The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-28
AN ORIGINAL ELOPEMENT
BY w. H, ROYCE.


under the pipe, say someone step
quickly out of the shadow of the tank
and approach the side of the engine.
Thinking it to be some belated pas
senger, l gave the matter no further
thought, but turned my head and look
ed back to where Nick was busily en-
gagged with the water pipe
Suddenly l felt light touch on the
arm. l whirled quickly about and saw
standing beside me in the cab the fig
ure of a woman.
What 90 you want?" 1 asked In
sudden surprise. Passengers are not
allowed on the engine. It's strictly
against orders, Madam"
Il know it," She glanced nervously
about. But you must let me go this
time
She stepped quickly back into the
shadow so that my fireman might not
see her.
To say that 1 was startled by her
sudden appearance and strange re-
quest would be expressing it mildly,
but before l could reply, she lifted the
edge of her veil and there, in the dim,
uncertain light of the gasoline torch,
/ saw the bright eyes and pretty face
of Grace Henderson.
why, Miss Henderson," 1 man.
aged to gasp, you surely cannot mean
it,"
Yet, to tell the truth, sincerely
hoped she did, for, deep down in my
heart, / had a secret admiration for
the girl with her sweet face and gen
tie manners. Hitherto l had always
been content with the smile or cherry
word she often gave me when she
came to the depot with her father.
Now the prospect of having her so
near me and talking with me seemed
to lift me to the very top shelf of
earthly bliss.
Il must really go, Mr.. Haskell"
she went on quickly. Il know that it
must seem strange and unusual to
you, but when one is in danger,
strange things sometimes must be
done to escape, you know"
She smiled bewitchingly up into my
face as she spoke.
"What-in danger?" cried, in sur
prise.
YES, in the greatest of dangers,
and that is why 1 ask you to let me
go with you-to escape this danger
which threatens me-" she said sweet
ly.
AS she spoke she raised her great
brown eyes TO mine and gave me a
look that scattered my prudence. I
was very happy.
II would give my life to protect
you, if you need it" I ventured to
say.
| could not see her face now, for
she had turned 1t away. Frightened
at what 1 had said, l began to NUT
ter an hasty apology.
Don't" she whispered. IF you
mean what you say, prove it to me
now, by letting me go with you.
dare not stay here"
What else could 1 do under the cir
cumstances?
When Nick came clambering back
over the coal into the cab, 1 caught
a glimpse of the look of wonder and
establishment in his face as he saw
Grace, who was perched demurely
upon my seat. | gave him a quick
nod, then slowly opened the throttle.
We started out on our wild night ride
for what 1 did not know.
Out over the switches, where the sig
nal lights cleaned feebly and showed
a clear line ahead, across the bridge
and into the country we plunged, gain
ing speed at each turn of our six-foot
driving wheels. until it seemed as if we
were almost flying through the inky
darkness.
Accustomed as was, to high speed
on the road, 1 was almost nervous my
self as we tore along. and 1 began to
shut off the steam little. 1 was think
ing of Grace then, and life had never
seemed half so sweet. AS the speed
began to slacken a trfie in response
to my touch, I slowly opened the
throttle another notch, and, like race
horse under spur, the engine leaped
forward.
Past houses, through the fields, over
bridges and through towns and ham
lets we flew. All the time stood close
to Grace, one hand upon the throttle,
the other grasping the reversing lever
Nick, fully alive to the situation
sounded the whistle and rang the bell
loudly as we approached and passed
through a place of any kind and at
every crossing.
1 did not dare even to look at the
girl perched upon my leather cushioned
seat beside me, for all our lives-her
life-depended upon my vigilance.
Sometimes I spoke to her, only a
word, and she would grasp the side of
the cab as she leaned forward to re-
ply clos eto my ear; and sometimes her
hand would reach out and involuntari-
ly she would grasp me timidly by the
arm as we flew over some rough
stretch of the track, but a word from
me now and then seemed to reassure
her.
At length, in making the long curve
this side of R. l suddenly caught
the CLEAN of the red light on the rear
of the passenger train. So abruptly
been fully on the lookout, there GER