The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-12-01

Tearing herself from his grasp. she
sank down in the patch of moonlight
that shone in through the open door,
way and buried her face in her lap.l
Cunningham's impulse was to drop
her to the ground by main force; but
when he lay hold upon her shaking
shoulders what he actually did was
to drop cross-legged beside her and
lift her golden, curly head until ii
rested upon his shoulder, holding ii
there while the train continued to
gain speed and the complaining rattle
and clank grew into a furious roar.
Poor little girl" he muttered re-
morsefully. What an awful scrape
I've got you into
He knew that she could not hear
him in the midst of that hideous din!
but as If in mute testimony to his
words, she held up two small palms
scratched and bleeding
"Oh, my darling!" In his pain and
regret the words slipped out unheedl
ed. Finding a handkerchief, he tore
it in strips and awkwardly wound gha
pieces about her hands. Then, there
being no other way to secure the
bandages, he laid one palm upon the
other and held them so. During this
operation it was necessary for Miss
Ferris to sit up in the jolting, sway
ing car unsupported, but when, upon
finishing the task, Cunningham again
slipped his arm about her shoulders
and drew her head to it's former posi-
ton, she made no resistance.
A wonderful idea occurred to him.
A blazing, beautiful idea.
Sylvia" he stammered, as rapidly
as the beating of his heart would peri
NIT, there's jolly good way out of
this for US If you-if you'll marry
me-" He trembled before his own!
audacity and rested his burning creek
an instant against the cool softness of
her hair, forgetting the road that rel
duced his words to mere. fiuttering
breaths.
Sylvia lifted her head; Cunningham,
saw her lips moving and bent till herl
lashes swept his face, but still he
doubted that he heard Alright.
What is that awful smell?" She
repeated. finally making herself audi
BILE.
"Phosphate!" he shouted in answers
relieving his discontinue by strength
of lung. tits fertilizer!"
The train stopped sooner than he
had expected, but at lonely water
tank without visible light or habita
ton.
mo escape here" he reported. look
ing down the pebbly slope of an en-
bankment which fell away from the
door of their prison full thirty feet.
"Oh, dear, that horrible odor." sigh,
ed the girl
Cunningham struck a match. The
car was empty but for themselves and
the smell of the fertilizer which EN-
veloped the air like loathsome, sufl
locating blanket.
How can we ever explain?" she
lamented.
Cunningham saw his opening and
to do he remarked in an deliberately
matter-of-fact tone, "and that is to get
married.
"What?" Sylvia's voice rose to
high note of establishment.
us it so distasteful to you?" he
asked. affecting a GOODNESS he did not
feel. Then. reseating himself and TAX,
ing the bandaged hands:
II have been trying for two years
to muster the courage to propose to
you. You must have seen how hard
hit am
"You never said anything"
I'm saying 1t now; and-you-care
little, don't you, Sylvia? It's the
best way"
Sylvia neither answered nor shrank
from his embrace.
81 have no idea where this train is
taking u.s." he continued, "but we shall
come to town before long, that's cerI
tain. Ministers and licenses are cas-
ily found. You have no parents to
consult, nor have I, and neither of US
are a minor. After we're married we
will come back and tell Prexy all
about it. He'll stand for it, think;
he's a fine fellow" he finished stoutlyi
Sylvia began to cry. silently at first
then a little harder.
1--WE shall lose our diplomas, l just
know" she sobbed, smuggling her
cheek against his vest pocket in a
rather comfortable manner, neverthe1
less.
What is a piece of old sheepskin,
anyway" be challenged, compared
with our having each other?'
II don't know, Mr.. Cunningham"
very TREMENDOUSLY.
Call me 'Tom,' dear"
"Tom," more TREMENDOUSLY still
then, with a nervous giggle, dear"
The locomotive, having drunk it's
fill, now pounded on with loud, tri7
umphant toots and sonorous puffs of
exultation, bearing it's blissful cargo
into the golden unknown.
YT- "DYY W~my