Year: 1872

Il
of a northern train on the Alabama
d Chattanooga Railroad at the
pretty Georgian station OF Brandon
its passengers had their interest
excited by the appearance of an
unwonted commotion among the
people gathered on the platform and
around the depot, loungers, villagers
and trainmen all chattering over
some topic of common intelligence
in style indicating the liveliest
feeling in regard to some unusual
matter, and the travellers eagerly
inquired the meaning of it all.


They were told that just before
the arrival of their train, young
man and a young woman, mounted
upon foaming thoroughbreds, had
come galloping up to the station at
top speed to catch the cars there,
followed by the fair ones father in
full cry; and upon finding the train
not yet arrived, had swept wildly
by on the road to the next station,
with their pursuer still hotly on
their track. 1t was plain that the
young people were eloping, and
unless they could reach the next
station by the time the cars did,
and be aboard and off before the
elder rider came up with them,
would surely be captured and taken
back to punishment.


This was enough. With one
voice the now sympathetic passen-
gers called upon their conductor to
spur the iron horse to the rescue,
and that official gave his engineer
the signal to ''pull her wide open,
and make extra time," amid the
uproarious cheers of the station.
Away thundered the train after
runaways and wrathful sire, and
when about a mile out of Brandon,
came in sight of the full chase on
the turnpike road, running side by
side with the track. Instantly
every window in the car was crow
ded with heads, the platform
swarmed with wavers of hats and
handkerchiefs, and the whole travel
ing company entered intensely into
the spirit of the exciting scene, like
an ancient audience of knights and
ladies at tournament.


As they came up with the pursuer
and passed him, says the Meridian
Guzette, it was noticed that he rode
large, very fine horse, much more
powerful than were the animals
bearing the tugitivcs, and it's every
leap under the whip and spur made
the distance between them less.
Youth and maiden piled whip also
without stint, and kept good lead,
but upon overtaking them in turn,
the train passengers saw by the
Strengthened necks and painting
sides that their good steeds could
not bear the pace much longer. The
girls disheveled tresses streamed
back in the breeze like banner of
golden threads, the hatless youth
encouraged her and the horses with
cheering shouts, and the passengers
cheered both in the heartiest way
possible.


The locomotive was gagged to
keep alongside at first; but presently
the overtaxed animals of the lovers
plainly slackened their speed, and
the unwelcomed figure of the pursu-
ing sire drew ominously nearer.
Then the excitement of the trav-
elers rea, he'd fever heat; men
shouted and swung hats, women
screamed and the engine whistled-
and all to no avail, for the horses
could do no more. A moment it
seemed that parental vengeance
must win the day; and than, by
happy inspiration, the passengers
roared from the train to stop and
take the fainting lovers aboard.


Down with the brakes it was in
an instant; the cars were brought to
the quickest possible halt, and
youth, maiden, saddle-bags and
carpet-sacks were dragged on board
by friendly hands just as the stern
oiu iHoA OH C"o SAC"o Ay"S HoAo oO3
came near enough in his cloud of
dust to be heard ordering surren-
der. Then the whistle screamed
again and away flew the train
like mad, leaving the enraged father
to shake fist and pistol impotently at
it's cheering, living freight.


Of the adventurous twain thus
enabled to win the race at last, the
lover is only fifteen years old and
tho sweetheart thirteen. Disem-
barking at the next station, under
the hearty congratulations of their
numerous roscuers, they were mar
ried at the first parsonage, and went
back to their home as one ON the
southward-b bound train. AS for the
distanced sire, if he had never got
married himself he would never
have lost such race.


--@->-N


Talent and Tact.


Talent is serious,g grave, sober and