The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-08-18
CAUGHT IN A
TUNNEL CUT.
All Adventure That Tried the Nerves
of Three Young Girls.
BY JAMES {. PURDY.

AT home Aunt Ellen FIiI was some
thing of an invalid, and never thought
of taking long walks; but things are
different out i'll Colorado; there after
one becomes accustomed to the change,
feats undreamed of are easy to accom-
plish. So, this morning, Aunt Ellen
was out for mountain ramble, and
she did not even lean on the strong arm
of her niece, Agnes.
"We will go to the edge of Tunnel
Cut, and see the Flying Eagle Express
go by" said Agnes
Her father, Superintendent Murdoch,
was an important man in that part of
the railroad world, and of course rail-
road affairs had the first place in her
interest.
''The Flying Elgie? Is that the one
they have just uncaged:'
"Ies, the new train that father spoke
of last evening. He says it will be a
reeort-maker, the fastest train that
ever ran on this road. 1t makes its
first run today, and will be worth look
ing at when it goes tearing through
the cut. 1t is due To pass there at .3S;
we have twenty minuts yet. Here
come the Wilson girls"'
Two girls met them. Pretty girls
they were, and their manner and APP
pearance won Aunt Eilen's smiling APP
proval, even in that moment of meet
ing. And yet there was a difference of
manner that made itself felt at once;
one of them threw a straight, frank,
smiling look into the eyes she met, a
look that promised good will and in
vited liking; the other smiled as pleas
antly, but frown lurked close beside
her smile, ready to come when called.
This one carried her head with little
tilt that gave and accepted challenges.
Sisters, of course" said Aunt Ellen,
"and with the difference that one often
sees in sisters
"No, they are cousins; but you are
right about the difference. Really, L
don't see how even cousins eau he so
opposite as those two girls are. Jes-
sie-she's the one that expects you to
be her friend, and takes care that you
don't disappOint her-is made of gold;
you can't help liking her, and you
don't want to help it. Marian. the one
with chip on her shoulder, is made
of-well, of something else! She is all
the time looking for enemies and in
iuries, and it isn't her fault if ste
doesn't find themr'
People generally find what they
look for, in the long rum" said Aunt
Ellen. "But perhaps things are not
quite so bad as you imagine in that
quarter"
"Worse, / know that sounds dread
ful, but | can't help ii. / don't like
Marian Wilson, never did, and never
willr
"Never will, nor never shall?"
"Both; couldn't like her if want
ed to: I'm sure never shall; and I'm
perfectly certain that / don't want to
like her, ard that means i never Will"
Agnes said this with little toss of
her head, and waited for the reprimand
that her words invited. But there was
no reprimand; the shrewd eyes behind
Aunt Ellen's spectacles gave no answer
whatever, and this old lady had the
rare faculty of absolute speechlessness
at proper times. This was one of the
times that she selected for the exercise
Of that faculty; she knew that a sermon
is not always the best medicine for u
young girl, even when medicine of
some sort seems needed. Presently
Agnes began again:
II don't believe that you would want
to like her, either, Aunt Ellen. There
are some people that you can't want
to like, you know"
She waited again; Amt Ellen simp-
Iy listened with polite attention for the
next remark. To argue against mere
passive silence is disconcerting; besides
Agnes felt that her indictment of Mar
ian Wilson was in fair way TO become
a defense of herself, and that was not
nj all what she had in her mind; so she
gave it up and found something else to
talk about. Then Aunt Ellen's tongue
was looseDed at once.
They reached the side of Tunnel Cut
ten minutes before the Flying Eagle
was due, and sat down on a rock TO
wait, and to enjoy the magnificent
scenery.
There is enough beauty here TO keep
me occupied till the Eagle turns around
and comes backw Aunt Ellen declar-
ed with enthusiasm.