The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-10-27
BETW
TRAINS
Bu FANNIE HEASLIP LEA
Coppi0ht, 1905. by /. ID. MarrJ,aR


land. and two solitary passengers
alightcd. a man, tall. lean and dark,
left the third coach; woman. small,
plump and fair. descended from the
second. Midway in their listlcss course
to somewhat ancient carryall they
met
"Oh-h! might have known it, she
cried furiously.
The man said nothing at all.
Il suppose" said the woman. With
ostentatious self control. you are go.
ing to the RalStonS:"
"I am"
"And have got to go up in that
trap with YOU"
"You have not. l shall walk" ne
said calmly.
You will do nothing of the kind"
she stormed. And have them won
derinS and questioning! You will 50
up in the trap with me-"
He led the way to the aged vehicle
and she followed. When they were
seated and series of noisy jerks
announced their triumphal progress.
he looked at her with quiet amusement.
They Will think we have come to-
gether." he said. do they know you
are cOming?'
NO. she snapped. And | suppose
YOU are surprising them too:"
quite II surprise purity" he agreed
She cliuched her little hands furi
ously.
"Th"y will understand that it was an
accident that l met you at the depot"
"They will think YOU have at last
consented to be sensible" he muscd,
"and will be delighted. You know how
throw us together"
Us said the woman withcringiy
"Iou have been fairly thrown at my
head
We'll, | never seemed to strike YOU"
he drawled
She flung him II scorching glance. and
he subsidized into silence.
When the white pillars of the Raj
stons' splendid old plantation house
came into view, she turned OH him
fierccIy
''For the next two dayS--I suppose
must stay so long-you will he given
I'm not going to propose again." he
said disinterestedly. Don't be so wor-
ried."
Don't talk to me-" she ordered.
Don't come near me unless you have
TO-"
IL never do" he protested, climbing
out over the dusty wheel of their char
lot.
Five minutes later he climbed in
again after frenZied recalling of the
chariotcer and seated himself beside a
well nigh spccchlcss companion The
carryall jolted an unhappy yard or
two.
You all gwine TEX de 7:3O train
back:' inquired the ancient driver.
"He-he-hc-it sho' am too bad Nobody
home. an you all dun cum all de way
up fun New Leans
whip up that beast of yours. uncle"
cut iii the man sharply. There's n
train ut 7:30. isn't there"
Yes, sab"
''That's all right then. Now hurry
up He turned to the tense little fig
ure beside him, swapping open his
watch.
TITS now ten minutes to - he an
nounced. ut won't be long to wait. l
dare say"
She surveyed him intently and with.
out favor. That train is never OH
time" she said
He shrugged his shoulders III silence,
and they jolted on till the ugly station
came into view.
All around the southern twilight was
deepening. A star or two winked out
In the purple dusk Of the sky. and
down the long dusty road the katydids
disputed noisiIy.
No one was in sight on the station
platform. and only the sudden rattle Of
telegraph instrument from the sta
tion itself gave any sign Of habitation.
"You had better get out and wait on
the platform, Mrs. Leonard" said the
man.
THANK you. Mr.. Stanley said the
woman, and followed him stlfHy when
he had helped her from the carryall.
Stanley sat down upon truck and
whistled softly to himself. Mrs. Leon
ard paced the farthest end OF the plat
form in superb silence. After little
he Joined her with laugh.
Apparently" he said. "were the
only human beings in this solitude. I
sec the station agent making off down
the road to get a drink before train
sime. There's bit OF store few
hundred yards off. / suppose you no.
ticed It."
II did not she said frigidly.
Interesting things, these plantation
stores" he began again.
II have never found them So" She
smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from
her glove.
Now, see here" said Stanley,
would you mind telling me just why
I'm being snubbed and cut and frozen
1hla ItIrn rnI