Steele earnestly,
"but there is the trial trip over the
new road, and | must be in the en-
CINE house OF the Sirius to see thst
everything is right for the president
and directors"
They stood in the midst of the
clearing OF a little border town.
Mamie Smith was the belle of the
settlement, and Ehen Steele the en-.
gineer on the new railroad that was
to bring such wealth to Red Fast.
ness.
The girls face flushed an angry
red over the obduracy of her lover.
"Then you won't take me to the
Falls tonight?' she said again,
quickly.
II can't, Nannier'
Gust as you choose said the
girl, her full red lower lip quivering
with repressed passion. But, re-
member this, you need never come
here again, because I won't speak
to you If yoa do
''Nannie !"
But she staid to hear no further
word. She jumped up and vanished
into the house, vehemently closing
the door behind her.
"She don't mean it," said Eben
Steele to himself. "She don't mean
="
Yet there was keen smart in his
heart, as if some envenoned arrow
had stung him.
He went to the engine house three
miles down the river. He looked at
the great gIittering Sirius with eyes
of loving sadness.
"Old hero,' he said, "you are des-
tined to come between me and nv
lady'love, it seems. But duty weighs
in the balance on your side, and
when duty comes to the front love
must stand aside, aye, even lift tears
your heart as it goes"
1t was nearly eight o'clock when
the little train was made up--the
train which was to make the trial
trip over the new road-and as
Steele stood talking to one of the
sturdy, red-shirted brakemen, he
saw light carriage whirl by, up the
wide road.
Somebody's horse don't like the
way the Sirius blows off steam"
said be laughing.
"It's Walter Eagleson's new bay"
observed the brakeman. "a skit-
fish beast, but there's the making of
fine roadster in him!r
"Walter Eagleson! Going for
Mamie Smith, most likely" Steele
told himself.
And the envenomed arrow seemed
to turn anew in the wound.
The little brunette did not enjoy
herself at Falcon Falls as much as
she expected.
The music was delightful-old
Sol Emrick with the violin, and his
three sons with cornet, flute and
French horn, formed no contempti-
BILE band the floor was freshly wax
ed, and there was no lack of part
ners.
Moreover, her dress was prettier
than that of any other of the rustic
bellies, and the moon was at the full;
yet, somehow, the affair at Falcon
Falls seemed to her failure. She
thought Walter Eagleson talked too
loud and laughed too much. He
certainly didn't understand her step
in the waltz as Steele did.
Altogether, he was not such an
agreeable companion as she had fan
cied he would be. She almost wish.
ed--no, she didn't either. Eben
Steele must learn what it is to risk
the displeasure of the belle of Red
Fastness.
But just as the rustic merry-mak-
ing was breaking up; as all the guests
stood laughing and talking about the
steps OF the broad platform, mes
senger rode up with a deadly pale
face.
Shave you aay brandy here p
said be, ''and lint and bandages !?
There's been an accident on the new
road. One of the rails broke and
flung the train off the track, just in
that wild place where they have