The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-08-11

lateiy?-
I'll never knew you was needin'
me-" faltered Dan.
Folks have been saying such awful
thugs about me-" sobbed Graoe. ~rhey
pretended like asked you 70 come TO
the saloon Just on purpose 70 get you
Aired, 20 that maybe Ben could set your
fob. Even pa talks that way. You don't
believe / done It on purpose. do You,
DAM"
Dan merely shuffied his feet uneasily.
~Td do q heap fur you, Grace, but I
amt tellin' no lies fos nobody. What do
you want with meT
This reply was spoken. not sternly,
but in so manly, straightforward tone
that all Grace's Hypocrisy failed her. In
stead Of sobbing oonvulsively. as she
had at first thought Of doing. she mere
ly said:
"Dan, you and me never was fitted for
each other. You know that"
"I've knowed for long time we was
different"
"Well, I know I'm not good enough
for you to wipe your feet on" cried the
girl, giving way to tempest OF genuine
tears, very different from those she had
been planning only few moments be
fore. "I want to marry Ben, because he
amt no better than an, and because
because I love him. Pa swears he'll kill
us both II ! ever have anything more to
do with him. He sweqrs have treated
you like dog-an' I have. Pa and ]
had such racket tonight that !
wouldn't go home again under no cir
cumstances. I'd die first! Ben's pullin'
Oh extra tonight. I would have ar
ranged to meet him at the depot and run
off with him, but know pail be there
with his Winchester, SO that's no 60.
His train'll be along in few moments
now, an want you to signal him down
SO az can get on and go of with him.
That's what I've walked these miles over
this lonesome prairie to ask you to do
"He wouldn't stop II was to signal
him." said Dan. He'd think l was
wanting to do him up. know him we'll
enough TO know that"
There was the merest trace OF emo
ton in Dams tone as he spoke.
"Dan, for Gods sake stop him In some
way. I beg you by|by the love you
have for me-"
Just then q Light gleamed out on the
darkness away 70 the southwest II
was the headlight of No. l6, Just leaV-
ing town. Dan guzed In silence for Q
moment. Suddenly he exclaimed:
"Grace, I'll try It II the extry's q
heavy one III make II oil right; but for
your sake I'd try II II It was the cannon
ball express. Stay right where you
ore. II she stops here, hop on quick; II
she don't stop here you may know II
aint my fault. God bless you!"
He started down the truck In clumay
run towards the approsching train.
He knew the track well, and he paused
when had reached the head Of long
grade UP which No. 10 was now making
It's way. It was by no means steep
grade, but II wos about as steep as any
on this part Of the Denver. Then he
stepped TO one SIDE OF the track.
II guess she'll be eotn' ebout as slow
here as anywheres," /" ne muttered. Then
he steadIed himself for the spring.
Grace was standing by the deserted
section house watching the approach.
ing train with heart that almost stood
still as she watched The train was
only a short one, and No. 10 thundered
by It at the top Of its speed. Ben StilOes
was In the cab, but he little though,
that the girl he loved was standing
there in the darkness and the wind OF
he passed. Perhaps he thought Of Dan,
but II 90 It only caused him 10 increase
his speed. After the train passed. GI1ct
waited awhile for Dan; but no Dar
came
"Dan!" she screamed
No answer.
"Dan!"
Perhaps he heard her voice "a II was
borne on the wtnes Of the bowling
norther; perhaps, ON the other hand
he was then listening TO such sound
as would render his ears forever insen
sible to the bowling Of the night winds
the cries OF distressed women and sl
earthly sounds whatever.
All that night Grace faced the north
, wind as she walked down the lone
stretch Of track, leodtng away from be-
, home. Perhaps the whistling OF th'
wind and the yelping Of an occasiona
coyote Allied her with dread; perhap
: her own thoughts 80 occupied her tha
, she had neither eyes nor ears for any
/ thing outside. I only know that earl.
, the next morning she reached the nttl'
I station next above the Chicken an,
d Bread town. She was half frozen 4
! death; but the NEXT day she took tn
( train to Fort Worth. There she me
e Ben, and the two were married. Bel
= gave up his run, and the two are salt
o to have gone north to escape the fury o
, Bill Shkes. Where they are now no on
I in the Chicken and Bread town SCENE 4
: krow--or care.
e Dams mangled body was found b
n the section crew of which he had bee
$ member. The boss expressed himsel
e az wondering WHY In thunder an oil