The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1910-11-18

| 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
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 1,
rested upon his shoulder, holding 4,
there while the train continued tc
gain speed and the complaining rattle
and clank grew into furious roar.
Poor little girl" he mrttered re
morsefully. What an Ewful scrape
I've got you into"
He knew that she could not hear
him in the midst OF tina. hideous din
but as II 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 unheed.
ed. Finding handkerchief, he tore
1t in strips and awkwardly wound the
pieces about her Lands Then, there
being no other way to secure the
bandages, he lai1 one palm upon the
other and held them so. During this
operation 1t vas necessary for Miss
Ferris to sit up In the jolting. sway
ing car unsupported, but when, upon
finishing tie 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.
rnis, there's jolly good way out Of
this for US II you--if you'll marry
pne." 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. f,naily making herself audi
BILE.
"Phosphate!" he shouted in answer,
relieving his discontinue by strength
Of lung. IT'S 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 th!rty 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 tie air like a loathsome, SUI.
locating blanket ys7--s--- s--a------ss-a. Ts1z
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, "and that is to get
Z 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 handaped hands.
II have been trying for two years
to muster the courage to propose to
you. You must have seen how hard
hit I am
"You never said anything"
I'm saying It naw; 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, "Lnt we shall
come to a town befose long, that's Ger.
tain. Ministers AID licenses are cas-.
lily found. You nave no parents to
consult, nor hays I. and neither Of rs
are a minor. after we're married we
will come back and tell Prexy all
about It. He'll stand for 1t, think;
he's a fino fellow" he finished sto,ltly.
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
rather comfortable. manner. neverthe-
less.
what IN a piece Of old Sheepskin,
anyway" % challenged, compared
with our having each other?"
Il don't snow. Mr.. Cunningham"
very tremuleusiy.
Call me 'ram.' dear"
"Tom," niare TREMENDOUSLY still
then, with a nervous giggle. dear"
The locomotive, having drunk its
all, now pounded on with loud, tri.
umphant toots and sonorous puffs Of
exultation, betning its blissful cargo
into the golden unknown.