The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-11-30

Fifty miles, sixty miles, seventy miles
seventy-three miles The indicator in the
roadmaster car attached to the overland
fyer showed that the train was making
swift time across the level plains. Ahead,
in the Pullman, passengers scarcely noticed
the speed. They were wishing the long
winter night we're over and were thinking
of coy firesides back east.
Frank Martin left the indicator without
a word to the roadmaster, whose guest he
was for the trip to his ranch, went forward
for the tenth time that evening He looked
anxiously up the aisle of the Pullman.
There she was-petite, dark haired, pen
siye, alone.
After moment of INDIGESTION he APP
preached her "May | bring you some
thing from the dining car p
s'Nothing, thank you; | am doing very
we'll = !.
What was the use She had only nod
ded when he encountered her on the train.
It was quite an accident that they met
thus after their intimacy at the seashore.
He did not know that she was going to a
new home with her uncle in California.
She would not let him explain the past.
It was almost time for him to get off at
his ranch-for the train was making 10
miles an hour How he wished it would
slow up
Hardly had the thought passed through
his mind. when there was jolt-a crunch
ing. grinding sensation, a lurch-and then
suddenly stopping. No one who has been
in wreck will ever forgetit. The Pull
man tipped sidewise, and that was the end.
Marvin was at Alice side when it was
over. He took her arm, and, looking into
her white face, claimed her fears: cit is
all right now-off the track-no more dan
ger
He left her, to help the passengers in
the smoker who were imprisoned and some
what injured, then returned.
He gathered her baggage, and, without
permission, told her to follow. With the
remainder of the passengers they took up
cold and sorrowful tramp along the track
across the bleak prairies to the little town,
three miles away, where lights twinkled
friendly greeting
Frank tried to be sociable. cit was a
narrow escape, he ventured,
eyes. Nothing more. She would
not even turn her face toward his in the
moonlight. They trudged on in silence.
The town was glad to see them. 1t
gave them the best it had, and none suf-
fered. But its heart was not wholly in
the work. One long gated citizen, evil
IDENTIFY originally from the south, explained
it:
s'Yeh see, we $ a-goin ter hev' the
Chris mas dom s ternight at tn hall. =
ssWhat? I'd forgot that it was Christ
mas eve, broke in Marvin. ''Let's all
90 over. The passengers from the Pull
man car, finding that they could not con-
tinue their journey until the following day,
as well as many of the others, agreed.
Well bundled up, they took their walk
through the chilly streets, where blew the
bitter north wind of the plain.
The hall was nothing more than the
upper room over store. 1t was filled te
the aisles, but the exercises had not YET
begun. The southerner, who was master
of ceremonies, tiptoed back to Marvin.
"We need two more to help in the do
ms, he whispered. "Won't you un'
come?
Frank laughingly arose, and the daint.
Miss Reisen, having no other choice, fol
lowed him.
Behind the curtain, what "a sight me
their gaze. A Christmas tree it was, t
be sure. There were no eyergreens neare
than the mountains, and to make up fo
deficiency the plainsmen had secured ;
dry cottonwood and wound its struggling
branches with green paper. The appear
ance would have been ludicrous had it no
been little pathetic.
"Not much like the pines of the beacl
where we used to rest last summer, whis
pered Frank to his companion.
ssYou and the other-I presume yol
mean,' was the whitening response.
eAlice-Miss Reisen, what do yor
mean" but the gaunt captain inter
rupted.
"You, young lady, I'd like you to b.
the fairy Our leadin' lady is sick, an
you look like her =
Entering into the spirit of the occasion
Miss Reisen accepted the task
s'Youll have to wear some wings, ant
there will be little scene, but nothin' 70
you to do but look pretty-you dom nee'
no coachin' - he added, calamity.
e'Great admirer of yours, suggeste
Frank, as the functionary moved away
Alice did not reply.
The wings were brought, and the.
seemed almost large enough for the weare