The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-06
THE EVENING STORY
Hearts by Freight.
(By Eleanor Williams Youngm

| Hearts by Freight.
| (By Eleanor Williams Youngman.)
| Really you must not walk with
me, Mr.. Cunningham. You know the
penalty
What! After trailing you all the
way from the campus? After hang
| ing about for two hours waiting for
you to come out of the house? What
| kept you so long in there?"
My. graduating gown 1 was nav
| ing a fitting. But, Mir. Cunningham,
| the hour is too late for
'Now, see here, Miss Ferris, it's too
J late for a girl to go alone past these
| freight yards-it's not safe even early
in the evening with hobos coming in on
every train. I'll drop behind as soon
| but you needn't worry. for this is the
night of Stuffy's faculty spread. Ev-
erybody's there from Prexy to Brainy
| Bowers"
'Why do you boys call some Of the
professors such horrid names?''
"Who. Stuffeldt and Bowers? Why.
they like it. Sure they do. 1 can
prove it. Yon remember"
"Sh-h-h, I hear some one"
ct don't"
Hush, they're there, on the other
side of that car-no. this one. Per-
haps it's tramps. Oh. Mr.. Cunning
ham, it sounds like-Oh, mercy"
at is! Prexy, or I'm goat! Well,
| LII De
| From behind a box car on their
right came distinctly, in nervous ac-
cents, the words:
ct suggest that we wait, Professor
Bowers; that engine is approaching
with considerable speed
"Come on across, DR.. Cramer." an
| swered a second voice.; plenty of
time" -4Es
"Heayens, they're coming around on
this side.'' Cunningham suddenly re-
I,Tf I,a I,-f1 n11f7x n
Recognition would be certain. Here
he whispered in desperation, climb
in here Quickp
Laying vigorous hold of the girl he
swung her I'D to the open door of the
empty car, whittier he speedily fol-
lowed.
Creeping noieelessly into the shadow,
they waited, fearing to breathe. From
an engine somewhere in the yards is
sued loud, leisurely grunts. Present.
ly DIR. Cramer spoke again. this time
within a foot Of the door of their hid
I ing place.
ers," he said. st should like to wait
and watch them pick up this car"
Cunningham arose to take an in
vestigating peep to see what car was
meant, when there was terrific
crash, and, living prone upon his face,
he knew. Scrambling up, he CROPPED
about in the gloom for the girl. The
car had begun to move rapidly by the
time he had found her and raised her
to her feet. Grasping her arm, he
started toward the door when a sec
ond collision. harder, it seemed, than
the first, brought them groVellng to
the hard, gritty floor.
A second time Cunningham, like
truth, arose; but with extreme caution.
Getting upon his knees, he reached
forth his hands for his companion.
She was quite near and trembling vi
oIently. The motion of the car grew
slower and finally stopped.
"Come,' he urged, getting to his
feet and trying to lift her. 1--WE can
get out now
"Im afraid" she cried. making no
effort to rise. The next moment the
car jerked dizzily, and, with loud
clanking and rattle, began jolting
slowly over the rails.
eve must jump" he shouted above
the noise. dragging her to the door.
"No!" she screamed. terrified, I'm
afraid!'
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'z impulse was to drop
her to the ground by main force; but
when he laid hold upon her shaking
shoulders what he actually did was
to drop croxs-legged beside her and
lift her golden, curly head until it
rested upon his shoulder, holding it
there while the train continued to
gain speed and the complaining rattle
and clanl1 grey into furious roar.
Poor little girl he muttered re-
morsefully what ar 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 ana bleeding.
'Oh, my darling!" In his pain and
regret the words slipped out unheed-
ed Finding a handkerchief, he tore
it in strips and awkwardly wound the
pieces about her hands. Then, there
being no other way to secure the band
ages, he laid one palm upon the other
alton it was necessary for Miss Fer
ris to sit up in the jolting, swaying
car unsupported, but when, upon fin
ishing the task Cunningham again slip
ped his arm about her shoulders and
drew her head to it's former position,
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-
init, there's a 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 cheek
an instant against the cool softness of
her hair, forgetting the roar that re-
duced his words to mere, fluttering
breaths.
Sylvia lifted her head: Cunningham
saw her lips moving and bent till her