Year: 1879




rustled the leaves in the woods that sur
rounded Viola Nathek's house.


Above the fair girl who looked out of
a small dormitory window shone count
less stars; she might have seen Boots
and Orion had she looked up, but that
night the worlds Of heaven had no at
traction for her.


She was listening to a strange sound
borne from the west by the nocturai
breeze that chilled her check. ] might
have said with propriety, q succession Of
sounds, for it seemed as if a number Of
persons were chording wood or moving
heavy timber not far away Save this
noise the night was quiet, and she heard
without interruption from the window of
her boudoir.


81 believe it is in Gwynne's Cut, )"
said she at last to herself. Perhaps
some villain is obstructing the track for
devilish purposes. The Red Bird VIII
soon be due, and this is Eds trip down. :"


Her face grew tride paler as she
spoke, and moment later she stood
before the ancient wall-sweeper in one OF
the rooms.


The moonbeams stealing in at the
window fell on the face of the dial and
told Viola that it was II O'Clock.


''Fwelve. she rnurmrred What -
o'clock, and he whistles to me at half
past! My heavens what if the track is
obstructed in the cut -


With the last sword on her lips, she
turned and left the house.


At the gate she paused a moment and
listened. The sounds were still to be
heard, and she believed that they eman-
ated from spot in the cut near the
cattle guard. Then she started forward
again and crossed the meadows, that lay
between her home and her destination.


The stars looked down upon a little
object that glittered like silver in Viola's
hani. 1t was a revolver and her fingers
held i firmly. Once CT twice she glanc-
ed at it MS ii to satisfy herself that il was
1hore. Then she looked up again with
m air of determination.


She was the belle of the country she
inhabited. Her father was dead, and
With her widowed mother and a little
brother of y, sho dwelt in the humble
house won by the sweat of her fathers
brow.


\ railway station called Bcamont was
the only settlement near, and it was six
miles from her home.


She seldom went thither, for there,
and she could enjoy herself better at
home.


The track of iron was the making of
Beamort, for the road was new, and
towns were springing up all around the
| line. Viola could see the cars from her
window, and often had she sat there un-
til the flaming headlight of the midnight
express had appeared and disappeared.
An oneuing in the woods enabled her
to see the headlight for q moment, and
then the lighted windows Of the car.


Did the engineer know that she was
watching-that his engine gave two shrill
shrieks as it reached the opening two
shrieks that seemed to say, Viola! Viola
She always smiled when she heard the
sounds, and with smile lingering on
her face, or a flush, she would listen to
the rumbling of the train as 1t died away
beyond the monumental Bcamont.


The brace of shrieks, loud and shrill,
told her who drove that engine toward
the great city on the Mississippi's banks.
They recalled the day, one year since.
when the first engine she had ever seen
stopped at Beaumont, scarcely station
then.


The engineer was young and handsome;
as lie saw her examining the great driv-
ing wheels, and looking with wonder
ment upon the mighty beauties of his
iron pet, he leaped to the ground.


"a pretty piece of machinery, said he
! to her, and she goes like bird"


She blushed when she caught his eye,
and the sound of his voice thrilled her


Overcoming her timidity, he helped
her into his cosy apartment on the en-
gine, and explained to her the wonder
ful mechanism of this beautiful monster.
I'm


Then he said good bye, and she saw the
train move of, and his hat waving from
the engine was the last thing she saw as
the train darted around the curve.
4 week later she saw herself at the
station talking to him again. Their
meeting seemed purely accidental, and
no doubt it was such; but I am sure the
meetings that followed were not.