Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-03-07
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: His Iron
Z Sweetheart

1
The last time that Engineer Joe
Fielding urged Annie MCGOWAN to set
their wedding day was when they were
taking an afternoon walk on his day
off, Annie. too, having few hours
blissful leave from the big department
store where she worked.
1t was Joy merely to live, and Joe
Fielding thought that his heart would
break with gladness when Annie lifted
her eyes to his and said, II will"
But she added, with upturned face
full Of anxious earnestness, There is
only one thing to say first, Joe. Per-
haps you wouldn't want me to set the
day at all If you knew"
Joe only frightened his grasp OF the
little hands he had taken in his.
What is it, Annle?" he asked, and his
smile was confident and full of tender
ness.
"For you to leave the englne-yes,
leave the road for good and ALL" said
Annie, bravely, land go with me to
the country to live-up to one Of the
hill farms, Joe. went up there with
Jessie Aiken only yesterday to buy
butter, and I heard the meadow larks
singing in the dewy fields, and the air
came to your face SO fine and clear,
and saw the eagles soaring SO free,
high up in the lift"
I'm the what? Wish you'd talk
American, Annie"
up in the sky" explained Annie.
Its so still up there, Joe. like the
Sabbath in the Scotch hills where l
was born.
1.-The truth is, Joe, just couldn't
stand the fear, with you on the road.
I've troubled about it ever since !
knew you"-with modest droop OF
the flower face-"and I'm sure never
could sleep o'nights-and l can't now
for fear of your coming some time
in the dark to tell me where you had
gone down and when, and putting my
arms out to clasp only empty air. Oh,
Joe, such things have been, and 1t
would kill me, think"
Joe kissed the two hands he held
folded so tightly. "See here, my little
Scotch woman" he said, Il can under
stand how you love the hills SO, and
all that, but you don't come any Of this
second-sight business on me. You've
been working too hard. You're hys-
terical Come, Annie dear, when shall
it be?"
"Oh, soon!" said Annie, land we'll
take little farm in the hills then,
Joe?"
Really the plan was not purely a
surprise. Annie had shyly limited 1t
before, and the idea had afterwards
vaguely floated into Joe's mind, some
times, when he was standing in the
engine, his elbow on the cushion, eyes
to the front, with little chance to
think Of anything but the "feel" Of
the engine and the look of the track.
He had considered it little, but not
seriously. One hundred and fifty dol
lars month was very good wages,
and he loved his engine. He loved
the responsibility, and he loved the
thrill that came to him when he had
pulled his train safely through or over
or under a horror, sometimes here,
sometimes there, along the dangerous
mountain line, and knew that the vic
tory of it lay in his own sure hand and
granite will. Something Of this feel
Ing stirred him now. To leave the
road seemed unreasonable, impossible.
Then things went on from bad to
worse. 1--WE never questioned your
love, Annie, whether or no." said Joe,
and he added, sternly, I'm good for
nothing but the engine, Annie.
reckon l can't be made over. Those
that can't take me as l am can do
without me-"
Annie's face paled. She answered.
the words scarcely uttered above her
breath.
"Oh, then, we'll just indefinitely
postpone the day, and l mean 1t, Joe,
and no doubt that will make you hap
py."
So they walked in frozen silence to
Annie's gate. Joe said Goodbye, An
HE, anu WILL Auulc OOOu-uyc,
Joe," they parted.
Annie stood and gazed after him
through lattice Of leafess honey
suckle boughs over the porch. He
walked straight on, hands thrust hard
into his pockets, his head thrown back,
his face stony.
II doubt if you'll be oyer happy with
your iron sweetheart, Joe DEAR" she
said desolately.
1t was the eve Of Bobbie Burns
birthday anniversary, and without any
| previous resolves thitherward he
found himself by and by seated OBJ
scurely in happy crowd gathered to
: share in the Caledonian Clubs annual
celebration.
And presently up on the platform he
saw Annie, always the warm-hearted
) clubs blithest favorile in song or
dance. He trembled from head to foot
as she sang, with wistful face uplifted:
Let Fortunes gifts at random fee,
, M, -, boI <1rouu utah Pyo n ~, -