The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1910-11-25

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-iegged beside her and
lift her golden, curly head until Il
rested upon his shoulder, holding 1t
there while the train continued to
gain speed and the complaining rattle
and clank grew into furious roar.
Poor little girl he muttered re.
morsefuily. 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 az II IN mute testimony to his
words. she held up two small palms
scratched and bleeding.
"oh. my dariing.r In his pain and
regret the words slipped out unheed
ed, Finding a handkerchief. be tore
It In strips and awkwardly wound the
pieces about her hands, Then. there
being no other way 20 secure the
bandages. he laid one palm upon the
other and held them so. During this
operation Il was necessary for Miss
Ferris 70 Sit up IN the iolting, 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
ais the beating of his heart would per.
nit. there's Jolly good way out OF
this for as II you--if youIl marry
me. lie tremhlcd before hts own
audacity and rested his burning creek
IN instant against the cool softness Of
her hair, forgetting the road that re.
duced his words to mere, flutterlng
brcaths
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 10 that awful smell7n she
repeated. finally making herself audi
bic
'Phosphntet he shouted In answer,
relieving hts diacnmftture by strength
of long. alts fcrtilIzert"
Tho trnin stopped sooner than he
had expected, but az d lonely water
tank without visible light or habita
tlon,
No escare here" no reported, look.
Ing down the pebbly sloFe Of an en-,
banRment which fen away from The
door Of their prison full thirty feet.
on. dear, that horrible odor." sigh.
"a tie girl.
Cunningham struck q match, The
car was empty but for themselves and
the smell o. the fertilizer which en-
yaloped the air iille loathsome, SUI
locating blanket
How can we ever exDlaln?" she
lamented
Cunningham saw his opening and
rushed hi. "There's only ono thlng
70 do, he remarked in an elaborately
matterot-fact tone, "and that is to get
married"
'What?' Sylvia's voice rose to
high note Of establishment
lis II so dista8teful TO your" he
asked, affecting a GOODNESS he did not
feel Then, reseatlng himself and TAX,
Ing the bandaged hands;
= have been trying for two years
10 muster the courage to propose to
you You must have seen how hard
hit am"
you never said anything"
.tl'm saying Il now; aud--you--care
| a little, don't you. Sylvia? It's the
best way"
Sylvia neither answered nor shrank
from his embrace. "a.
Il have no idea where this train is
| taking u.s." he continued, "but wa shall
come to town before long, that's GER
| tain Ministers and licenses are cas-
ily found. You have no parents to
| consult, nor have /. and mother Of It's
| are q minor, After we're married we
viii come back and tell Prexy all
about t. Hell stand for II, think;
/ he's fine fellow" he finished stoutly
| Sylvia began TO cry. silently at flrst
| then a little harder,
I'VE shall lose our diplomas, | Just
know" she sobhed. smuggling her
cheek against his vest pocket In
rather comfortable manner. neverthe-
less, .. .....
What is piece Of old sheepskln
anyway" he challenged. compared
with our having each other?"
Il don't know. MIR, Cunningham"
very TREMENDOUSLY.
Call me Tom dear"
Tom" more tremulously still
then, with a nervous gisgle. dear"
The locomotive. having drunk it's
MI, now pounded on with loud, tri,
umphant toots and sonorous purs of
exultation. bearing It's blissful cargo
into the golden unknown.