Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-09-23

During the next month that cab ride
was repeated three or four times OH
sne excuse and another, but the en-
gineer grinned and said nothing. What
might be called clandestine CORE
spondenee followed. Perhaps there
were ciandestine meetings In the park
when Dave had his days of. The very
fact that an employee OF railroad
dares to fall In love with the daughter
Of the general manager 10 a clandes-
tine act.
The general manager had not yet
hunted up the son Of his old friend,
being busy about those new cars and
having to smooth down the backs OF
several directors who believed that the
road was going into bankruptcy, when
the motive power department promot-
ed the fireman to be engineer and gave
him local of more Importance.
1t can't be said that Dave and Nettie
were waiting for this thing to happen
that something else might be brought
about, but they were not long in taxi
ing advantage of 1t. The silly young
couple planned IN elopement.
1t was given away by Miss Nettie's
maid, and the general manager laid
his little plans accordingly. The girl
and her maid were allowed to depart
for Royalston In the cab OF Dawes en-
CINE, and at the first stop the G. M.
left the passenger car in which he had
been ensconced and appeared, in the
cab.
The way the maid shrieked out, add
ed to the way the daughter turned pale
ard the engineer turned red, was suf-
flcient evidence of guilt. The @. M.
meant to be an avenging father. He
meant to compel his daughter to faint
away with remorse and the engineer
to drop on his knees and beg pardon
for living until he could reach the next
station and get Off his engine. Intact,
the G. M. had a gun with him, and
there is never any telling what a man
who doesn't know the muzzle of a re-
volver from the butt may do when he
gets to playing heroics.
young LADY, he had begun in his
sternest tones when Dave interrupted
to take all the blame. While he was
taking 1t he gave his name and spoke
of his father
"Then-then you are David Holmes?"
asked the G.. M. as he put up his gun.
81 can identify myself satisfactorily,
SIR"
"Then why haven't you done so long
ago2"
II wanted to succeed by my own eff
forts, and 1 think 1 have done fairly
WELL"
"Y-e-s, 1 think you have" said the
official as he looked at his daughter
with grim smile on his face.
Father, Dave has invented a new
firebox for engines, and it's bound to
be a great success" said Nettie, with
an appealing look.
"And is this clipping in an engine
cab one of his inventions as well2"
"And, papa, dear, he has invented a
new kind of frog-one you can't get
your foot fast in and be run down.
and he's got jack by which one man
can lift FIVE tons, and you don't know
how much coal and. Oil and labor he's
going to save. He's one of the bright
est and smartest and dearest
"That will do for just now" inter,
rupted the father as he laid a hand on
her arm. young man, do you think
you could find my house If you tried
very hardT
81 do, SIR" replied Dave.
'ThenI will get of at the next sta
ton with the girls and be looking for
you tomorrow evening. / believe you
have the evening off. I want to talk
with you about these new fireboxes,
frogs, jacks and Opponents"
Dave found the house without going
far astray, and there was a converse
ton. The waybills of the G. and s.
road don't show whether the couple
had to wait three months or six, but
they referred to David Holmes a year
later as division superintendent, and
he did not stop there. When the mar
riage took place the fathers face wore
a smile as he kissed the bride, but the
bride pouted and said:
Now, papa, how mean Of you to
spoil our romance and make us get
married In this stupid and old fashion
ed Wayw