The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-09-28
BETW
TRAINS
bp FANNIE HEASLIP LEA
Coptr<9ht, 1906, bu !. D. Mdrahdu

The $50 express stopped at Race
land, and two solitary passengers
alighted A man, tall, lean and dark,
left the third coach; woman, small.
plump and fair, descended from the
second Midway In their listless course
to q somewhat ancient carryall they
met
: "Oh-h! 1 might have known tt!' she
cried fmiously.
The man said nothing at all.
II suppose" said the woman, with
ostentauous self control, "you are 60
ing to the RalstonsY'
II am"
And haze I got to 90 up IN that
trap with your
You have not. I shall walk be
said calmly
"You will do nothing Of the kind"
she stosmed. "And have them won
dering and questioning? You will 80
up IN the trap with me-" .
BE led the way to the aged vehicle
and she followed. When they were
seated and series Of noisy jerks
announced their tiumphal progress,
he looked at her with quiet amusement
They viii think we have come to-
gether," he said. DO they know you
are coming"
NO" she snapped. "And I suppose
you are surprising them toow
"Quite surprise party" he agreed.
She clinched her little hands furi'
ously.
''They will understand that It was an
accident that met you at the depot"
'sThey will think you have at last
consented to be sensible" he unused,
'sand will be delighted. You know how
long and ardently they have tried to
throw Us together"
'sUs!' said the woman witheringly.
"You have been fairly thrown at my
head"
'Well, never seemed to strike you" !"
he drawled
She flung him scorching glance, and
he subsidized into silence.
When the white pillars Of the Raj
stons' splendid old plantation house
came into view, she turned on him
fercely.
"For the next two days-I suppose !
must stay 80 long-you will be given
any number Of chances to talk to me-"
"Pm not going to propose again" he
said disinterestedly. Don't be so wor-
Red"
Don't talk to me-" she ordered.
Don't come near me unless you have
to-
II never do" he protested, climbing
out over the dusty wheel Of their char
lot.
Five minutes later he climbed in
again after a frenzied recalling Of the
charioteer and seated himself beside q
well nigh speechless companion. The
carryall 5olted an unhappy yard or
two.
"You all gwtne tex de 7:S0 train
back?" inquired the ancient driver.
"He-he-he- 1T 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" I"
cut in the man sharply. There's q
train at 80, isn't there?"
Eyes, sah-''
That's all right then. Now hurry
up" He turned to the tense little fig
ure beside him, swapping open his
watch.
.It's now ten minutes to T." he an
nounced. 1T won't be long to wait I
dare say"
She surveyed him tntently and with
out favor. THAT train is never on
time" she said.
He shrugged his shoulders in silence,
and they jolted on till the ugly station
came into view.
An 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 noisily.
No one was in sight on the station
platform. and only the sudden rattle Of
q telegraph instrument from the sta
tion itself gave any sign Of habitaton.
"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 st1fay 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 a little
be Joined her with laugh.
Apparently" he said, "were the
only human beings in this solitude.
zee the station agent making of down
the road to get a drink before train
time. There's a bit of a store few
hundred yards of. suppose you no
fced It."
II did not" she said frgidly.
Interesting things, these plantation
stores" he began again
II have never found them So" She
smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from
her glove