Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-10-23
~ Their N
Reconciliation.
By CARL WILLIAMS.
Copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

Just before the trestle was reached
the fat man In the corner seat rose
and left the car, reducing the number
of Its occupants to two. The conductor
smiled softly to himself as he gave the
go ahead signal.
He could remember the time when,
instead of sitting at opposite ends of
the car, as they were at present, the
man and the girl shared the same cross
seat on their daily ride into town.
AS the two bells sounded the motor
began to hum, and presently the subur-
ban car rumbled on to the trestle
which cut forty minutes Off the run
ming time from the city to Bayvlew by
spanning two miles of salt water on
sturdy piles.
The sun silvered the crests of the
tiny waves, while the summer breeze
kicked up and frosted the wake of the
steamer now slowly approaching the
draw in the channel on the other side
of the island. 1t was an ideal summer
afternoon, and no prettier spot could
have been found than Sound bay, but
its beauties were entirely lost on the
two passengers. though the motor
man, to whom the bay was an old
story, regarded the scene with pleas
ure.
Tom Norton and Lucy Brayling, each
busy with his or her thoughts, gave
no heed to the blue bay, with its silver
tipped waves. They had met today
for the fiSst time since the dreadful
night two weeks ago before when
Lucy had broken her engagement.
This had followed trivial quarrel.
Lucy had announced that she was tax
Ing cooking school lessons, and Tom
had leased her about 1t. The day had
been hot, and she had taken his Joking
seriously, with the result that when
Tom had come away the ring he had
slipped on her finger with such glow
Ing hopes II few weeks before was
tucked in his pocket, while at his heart
there lay burden of dull despair.
laundering, he had tried to explain
that he was only speaking in jest, but
lLuNy uuu bpCht thS hoy WV F."
hot stove, and to have Tom poke fun
at the cake which had been the result
OF her labors was too much for feml-
nine endurance, and she would listen
to no apology.
Now as the car rolled along she
kept her glance straight ahead
through the front windows, and Tom
pretended an absorption In the seen
cry as viewed from the rear platform,
though neither was conscious Of the
beauty of the day.
The car had just reached the island
midway In the channel when with
sudden whir the motor came to u
stop and the car rolled on few yards
and halted. The motorman climbed
down to the trestle and examined the
fuse: then he climbed back again and
threw on the power
A second time he climbed down, and
on his return he tested the lights and
found that they would not burn. The
conductor made his way forward, and
presently he too, dropped to the track
and made his way toward the still
open draw.
The motorman came Inside and took
a seat opposite Lucy after admitting
ignorance as to the cause of the delay.
1t was not until the conductor came
back from the draw, where a tele-
phone was installed, that they knew
the worst.
"The power house IL afire," he re-
ported 1.-THE FIRE chief wouldn't let
his men go until the power was shut
off, and here we are to stay until the
fire Ii put out and the switchboard Is
repaired"
81 suppose that we can walk" sug-
gested Tom "The ties are close to-
gether."
The conductor glanced through the
rear of the car. "You can If the walk
ing's good on the water" he assented.
"Both draws are open, and they can't
close them until we get power again"
How long do you suppose that we
shall have to stay herei" asked Lucy
despairingly.
-Four or Ave hours" was the uncon-
sollng response. 1.-The switchboard
burned once before, and It took six
hours to fix It,"
But surely they Will send boat
after u.s." suggested Lucy hopefully.
Tf you learned what the matter was
there must have been a telephone at
!he draw"
There H." admitted the conductor,
"but just now there isn't no one at the
other end Of the line. / bet they're
burned out 1t amt a city line, you
know"
Lucy turned her attention to the
scenery again, and the conductor and
the motorman went out on the front
platform to smoke their pipes and en-
Joy n chat Tom repaired to the back
platform and lit a cigar
There was no boat In sight save the
two tiny steamers that made daily
trips between the city and the head
Of the bay. The one city bound had
rounded the point, and the other was
too far away to be signaled. The
only chance was TO hail some passing
pleasure boat and there was small
chance that such craft would come this
far down the bay.
For an hour, which seemed day to
the marooned ones, there was quiet In
.he car. Once or twice Tom turned
toward Lucy, but she promptly turned
her back, n d Tom turned his gaze TO.
ward the bay again.
ductor raised one Of the seats and