River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-10-01

ern woman by birth, sympathy and tenn
permanent, and I shall marry her in spite
of you" With which explosive state
ment, ingalls, stalked angrily from the
yard, and the major, who liked an out
spoken foe, followed him with look in
which resentment and admiration were
strangely mingled.
For the two days that followed, the
manner in which Maj. Fitzgibbon con-
Quoted a large manufacturing business
and frustrated the attempted meetings
between Helen and Frank showed pre-
science that was almost uncanny. His
daughters open defiance had rather
aroused his regard, although he de-
nounced it as unfilial and unsouthern.
On the third day, after the interview
the young people contrived clandestine
meeting. Helen arranged to slip from
her window that night, and repair with
Frank to the house of the Unitarian min
lister, VINO, in addition to being man
of spirit and independence, was Franks
uncle.
At midnight Frank waited under GER
tain window in the Fitzgibbons' house
until Helen appeared, clad in blue trav-
cling dress and an air of caution, and
the moon obligingly retired behind
cloud while the couple went toward the
gate.
AS they reached the sidewalk there
was crash behind them of another win
dow being flung violently open, and
crunching sound as two square-toed
boots landed in gravel path. ingalls,
glanced back as he hurried the trembling
Helen toward the main street, and the
approaching boots ground the gravel om-
inously.
AS Frank again turned his eyes for
ward huge, ghostly object doomed be-
fore him in the road 1t was the steam
roller, covered by an enormous rubber
cloth. Dashing to it, Frank pulled up
the rubber cloth, lifted Helen into the
cab of the machine, climbed in himself,
and the folds of the cover had barely
settled in place when Maj. FitZgibbon
clattered by, in futile pursuit.
AS the pair drew O. few breaths of re-
lief, tinctured with the odor of machine
oil and coal gas, responding sigh came
from the inky darkness. This was fol-
lowed by slow grunt, then a voice Of
protest.
What We want?" it demanded.
why, there's someone here!" Helen
cried, softly.
"'Course Their is. What" continued
the voice.
SSH" whispered Frank. "who are
your"
"Bill Dustan, the engineer. Who are
you?"
AS the man rose from the narrow seat
on which he had been curled up asleep,
the tiny cab was filled to overlooking
with faint scent of alcohol which sug-
gested reason for his presence.
Frank laid a friendly hand on the
shoulder of Bill Dustan's coat and hastily
told his story, while his mind worked
rapidly in another direction. His other
hand crept into one of his pockets, and
when it was extended to Bill it contained
a bank note.
"You have fire." Frank asked, as the
engineer fingered the money.
Keep 'er up a little" answered the
man.
Can you run the roller with it?"
Frank demanded.
Bill grinned appreciatively in the
darkness. Soon fix it so I kin, he said.
"But it will make an awful noise" OBJ
jected Helen, on whom the situation was
dawning.
81 kin run 'er kind er slow an quiet"
Bill said, hopefully.
Besides, your father is probably STIR
ring up the police and the railroad peo-
pie, and he won't be back soon" Frank
said to Helen. sit isn't likely that he
noticed this machine, and If he sees it
anywhere else he won't dream that we
are in it."
Bill Dustan lighted lantern, casting
dim glow on complication of wheels,
levers and valves; attended to the fire,
and in a few minutes the roller was in
motion. The engineer lifted the forward
part of the rubber cloth, protruded his
head and steered the machine to the Uni
tartan minister's house
Even a magnate may not annul mar
riage, and Helen and Frank departed
for their honeymoon, leaving the major
prey to gloomy emotions, which they
wisely forebore to interrupt for two
weeks. During that time the love and
sympathy Helen had for her father sug-
gested the best course for reconcilia-
ton.
''He likes actions that are bold and
straightforward, she said to Frank
And the major got what he liked, for
one morning, early in June, when he
was again seated on his veranda, read
ing his paper before starting for his fac
tory, he was aroused by noise in the
street.
An enormous steam roller turned in at
the majors gate and moved ponderously
along the driveway. At the throttle was
Bill Dustan, and behind him, on the mar
row seat OF the machine, were Helen and
Frank From all parts of the roller flut-
tered streamers and bows of bridal rib
bon.
After gazing fixedly at the shy but
confident couple, and at the abashed en-
gineer, Maj Fitzgibbon glanced back at
his house, in which he had spent a lonely
fortnight, and stroked his imperial with
a soft, caressing movement. Then he
walked slowly to the machine, lifted his
arms, and Helen leaped lightly into
them.
AS Frank alighted and smilingly
watched this scene, Bill Dustan turned
the steam roller, which, with a triumph
ant toot of its small whistle, rumbled
dignifiedly away.