Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-29
THE RUNAWAY ENGINE
sy LLEwELLyn LORD

 to fear that she meant 1t, and her father was one of those hard-headed men who take pride Tn the fact that they never change their minds.
 Then I'm going away" said I, des' perately.
 "Where?" she asked. Her incredu. lous tone maddened me. You think it an idle threat, Nell, but unless you decide by this day week to become my wife, either with or without your fathers consent, will go to the farthest place m the world ito New Zealand"
 Her eyes filled with tears. She be. seeched me to have patience, but | refused
 When the week was up she still was ! obdurate, and I made all my arrange 1 ments to go to New Zealand. Her l father was glad to see me go. be- l lieve. l Nell was at the station the day l left. Once more I pleaded with her, but in vain. She loved me, but she could not believe that any happiness would come to our marriage unless ! she obtained her fathers blessing.
 It happened that the train was late. We waited at the station with other passengers, including her mother and father. think the old man had come down to be sure Nell did not weaken anI go away with me the last minute. But began to thlnk that his adorable daughter was as obdurate as her fa- ther.
 l As we waited on the platform for | the train that was to bear me away i from the girl loved switch engine pulled up on one of the farther tracks and my wandering eyes noticed that the engineer and fireman left the lo- comotive alone while they went into the restaurant for their dinners. i "Oh, Will" murmured Nell, in my ear. T always have wanted to get in an engine. Do you suppose they would care if we should look at that one while the man is away?" "Yes, they would be sure to care" I said, gloomily. Besides, it is against the rules for passengers to be on the tracks"
 Couldn't you get permission for us to look at it?' she asked.
 Come on, we'll not ask for permis- sion," said. It occurred to me that the engine cab would give me an op- portunity for one final and tender good-by.
 We went to the locomotive and in. spected its drivers and cylinders, and at last I helped Nell into the cab.
 She looked at the quivering mon- ster with little exclamations of delight and ama2ement.
 I'm going to make it whistle" she cried, daringly as she climbed upon the engineers seat If they arrest us and send us to jail, then you can't go away"
 She seized hold of the lever and gave it a jerk. Instead of whistling the engine coughed. She laughed like pleased child.
 "Why, it's moving" she cried. So it was. saw the engineer run. ming from the restaurant door and wildly waving his arms.
 'Oh. I can't stop it." cried Nell. in dismay. looked at her and saw that she was pulling and pushing at all the levers within reach. Presently she struck the whistling apparatus. and the engine gave two short, sharp whistles, the starting signal. We ran on the sidetrack to the main line and the switch engine was pick ing up speed amazingly. Nell was about to leap out, when I caught her and held her.
 Tt is too late for that" I said, as I pressed her in my arms. She clung to me in fright. As looked back to- ward the station I saw her father was shaking his fist.
 Don't you know how to stop it. Will?" she sobbed.
 No, indeed. But don't be fright ened. They will telegraph ahead and clear the track for us. and it will stop when the steam dies down."
 Isn't it dreadful." she exclaimed. Father and mother will think we are running away. They will believe I dld 1t on purpose"
 Didn't you?" asked. innocently.
 You know I didn't" she declared, withdrawing from my arms.
 Tt looks much like you are running away with me" I said. If you are. I can't help ii. can I?'
 You are ridiculous" she laughed. Any way. you can't start to New Zea- land today"
 Unless you go with me-" said I.
 By this tune the engine was going so rapidly and the racket was so great that we could not converse. I made Nell sit on the engineers seat and to be sure that she did not fall out held my arm about her waist.
 There was a crowd of people lined up at the first station to see us go by and now had no further fear of a col lision. The train dispatcher would be sure to clear the track. I saw by the gauge that the steam was dying out. and after we had passed the third station the engine ran perceptibly slower. It stopped dead still on the outskirts of Cherrydale.
 I helped Nell from the eng1ne and we walked to the station house.
 The telegraph operator met us at