The Meeker herald., 1907-02-23
the RUNAWAY EnsIAE
sy LlEwgLLYM Lord

She said this so often that began
to fear that she meant 1t, and her
father was one of those hard7headed
| men who take pride in the fact that
they never change their minds.
Then I'm going away" said l. des-
perately.
"Where?" she asked. Her incredu-
lous tone maddened me.
You think 1t 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 in 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
bbdurate. and made all my arrange
ments to go to New Zealand. Her
father was glad to see me go. be-
lieve.
Nell was at the station the day
left. Once more l pleaded with her,
but in vain. She loved me. but she
could not believe that any happiness
would come to our marriage unless
The obtained her fathers blessing.
| 1t happened that the train was late.
I've waited at the station with other
| passengers. including her mother and
ather. l think the old man had come
lown to be sure Nell did not weaken
tnl go away with me the last minute.
But l began to think that his adorable
daughter was as obdurate as her IA
,her.
AS we waited on the platform for
the train that was to bear me away
from the girl loved a switch engine
pulled up on one of the farther tracks
and my wandering eyes noticed that
the engineer and fireman left the To-
connective alone while they went into
the restaurant for their dinners.
"Oh. WILL" murmured Nell. in my
ear. Il always have wanted to get in
an engine. Do you suppose they would
care II we should look at that one
while the man is away"
":Yes. they would be sure to care"
said. gloomily. Besides. 1t 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 permits
sion," said. It occurred to me that
the engine cab would give me an OPP
portunity for one final and tender
good-by.
| We went to the locomotive and In
spected its drivers and cylinders. and
at last / helped Nell INTO the cab.
She looked at the quivering mon
ster with little ordinations Of delight
rand amazement.
I'm going to make 1t 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 jerk Instead of whistling
the engine coughed.
! She laughed like pleased child.
why, it's moving" she cried.
So 1t was. l saw the engineer rum
ming from the restaurant door and
wildly waving his arms.
| "Oh. l can't stop It," cried Nell. In
dlsmay. 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 of the sidetrack to the main
line and the switch engine was pick
ing up speed amazingly. Nell was
about to leap out, when l caught her
[ and held her.
1T is too late for that" said. az
pressed her in my arms. She chung
ward the station / saw her father was
shaking his fist.
Don't you know how to stop 1t.
WHIP" she sobbed
| NO, indeed. But don't be fright
ened. They will telegraph ahead and
clear the track for us, and 1t will stop
when the steam dies down"
Isn't 1t dreadful" she exclaimed
Father and mother will think we
are running away. They will believe
did 1t on purpose"
Didn't your" l asked, innocently.
| You know didn't" she declared
Withdrawing from my arms.
at looks much like you are running
away with me-" l said. "If you are
I can't help 1t, can II"
you are ridiculods," she laughed
ANY way. you can't start to New Zea
land today"
| Unless you go with me-" said l.
| By this time the engine was going
30 rapidly and the racket was 30
great that we could not converse. Il
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 crowd Of people lined
up at the first station to see us go by
and now I had no further fear Of q col
lision. The train dispatcher would