The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-05
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
THEIR RECONCILIATION.
BY CARL WILLIAMS

7 UST before the trestle was reached
the fat man in the corner seat rose
- and left the car, reducing the num-
Der of its occupants to two. The con-
ductor smiled softly to himself as he
gave the go-ahead signal.
He could remember the time when,
instead of sitting at opposite ends of
the car, as they were at present, the
man and the girl shared the same eros
seat on their daily ride into town.
Presently the suburban car rumbled
onto the trestle which cut 40 minutes
off the running time from the city of
Bayview by spanning two miles of salt
water on sturdy piles.
1t was an ideal summer afternoon and
no prettier spot could have been found
than Sound bay, but its beauties were
entirely lost on the two passengers,
though the motorman, to whom the
bay was an old story, regarded the
scene with pleasure
They had met today for the first time
since the dreadful night two weeks be-
fore when Lucy had broken her en-
gagement.
This had followed a trivial quar-
rel. Lucy had announced that she was
taking cooking lessons, and Tom had
leased her about it. The day had been
hot and she had taken his joking seri-
ously, with the result that when Tom
had come away the ring he had slipped
on her finger with such glowing hopes
rev weeks before was tucked in his
pocket.
Now, as the car rolled along, she
Kept her glance straight ahead through
the front windows, and Tom pretend
ed an absorption in the scenery as
viewed from the rear platform though
neither was conscious of the beauty
of the day.
The car had just reached the island.
midway in the channel, when the mo-
tor came to a stop, the car rolled on
few yards and halted. The motor
man climbed down to the trestle and
examined the fuse, then he climbed
back again and threw on the power.
A second time he climbed down and
on his return he tested the lights and
found that they would not burn. The
conductor made his way forward and
presently he too. dropped to the track
and made his way toward the still
open draw.
Inc motorman came inside and took
seat opposite Lucy, after admitting
Ignorance as to the cause of the DELAY
IT was not until the conductor came
Oack from the draw, where a telephone
was installed, that they knew the
worst.
The powerhouse is afire," he re-
ported. THE fire chief wouldn't let
his men go until the power was shut
on and here we are to stay until the
fre is put out and the switchboard is
repaired"
suppose that we can walk" sug-
gested Tom. THE ties are close To-
gether."
The conductor glanced through the
rear OF the car. you can if the walk
1ngs good on the water" he assented.
Both draws are open and they can't
close them until we get power again. "
How long do you suppose that we
snall have to stay here?" asked Lucy.
despairingly.
-Four or five hours" was the incon-
soling response. "The switchboard
burned once before and 1t took sly
hours to fix it."
but surely they Will send a boat
after u.s." suggested Lucy hopefully. |
IL you learned what the matter was /
there must have been a telephone at
the draw"
There is" admitted the conductor,
ebut Just now there amt no one at
the other end Of the line. / bet they're
burned out II amt a city line, you
know"
Lucy turned her attentica to the