Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 167: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

158 a bend in the river, and then it was a mile to Madrid. Dorothy had no timidity about cross- ing the high trestle, especially with Dykeman beside her, for that had been her favorite route to and from the depot and town since her arrival at her aunt’s. It is hardly necessary to say that Dykeman passed a most enjoyable eve- ning, though he did find that Mrs. Handiford was “a great talker,” as Dorothy had said, and became a little tiresome after a while. Mrs. Handiford took the opportun- ity to hand him the amount he had ex- pended in behalf of Dorothy’s mother, which he did not accept without many protests. Then he suggested to Doro- thy that he should return the deed she had sent him, as he had not been able to make any inquiry concerning it ; but she requested him to keep it in his safe for security, though she was doubtful if it had any value. Dash agreed to do so, but mentally determined he would at once get some one to advise him how to proceed to find out if the deed had been made void by the recording of a later one on the same property. It was a reasonable hour when he left the aunt and niece, but fortunately it was a moonlight night, so he could return over High Bridge, instead of having to make the long detour by the country road. He realized then, with only himself for company, that even the shorter distance was fully a mile. This was only the beginning of many other visits that followed, and he was not always so fortunate as to return over High Bridge. Some nights were pitchy dark or stormy, and if he had not gone down on horseback, or in a buggy, he was compelled to return afoot by the long country road. He would have taken the High Bridge even then, with a lantern to show the way, but Dorothy entreated him not to. It did not take it long to become gen- THE ARGOSY. . . erally understood throughout the vil- lage that he was Dorothy’s “ steady company.” He'tried to be moderate in his calls, and not be like the young man who called on his fair one seven nights in the week, and wished there were eight; but it must be admitted the agent went regularly and often. Dorothy, too, was seen quite fre- quently at the station, but, as she al- ways gave a plausible excuse for being there, it is not for us to say she had any other motive for going. Bouquets of flowers were sent daily to the agent’s office, and the night op- erator reveled in a veritable bower of sweet smelling posies, which he told the train men fis girl had sent him. As he expressed it, in speaking of Dyke- man and Dorothy, “the boss was as happy as a fly in a honey pot.” As time passed, Brakewood Fors- dyke seemed to have given up any as- pirations he had had toward Miss Or- loff, ‘and actually made overtures toward Dykeman for a closer and more familiar acquaintance. Possibly he realized that the agent held the winning hand of “hearts,” and had _ sense enough to know when he was beaten. As Forsdyke approached him in a proper spirit, Dykeman was only too glad to meet him half way, for he was the last one to cherish resentment against any one very long. Possibly it. was because his heart was stirred with a “sentiment,” and probably he felt so secure in the affections of the fair girl that he thought he could afford to be magnanimous. | It is said that “ all the world loves a - lover,” so why should not a lover love the whole world, when his heart 1s run- ning over with the sentiment ? Dykeman and the superintendent’s clerk finally got upon very good terms with each other, though not intimate, and everything moved along smoothly for several months at the station. Then an incident occurred that led up to most startling and disagreeable results. ECORRIC OO© cS eo