Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-04-14
'sm I'll meet 'em at the Davisville

/
SO we jest skited and got on this tral
and he must "a saw us"
"Aud now he's going to Dayisvill
to stop you?" Tom queried.
"Yes-and he'll beat us, for tina
bay he's driving can outtrot any hors
around here"
"Well, he can't prevent her fror
marrying you. can hef'
az guess he could-he's my guar
deem" Mary said, lifting her face al
ready swollen With tears. "Then
anyway, if he meets US and says
must go off with hum / just know II
do it. won't want to leave Hink bu
I always do what Durfey tells me-"
Tom wondered that any man shoult
want to marry girl with 80 littl
sibackbone"-so he termed her timid
ity-bus he kept this reflection Il
himself, knowing the ways of bride
grooms and their unreasoning fond
ness. "Perhaps we can get the con
ductor to hurry up the train," hi
suggested.
That parsonage was collecting fare
in his shirt sleeves but wearing his caI
to give an official air. 'Can We go {
little faster, Abe?" Tom said, as h
gave up his ticket; "this gentleman
would like to beat that blackboard
man to Davisville. Runaways," h
whispered in conclusion.
The conductor frowned, punched
the ticket, then stuck it in Toms hat
band. "We can't go more'n nine
miles an hour" he answered. "We've
got strict orders not 10 kill no steers
nor horses en- j they're jest everlsst
ingly on this here track. But well
try to keep that smarty on the State
road in sight, he ended, vindiotively,
for the insult of miscalling his train o
COW ranked in his bosom. "When
we stop at Sage I'll get off and tell the
engineer.
Sage was station where grain
elevator reared itsclf-about the sur
rounding corncribs and where 6
weather beaten platform served as
depot. By the time the train reached
there everybody in the car knew the
story of che runaways. At Sage the
Swedes clattered out and the conduc'
tor ran to the locomotive and told the
engineer to Ego mite faster"
The passenger could see the man ID
fhe bnckboard clipping siong the road
about quarter Of mile ahead.
."ae's bcnnd to beat you," Tom said,
drawing in his head after o survey OF
their rival. "aadn't you better get
off at the next stop and try to get a
farmer to drive you back to Nankltt:
You say you have your llcense?"
"Yes," Hink answered, despond'
c atty, ''here it is" He drew it from
his pocket aud handed it to Tom.
'1f we did get of We mightn't find
anybody willing to take US back"
"That's so," Tom responded. He
ran his eyes over the license-a new
idea came to him. "Would you let
Squire Phinney marry your" he asked.
"He's there on the front seat. 1t Will
be legal if it's. done before We reach
the city line.
"You can bet Pm willing to marry
if Mary is" Hink answered, ioyfully.
"I never thought I'd be married by
q SQUIRE" she said, "but I guess it't
all right, for then I won't have to &C
back with Durfey." Sho wiped hel
ewes, patted her back hair and smiled
at her lover.
Tho squire consented to perform the
ceremony, although ho said he "disre'
membered all the quirks in the service,
not having his book" "But I'll make
q stasger at it," he remarked, "and il
will hold in law"
Call right" gaid Tom. He led the
bride and groom into the aisle, bott
looking very warm and timid. "Don',
be bashful," ne counseled; "we're al
friends here"
Tbs passengers crowded around the
wedding party and the conductor pu1
on his coat in honor of the occasion.
While the squire wiped his brow IL
preparation, Tom looked out OF the
window. Mary's brother was bowling
along in q cloud of dust. "We've
fixed him." he whispered, gleefully, tc
the travelling man.
Squire Phinney mumbled through
the marriage ceremony, making noises
in his throat when he forgot the words
Hink said eyes" go loud that he wal
covered in a wave OF confusion, bu'
Mary peeped out her assent in the
voice of a canary.
81 pronounce you man and wife,
the squire said as the train Stacked VI
at the second station. After the con
gratulations were over tho bride ant
groom had q drink of ice water from
the cooler and then sat down on. th'
back seat where they could hold hand
unobserved.
The car settled down TO quiet. Ton
and the travelling man smoked on tn
platform and the old squire, richer s
than when he started, put his bandan
over his face and slept.
AS the train neared Dayisville ex
pectatiou woke on every face. Ton
felt pleasant thrill at the prospect 0
trouble when they reached tn
station. AS they swung around
curve they could see bay horse AM
blackboard tied to post behind tn
depot. "He's therel" Hink cried
'Let me go out ahead of you, Hink,
Tom said as the train stopped with
final jar.
The other passengers fled out an
grouped themselves where they coul
see what happened. Mary's brothe
came up close to the cor steps, hi
forehead was drawn into deep crease
and no held his whip in his fist. Tor
came ont. closely followed by Hin
and his wife.
The brother took better hold Q
his whip. "You young hound!" b
cried.
Tom smiled as if he thought thi
was for him. He waved his han
toward the young couple, "Mr. Durfe