The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-08
ON WINGS OF STEAM.
BY FRANK X. FINNEGAN.

/ 1t Is sixty miles FROM Clinton TO De For
/ rest. That geographical fact, hitherto OF
+ interest chiefly 10 the farmers and other
J shippers from De Forrest who mad 10 pay
freight bills, entered into the life of three
or four people in most unexpected way
and had It's unconscious part in shaping
their destuies
Thursday, the ljtl OF the month | VIII
be here at home again, dearest said
Harry Weaver, c.asping closer to h-m th-
slender figure o. Myrtle Dunno. and tLen
for our wedding, our long-deiayed, Oft
postponed wedding"
Il should say 1t has been long-delayed,' -
pOut-d the girl, looking Up a him, do
you know this is the fourth time We have
been as close as this o the cate. an: each
time something has occurred 10 cause a
postponemcnt? Once your train was
wrecked on the road: then your mother
died the week set To- the wedding; then
only last year your firm failed ana YOU
feared 10 undertake married life. Oh, Har-
~. / nave a presentmtnt that something
viii happen again. I've an idea We will
never be married
Nonsense, little one" laughed Weaver
AL the things that have happened in the
past have been unfortunate condolences
Bul now every Jt4iiS lS tlCal Sailing anu
when l finish my present trip On the road
I'll run in here on the 18th and we'll be
quietly married by old Dr. Rogers. and
taen your fears will be at rest. BY the
way, Myrtle, there was something l want
ed 10 speak to you about. A certain party
here has been busy enough to tell me that
you have been 10 dances once or tWica
with Tom Kelly while / was or this las;
trim al | ~
know but / wouldn't do that If | were
You. / don't think il looks right in 4 gin
that's 70 be married SO soon"
Myrtle had slipped hurriediv out of his
arms at the mention of Tom Kclly's name
Mr. Kelly and l have been very dear
friends since childhood" she said rather
sharply, and he has been good enough to
take pity on NY loneliness and offer 10
escort me TO one or two places Am | to
De shut up N nunnery while you are on
the road, | should like 10 Know
on, no. said Weaver hastily, don't
Be angry, Dear. / meant it kindly. Now
/ must tear myself away 10 eaten the 7:4j
Tor Clinton. Remember, bright and early
On the 18th III come tC claim you and
ihen no more worrying"
He kissed her and hurried away into the
darkness and che returned home very
grave aad quiet. De Forrest is not a large
CT lively place al best. anG Myrtle found
II very dull when the handsome travelling
man was away Oh the road, which was
pretty much al Of the time Indeed. late
Y She had begun 10 find it dull when ne
was there, and 10 wonder what SOT, Of a
life she should lead as his wife and WECth-
CT she were doing right in wedding 4 man
"hO could De with her but once or twice
a month. OF course Tom helped TO re-
leve the mOnOtOny Dear old Tom! They
had studied from the same book in school
and he Seemed 10 know there was z
shadow forming in the mind OF his Old
playmate.
Tom was the telegraph operator at the
railroad depot in De Forrest and such
time as he was free from the ticking of
the key he spent with Myrtle. And the
travelling salesman had scaut courtesy
Tor the good looking operator that night
as he waited for his train outside the lit
tie window OF the station.
A week later Harry Weaver awoke one /
morning in his berth in Pullman car and I
realized with a jump OF the heart that it I
was the 18th of the month-ais wedding
day. The train was speeding along to-
ward Clinton and he hastily dressed and 4
prepared for the long, slow, sixty-mile .
ride across country in the accommodation 4
train 10 De Forrest. There Were not many 4
trains on that branch and such as there /
were did not make alarmingly fast time, /
but Weavers thoughts were running so /
fast that he imagined the flying express 1
train was only crawling toward Clinton. I
"On time?' he asked the conductor.
Ten minutes late" was the short re- /
joinder
Il thought So" grunted Weaver. "Win .
We make il up before We get to CIinton:"
Il hope So said the conductor
Weaver looked out the window az the /
flying landscape and nervously drummed 4
on the window sill. He would have almost
an hour to wait at Clinton before the ae-
for De Forrest went
through He had made the trip many
times and he knew the time table by
heart. But an hour 10 an eager bride
groom on his wedding day IS almost a
week. and he groaned as he thxlght Of
loafng around the dingy little town OF
Clinton for an hour. When al last it's
spires and red roofs, so familiar 10 his
eyes, sprang into sight away ahead Of the
train he was the first passenger 10 alight
and almost before the painting express
had hurried on its way across the con-
tinent he was al the ticket Office.
Ticket 10 De Forrest. one way" said
Weaver.
When are you going:" asked the agent,
reaching for the pasteboard.
When" asked Weaver in surprise.
why to-day. on the l0:S0, OF course"
That train is gore. sir said the agent
"Goneg' echoed Weaver -lankly, look
ing at his watch. What do you mean?
us only 9;45 now"
Time table was changed, sir Went
INTO effect yesterday" said the agent
No leaves nov ~ $50 daily exc pt Sat
Irday."