The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-11-18

SANK down In the patch of moonlight
that shone in through the open door
way and buried her face in her Ian
Cunningham's impulse was to dror
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 il
rested upon his shoulder, holding II
there while the train continued to
gain speed and the complaining rattle
and clank grew into furious roar.
Poor little girl" he muttered re.
morsefulfy. 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 IL in mute testimony to his
words, she held up two small palms,
scratched and bleeding.
On, my darlingi" In his pain and
regret the words slipped out unheed.
ed. Finding handkerchief, he tore
IL In strips and awkwardly wound the
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 1t 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 its 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 per
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 re
duced his words to mere, fiuttering
breaths.
Sylvia lifted her head; Cunningham
saw her lips moving and bent till her
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 answer,
relieving his discontinue by strength
of lung. cts fertilizer!"
The train stopped sooner than he
had expected, but at a 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 a loathsome, sui.
locating blanket.
"How can we ever explain?" she
lamented.
Cunningham saw his opening and
rushed in. There's only one thing
to do" he remarked in an deliberately
matter-of-fact tone, land that is to get
married"
"What?" Sylvia's voice rose to a
high note of establishment.
"Is 1t so distasteful to your he
asked, affecting a GOODNESS he did not
feel. Then, reseating himself and TAX
ing the bandaged hands:
'T have been trying for two years
to muster the courage to propose to
you. You must have seen how hard
hit l am"
you never said anything"
I'm saying it 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 a town before long, that's GER
tain. Minister and licenses are cas-.
lily IOu nave PolNub "
consult, nor have l, and neither of Us
are minor. After we're married we
will come back and tell Prexy all
about IT. He'll stand for it, l think;
he's a fine fellow" he finished stoutly.
Sylvia began to cry, silently at first
then a little harder.
I'VE shall lose our diplomas, Just
know" she sobbed, smuggling her
cheek against his vest pocket in a
rather comfortable manner. neverthe.
less.
What is a piece of old sheepskin.
anyway" he challenged, compared
with our having each other?"
81 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, tri
umphant toots and sonorous puffs of
exultation, bearing its blissful cargo
into the golden unknown.