The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-01-26

form near the siding. At the cad Of
the platform. as they turned about the
temporary station and stOrehouse, be-
fore them rose the bridge. The moon
was rising over the high hills that
sprang up from the steep clifflike bank
of the other side If the vast river.
They saw her round, red, full face
through an interlacing tracery of steel
The lower part of the bridge was still
IN deep shadow. Indeed, the moon had
just cleared the hills Of the opposite
bank of the great gorge cut by the
broad river flowing swiftly in It's dark
ness far below. At the farther end OF
the suspended arm attending far over
the water the top Of the traveller glis-
tened. The cantlever on the opposite
shore, incomplete aud sunk under Z
high rise of sand was still in shadow
and not yet diScernible.
unwittingly the woman drew little
near the man. He became more con-
sciOus than before of the light touch
of her hand upon his arm. Il was very
still where they stood. The shackS
Of the wOrkmen had been erected be-
low the bridge about a quarter of n
mile TO the right along the banks or
the little afTluent Of the main stream
They could hear faint but indiStin-
guishahle noises that yet Indicated hs-
manity coming from that direction.
The fires in the machine house and in
the engines were banked. Lazy curls
of smoke rose TO be blown away in the
hmitless areas of the upper air. In the
darkness all the unsightly evidences on
construction work were hidden.
"Oh," said the woman, drawing a
long breath, II don't wonder that yea
love it, Isn't it beautiful flung up in
the air that way2 One WOuld think it
wasn't steel but silver and gold and"
"Time was" said the man, when Z
loved a thing like that above every
thing except my father, hut now
In spite of herself the woman looked
ut him.
"But now2" she whispered as he hes
ltated, and then she turned her head
half fearful of his answer.
81 am almost afraid to say it, 20
said, lowering his voice to match her
own.
"A soldier of Steel" she said, and
afraidw
well then, all that was the second
now takes the third place"
sand before your father comes?"
But she did not give him time to an
swer "Come," she said, "let US 20 oUr
on the bridge"
Its a rough place for you. Those
little slippers you wear"
He looked down, and as il in obedi-
ence to his glance she outthruSt her
foot from her gown. II was not tho
SIN allest foot that ever upbore a wOm-
an. Quite the contrary. Which is not
saying it was too large, not at all, II
was just right for her height and fig
ure, and its shape and shoe left moth
ing to be desired.
"Never mind the slippers" she said !;
''they are stronger than they look.
They'll serve"
"But the distance between here and
the bridge is inches deep in dust"
Dust !" she exclaimed in dismay.
81 don't mind rough walking, but
dust"
II never thought of that" admitted
the man. "The fact is / have thought
Of nothing but you since l saw you,
but now Wen have to go back Or"
81 shall not 60 back" she answered
firmly.
He stepped down off the platform,
| and before she knew what he would he
at, he lifted her straight up in his
arms. He did not carry her like a
/ baby, he held her erect, crushed
against his breast, and before she ha$a
time to utter a protest, or even to say
n word, he started through the dusty.
roadway toward the bridgehead.
II was a strange position. She knew
( she ought 20 protest, but the words
would not come. Whilst she was try
ing to think Them up, they had crossed
the little desert that interviewed be-
tween the portal of the bridge and the
end of the platform. Then he set her
down gently.
'Thank you" she said simply that
was very nice of you. You are wOR-
derfully strong"
The moon, by this time, had passed
/ the floor level and the cross-braCinE
cast network of shadows over thera,
upon track and floor beams and string
ers. The silence Of the half-light, the
mystery of it all oppressed them a
little. 1t was with beating hearts that
they pressed on:
(To be continued)