The Huttig news., 1908-09-05
CHAPTER xxxV.
The Weddinu of the Rails.

. i Oi Nuy Ioo5s
 Beside the majestic inland sea, gath cred there from near and from half the world away, men and women had come to celebrate the continuation of two tremendous enterprises.
 Against calumny. against plot and counterplot, against the power of money and bribery, against old Time himself, had the Central Pacific rail road come to completion On pork, beans. "licey," and pluck had it been builded, teaching the world it's great est lesson in iron.
 Surmounting similar obstacles the Union Pacific had come westward to meet it. And here, in the heart of the continent, amidst cheers. speech es, and the screaming of whistles, the final blow was struck, the day made historic
 Early in the morning magnificent trains came from each way bearing officials and dgnitaries Following them thronged the sightseers.
 Esther and Alfred were there, standing near the Central Pacific of ficers, both radiant, unmasked of re- serve, young, beautiful with happiness. Close at hand were Uncle Billy, the l liarmens, and Amabel Hamilton, deli cate, fower-like, bravely carrying a 1 heartaehe that Alfred least of all sus- peeted.
 And Sally B., No pen could paint the vividness of her cardinal plush gown, the sweep of the forty dollar plume above her red Gainsborough hat, the gleam of her jewels, or the pride in the uplift of her dark head. Regal. brilliant. as glad of the great | triumph as if it were her own, she drew every eye. dominated the scene, olamofously red against the surround ing gray.
 Not the least striking among that re- markable assemblage was George Gregory. Erect as he had not been for months, we'll groomed and hand some in his faultless clothes. iubilant. he was yet restless from the very lifting of his burden. and tackled from shore tc shore in the human sea, com 1 ing tc anchor at intervals beside his wife
 But the eye of the vast throng, shift ing from notable to notable. came oftenest to rest upon the Valiant l Four, quartette of keen. compile menting minds, the power that had driven to completion the most difficult enterprise of the era
 Mark Hopkins, the treasurer, looked i small beside the others; yet his body was vigorous, his eye vigilant, his lip 1 firm. fine. penetrating exactness, a ligid carefulness, enveioped him as a garment. A stern man, a just, em- i pleyees and foster-children yet testi- l fled to his kindness. his consideration l. Bluff, hearty Charles Crocker. the superintendent irascible. obstinate, 1 yet reasonable, was also the daring. 1 the generous, the pioneer!
 Next stood Collis P. Huntington, the vice president. tall, stately. elegant, l the keen financier, the astute business man, the subtle politician, the keeper of secrets; tireless worker, a courtly gentleman.
 Leland Stanford, the president, ex- governor of California. beloved by the people, this man was the exposure; l imperial head powerfully set on mas sive body; eyes of the seer, brows of the conqueror: mind of steel and heart of gold; brother of men and respecter of man: orator, friend, patriot.
 Talleyrand once declared to the Elm peror Napoleon, "The great republic Is giant without bones" These four men had put into the giant a spine of 1 Iron.
 Under the desert sky the spreading multitude was called to order There followed a solemn prayer of thanks l giving. The laurel tie was placed, amidst ringing cheers The golden l spike was set The trans-Ameriean ] telegraph wire was adjusted. Amid breathless silence the silver hammer was lifted, poised, dropped, giving the gentle tap that ticked the news to all the world, Then. blow on blow. Gov ernor Stanford sent the spike to place, A storm of wild huzzas burst forth; desert rock and sand. plain and noun tain, echoed the conquest of their terrors. The two engines moved up, touched noses" and each in turn crossed the magic tie.
 America was belted. The great Iron Way was finished. THE END.