The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-22

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BY FRANd IS LrNDE.
Copyright, 1897, the Sec are I

n 81 Il 60 are Coz
EahUuf belated passengers, bridged the
+ Rap IN my memory, and / was able to
EpIafp the intending bridegroom. He was
i young man employed by the railway
|S0Ynpany, in some capacity know not
ENllat in the booking office; he it was
[vsho had procured for me my clergyman's
EI@Nrmit for half rates. At that time
had thought him very pleasant young
|felow; but it must be admitted that cir
EChmstances alter cases, and in the light
|of the present episode my point of view
|eoncided Immediately with that Of tie
@ggrIeyed father. 1t was not my affair,
Eto be sure, but my sympathies were 81
|strongly enlisted on the side of parental
Authority that | could with difficulty
hold my peace. Indeed it was borne in
upon NE so fOrcibly that | ought to ex-
postulate with the young rashlings that
/ was about to do SO when the train
moved out and carried them so to
speak, suddenly across their Rubicon.
Having thus lost the opportunity for
hopeful interference, l may confess that
| waited the turn of events with no in
considerable degree of curiosity Would
the injured father have his wits with
nm" as the young man so irreverently
phrased it, and drive post haste to in
tercept the train at the registering sta
ton -
Ihe day was warm and the car win
dows were open. When the shrek of
the airbrakes was uplifted and the speed
began to slacken, | looked out and up
the road leading down from the city. Far
away among the last sea ttering houses
IoI the suburb a carriage drawn by fast
galloplng horses came in sight At the
same moment l heard the young man say:
This sun is fearfully hot, don't you
think so, Eleanor? Let me close your
window"
The bang of the sash and the whirr Of
the shade followed quickly, and | di-
yined his intention. He, too, had seen
the carriage.
Presently the train came to a stand
with the forward end of the Pullman
immediately opposite the platform of
the small registering station. From my
window | saw the conductor come out
and raise his hand to give the signal for
departure. In the very act he espied the
carriage with the galloping horses, and
IoNSASlCu. l1G was CNlutully SUIUS To
wait for the vehicle to come up.
For the next few moments the sus-
Ipense was well nigh electrical The
crucial anxiety of the two young people
seemed to communicate itself in some
mysterious manner to the other occu-
pants of the car, and we all sat breath
less under the weight of silence which
was surcharged with suppressed excite
lment. When the drumming of the
horses hoofs became family audible the
young man could endure it no longer.
| With hasty Excuse me a moment
to his companion, he left his seat; and l
icraned my neck from the window in time
ito see him join the conductor ON the
platform.
What are you waiting for, Grafton
he demanded, with the air of one who
lis 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, l guess. Serve him right if we
didn't wait on him."
Don't you fool yourselfr'-the young
mans manner of speech was distress
iinly idiomatic, not to say vague, at
.times-"That's Mr.. John Bostwick. If