Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-03-29

L<</fMUIfUXL<[I vile. among
nTZ55ss.IJTLJE[/I it's patrons the
ZRNIAAzt N. and d. is
HSA EzSslg common y
known as the "Pumpkln Vine" be-
cause some one had once said that
the train went about as fast as q
pumpkin vine grows in wet weather.
The rolling stock consists of an en-
gine, passenger coach, a mail and
expresl car and four freight cars.
EARLY each morning the train leaves
Davisville, saunters across the fields
to Nankitt, then back in time for din
ner in the afternoon the same pro-
gram is gone through with, the Pump
kin Vine getting back to Davis7ille
like schoolboy afraid of the dark.
1t 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 q brakeman; 1t
increases his pay and gives him exer-
else.
The N. & D. is paralleled almost its
entire length by the old State road,
and boastlul young men nre wont to
match their colts against the battered
pony engine as it puffs along on the
other side of the fence. Truth to say,
any plug can distance the locomotive
rs it bumps over its grass-gro1n
track. There is story told of u hun
ter who once got aboard the Pumpkin
Vine with his gun and his dog. When
he saw quail or prairie chicken he
aimed from the window; if he brought
down his bird the dog would leap oil,
tind it and jump on tue rear platform.
People who are fond of flowers step
off, gather a bouquet of Flora's paint
brush and prairie pointers, take a
short squirt after the crawling train
and Chamber on again.
On May day the Pumpkin Vine
stood at the Nankitt station, build.
ing of about the size and architectural
pretensioHs 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 lassltude brought on by
tho first heat. A group OF Swedes
abbered together in a corner, wag-
ying their yellow boards over the
misdoings OF one Peter O!eson of their
people. Several Nankitt lawyers
we're on their way to Circuit Court
and Tom Hargrove sat on the arm OF
seat, swinging his feet and talking
to old Squire Phinney, local j. P.
A travelling man came in, tugging at
two valises. He sunk into q seat and
wiped his forehead. awful wealth
err" he sighed.
The conductor helped lift cultiva.
tor into the bGggage.car, then he went
to the door of the waiting room and
shouted "Allabud" to the cannon stove.
"Allebud," he said again on the plat
form, waved his arm to the engineer
and hoped on to the rear platform.
The whistle blew and the trees and
barns began 10 slide slowly backward.
A young man and woman ran
around the corner of the station.
"Stop that train |" the man yelled to
the conductor. They ran down tho
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.
TITS dangerous getting on u car in
notion" the conductor said, sternly.
"You don't get no damages if you're
killed"
II know, but we had to make it, !"
the man said when he had the breath
to spare. "We thought you wasn't
going to stop it." He had an 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
nat.
They entered the car with the con.
:ciousness born of being in love.
"Looks like bride aud groom,
doesn't it?" Tom said carelessly to
The squire. 'HuIlo, that's Hink Bar.
!ow."
Thought he went to I.oway," the
squire answered. ".All the Barlow
boys sold ont here"
81 guess he'n back visiting; I'll go
ind speak to him." Tom walked back
to where Hink and the girl had found
scat. "dowdy do? Won't you IN
troduce me to your wife,"
Kinks fece turned Il deeper rel
than ever the sun had painted 1t. "She
lin't my wife-exactly--yet," he STAN.
mered.
The train was running along side
the State road. Hink suddenly started