The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-12-18

ten years after he had left that he de-
termined to return. In the meantime
he had not been back. His parents one
spring morning received a letter from
him which in it's contents was some
what out of the usual run of his epis-
ties. 1t ended with this pleasing state
ment:
am coming home for n short vacation.
And what do you good people think?
shall not come alone. 1t is my purpose to
bring with me one of the most charming
girls In this wide world, a young person
VINO tomorrow VIII become my bride. My
"trip to Far Hills will be a wedding trip.
Expect us In the evening of the Sd.
Haskins and his bride started from
the far country where they belonged
and purchased tickets for his native
place. All along the way young Has
klns regaled his bride with stories Of
his youth. She listened with delight,
for ut that early stage in the game
anything that Haskins said went.
Haskins and his bride were due at
the old home somewhat early in the
evening. They would arrive ut Just
about dusk. Haskins, suddenly aroused
by some Of his old recollections, sug-
gested a romantic scheme. He pro-
posed that they should alight from the
train at the little station shed at East
Far Hills on this side of the gully and
should walk across the trestle. There
was but one thing that made Haskins'
young bride consent, and that was that
lonely walk ut that hour Of the night
with 1Iaskins would not be amiss. She
suggested the question of danger, as in
duty bound to do, but the suggestion
only made Haskins all the more deter
mined. And, above all, he wanted to
show his bride just where he hung on
that eventful night so very long ago.
1t happened therefore that ut East
Far Hills they alighted. And then,
stepping out upon the track in the wake
of the receding train, they walked
along the trestlc. In the near distance
the lights of Far Hills cleaned To
the right the moon. Il large red ball Of
fire, was just beginning to rise. Final
ly they reached the middle Of the
bridge. Haskins halted.
This" he exclaimed. sis the very
spot where hung for dear life. was
travelling in the opposite direction, and
when reached this very spot l heard
a terrific whistling of an engine and
saw the headlight there, down toward
East Far Hills
He stopped suddenly for suddenly
upon the still night air he heard the
terrific whistling Of an engine, and he
saw headlight down toward East Far
Hills. Another train was running them
them for place of shelter. There was
none. He knew then that there was
but one thing to do. Grasping his bride
IN his arms he half slid, half lowered
himself and her down between the ties.
was hard work, for he had grown
'Sxo man, while the space between
ties had held its own. One thing
'itJ tlucky-HaSkins' bride was small
= Nikslight He directed her briefly to
.ssbNo him with both hands roufd his
yaSi iu,kShe did so. With his two hands
to ,,Sg to the ties above. They had
~. la Ndjusted themselves when the
Iasl; upon them Haskins whis-
for his bride that it would soon
now knd$they would again be safe.
inss had reckoned without his
ons, the train was freighter and
r ing with tho rapidity of
. the8 &esides, it had to wait till the
q, Br train ahead had moved
-, SaSar after car bumped slowly
ties. and Haskns held on till
L ssFms, with double weight upon
hne K, seemed starting from the sockets.
hddcnly he brcathed n sigh of relief,
sfOr his trained ear acquainted him
with the fact that the last car was ap-
preaching. 1t did approach, but 1t did
not reach them, for suddenly the train
began to back toward East Far Hills
more slowly than 1t had proceeded.
Haskins groaned. The strain was be-
coming unbearable. "I can't stand it
much longer" he muttered, gritting his
teet'y He shut his eyes and held on
tight.
And then the train stopped. Has
kins yelled for aid. The whistle
drowned his voice. Then the freight
began to move again, and this time 1t
moved forward. >
"Kitty," exclaimed Hasklns wildly,
''kiss me for the last time! I-we've
got to drop. l can't hold on-I can't
do anything. Goodby untll'-
And then they dropped. They didn't
drop very far. They dropped about o
foot or so, not more. For in the long
ten years that Haskins was away the
road had filed up the cold gully, and
they had been hanging I'm the dark for
nothing. Later they reached the house
Of Haskins parents. AS they stepped
into the light his bride gave a strange
start. Then she smiled. "Your gray
hair" she whispered to Haskins, sis an
Improvement on the red"
81 can't understan'," said Uncle
Eben, chow 1t is dat some folks kin be
too proud TO work nm ot do sop,a tin,o