The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-03-18

look like you had 4 tusslc to get here
1T was a close shave CASTOR replied.
He stepped into the Atlanta sleeper
and encountered the dusky potentate who
presides over its aisles.
The porter looked up from the shoes
he was shining at Gaston's dishevelled
hair and collar standing up without a tie,
and gave him no welcome.
CASTOR dropped a half dollar into his
hand and the porter dropped the shoes
and grinned a royal welcome.
Any ting | kin do fer we, bose"
Got any ladies on your car
"Yassir. three I'm EN-"
! Young or old ,"
lone young un. en- two ole uns.'
Did the young lady get on at hide
pendcnce2'
'Yassir."
Going to Atlanta
"Yassir."
rs she very bcautiful?"
Boss, she's de p~urtiess young lady l
! cher laid my eyes on-but look lax she
been erwin"
Their I want you to wake her. l must
see her
"Lordy. boss. l cain do dat. Hit ergin
de rules
But. I'm bound to see her. I've rid
den eighteen miles across the mountains
! and scratched my face all to pieces
rushing through those woods. I've q
! message of the utmost Importance for
her"
Cain do hit. boss, hits ergin dc rules.
But you can go wake her yosclf. eff you'se
er mind ter. l cain keep you fun it.
She's dar in number Seben-'
CASTOR hcsitated. NO, you must
| wake hor he insisted droppinp anDt her
half dollar in the ~portcr's hand.
The porter got up with a grin. He felt
he must rise to a great occasion.
well | des tumble roun' de berth en-
mebbe she wake herself, en- den ! tell
her"
Just then the electric bell overhead
rang and the index pointed to seven.
"DI now, dat's her calm me. shot,
He approached the berth. What kin
| do fur We, NAM" he whispered.
Porter, who's that YOU are talking to?
1t sounds like some one | know"
"Yassum, hits young gent name er
CASTOR, jump on bode at the water sta
tion-say he got 'portaut message fur
YOU
Tell him | will see him in a moment.
The porter returned With the message.
You des wait in dar. in number one
hits not made up-twell she come" he
ADDED
There was the soft rustic of a dressing
gown-he sprang to his feet. clasped her
hand p~assionately, kissed it and silently
she took her seat by his side. He still
held her hand, and she pressed his gently
in response. He saw that she was cry
ing. and his heart was too full for words
for a momen
He looked long and wistfully into he1
face. In her dishevelled hair by the din
| light of the car he thought her more
beautiful than ever. At last she brushed
the tears from her eyes and turned hel
face full On his with a sad, sweet smile
My own dear love-" she sobbed, 81
prayed that | might see you somehow
before | left. | was wide awake when
first heard the distant murmur of you
voice. Oh, | am so glad you came," anC
she pressed his hand.
Il got your letter at ten-thirty'-
'Oh, that awful letter, How | criee
over it. Papa made me write it, ant
read and mailed it himself. But yot
saw my message between the lines?'
Yes, and then | covered it with kisses
But what is the cause of this sudder
change of the general toward me? Wha.
have I done?'
please don't ask me. l can't tel
you" she sobbed. lowering her face
moment to his hand and kissing it
Don't ask me-"
But. my dear, l must know. There
can be no secrets between u.s.
My lips will never tell you. Their
have been a thousand ISLANDERS breatheC
against you. | Iuet them with fury an
scorn, and no ono has dared repeat then
in my hearing. / would not pollute m.
lips by repeating one of them"
But who is their author
I cannot tell you. l promised nam;
| wouldn't. She loves you, and she is o.
our side, but said it was best. Papa ha
made up his mind to break our engage
ment forever. And l deied him. We ha,
a scene. / didn't know ! had the strengtI
of will that came to me. l said som
terrible things to him, and he said som
very cruel things to me. Poor mama wa
Frustrated. Her heart is weak, and
only yielded at last as far as | have be
cause of her tears and suffering. l couI
not endure her pleadings. So | promise
to do as he wished for the present, leav
: for Boston, and cease to write to you.
My love. l must know my enemy t
meet him and face the issue he raises
cannot be strangled in the dark lik
this"
You Will find il out soon enough,
cannot tell you" she repeated. Il onl
G ask YOU to trust me, in this the darkes
e hour that has ever come to my life. 70
vi. trust me. will you not, dear?" sh
pleaded.
Il have trusted you with my immorts
f soul. You know this"
i Yes. yes, dear, | do. Then you ca
love and trust me without a letter or
y word between US until mama is bette
G and | can get her consent to write t
e you? Oh, ! never knew how tenderly an
e desperately | loved you until this shade
I came over our lives2 No power sha
ever separate us when the final tex
+ comes, unless you shall grow weary"
Dc not say that he interrupted.
( love you with a love that has brought II
/ out of the shadows and shown me tt
II shining face of God. Death shall NJ
Q bring WEAKNESS. But l dread with