"The Iron Horse"

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3286, 4 March 1926, Page 14

" The Iron Horse"

By Edwin 0- Hill

CHAPTER XXIX The Golden Hour. Clear and crisp the great day dawned, the tenth of May, Eighteen Sixty-nine, the marriage day of the railroads. Pla-fs snapped from a hundred staffs in the one street of Promontory Town, tents and frame shacks colorful and pay. Brass bands marched and counter -marched blaiing reveille. The townsmen turned out noisely, with much laughter, emotions pitched high. Promontory nestling in the shadow 7 of the moun. tain ridge which towered five thousand foc-t to the south, felt its exciting celebrity. Upon Promontory the eyes of a Nation wer 0 fixed. For news from Promontory a thouand operators waited tensely at the keys of the telepraph. At the track-ends in the valley the construction crews of both roads made ready for the ceremony, dressed in their best. “Mista Clockee s pets had responded to the sartorial urge, appearing in freshly laundered blouses, while Casement’s Irish swaggered in shirts of green, yellow and blue. Across the gap in the rails, where a short stretch of ties awaited the last two linking lengths of iron, the rival gangs chaffed each other, the Hibernian bosses of the Chinese taking up the gage for the smiling yellow men, flinging back to their own breed barbed retors to every rough jesc that came hurthhg over. The. morning sped, its early hours bringing hundreds out from Ogden in every description of vehicle and upon horseback, its latter end bringing the special trains from west and cast. President Stanford’s special, with the Chief Justice of California, the Governor of Arizona, some dignitaries of Nevada and the Government commissioners ot the road; excursion trains from Sacramento crammed with hurrahing Californl ans; Vice-President Durant’s special hearing himself and the courtly Sidney Dillon. Chairman of the Board of the Union Pacific; General Dodge, the Casements, Thomas Marsh and his daughter ,and many guests from the East. Over all was the holiday spiri]t the flush of success. From Doctor Durant, in his black velvet coat and his brilliant tie to the trackworkers in the worn and faded overalls the same thrill of excitement brightened eyes and loosened tongues. More than fifteen hundred'Bpeclta. tors hurrahed lustily as Mr. Stanford of the Central, followed by his officials and guests. left his private train and walked forward to’shake hands with Vice-President Durant, of the Union Pacific. The military band from Fort Douglas played "Hail to the Chief,” and cheers swept back to the frowning heights ot Promontory Summit. Photographers, appearing and disappearing under the black cloths which canopied their cameras, shouted appeals for silence, quiet, commanding the historic moment. More trains arrived from East and Wesjt., depositing more bands, more shouting sightseers; Mormon bishops from Salt Bake City, newspaper Cor. respondents, the Gentile Governor of Utah. Flowing from the trains all merged into a cosmopolite throng, dividing to the right and left of the unbridged gap between the roads. As the hour approached the crowd became curiously silent, awed by the realization that millions throughout the land were waiting for the one word which would set a nation cheering. There was scarcely a sound except for the shuffling tread of the Chinese who were preparing ithe track for the final touch, span. King the gap with one rail, leaving the south side vacant. Back in the thick of each intent ihrong the official engines chugged impatiently, the Jupiter-60 of the Central Pacific, marked by its flaring smokestack, and the Rogers.ll9 of the Union Pacific, with its straight stack and crowning spark-arrester, both brilliant with polished brass work and glistening filagree. Davy, nerve.strung, trembling with impatience, leaned against th t > Jupifter’s cowcatcher, searching Iho crowd across the gap. Presently his gaze found what it craved th e face of Miriam. His heart beat fast as he feasted his hungry eyes. She had not seen him yet . A young man at her shoulder, a same and debonair Easterner, in high hat, and tightly buttoned frock coat, was bending over her, engaging her. Davy prayed for her to look toward him, yet dreaded the instant their eyes would meet. What would she do? He dared not think. But. he could not wrest his gaze from her half-averted face, so lovely under the drooping brim of her bonnet. He thrilled at the sweetness and beauty of her, at the slender grace of her. It. may have been that his adoring gaze, the silent, prayer, caused her .presently to turn from the exquisite young gentleman from New York, to lift her proud little head and look straight at him. In that insitant his heart stopped beating, (hen pounded tumultously as Joy could never be equalled in a lifetime sent his blood surging. For Miriam’s eyes wore sending to him that message no man could fail fo understand, the electric message of forgiving love. Her upturned face was bright wiith it. A moment, and a small gloved hand fluttered into the air like a winging bird.

“Davy! You belong over here, Davy!” Tears came to his eyes, priceless tears., He had no shame for them.

A Romance of East and West

He would have shown them to the world about. But he could not speak. He could only gaze, at her, putting into his gaze the adoration that was carying him to paradise. With m* lips he formed words, inarticulate sounds: , . , “My dearest! Wait. My duty ifa here. Until the rails are joihod. Wait for me. Miriam, Miriam! Sh e understood. In her instant nod there was the symbol of a lifetime of love and trusit. F-rom that moment they two w’ere but vaguely aware or the drama of history which was forming about them. They had eyes for each other only. Sounds of voices in the ponderous parade of prepared oratory, sounds of cheering, of blows struck by hammer upon nielal more cheering ,came to their oars dully for what they heard was the wonderful voices of (their own eager hearts. So they were standing when Gene, val Dodge brought about silence and presented a minister from Massachusetts who called down the blessing of Providence upon the roads and their makers. A crosstie of native mahogony. laurel, was placed in position .the last itouch of wood. The Pacific’s two rails, the Central s proudly caricd by a gang of Chinese in fresh blouses, their pigtails glist-c-ning: the Union Pacific’s by a squad of its picked Irish, were laid in place. At the right and left, two telegraph operators bent over their keys hurling irito the ether the signal to a thousand cities;

“When the last spike is driven v>will say ■JJone:' Watch for the signal of the blows of the hammer! The Massachusetts dominie endec his prayer, and the telegraph sounders took up their feverish clicking: “Almost ready! Hats off!”

In front of the telegraph and newspaper offices throughout America this signal was repeated. The whole Nation stood intent. President Stanford spoke, dignified, handsome, masterful. Dodge replied. Again the instruments dot-dashed their message to millions: “Wo have got done praying. The spike is about to be presented.” Eager hands brought forward the precious spikes, a gold spike from California, a silver spike from Nevada, a spike of alloyed gold, silver, and iron from Arizona, spikes of silver and gold from Idaho and Montana, and a silver-headed maul. To this was attached a wire which led to the telegraph circuit. There were more speeches. The crowd shifted impatiently, eager for the climax. Cheers burst forth, then a thunderous wave of shouting. “All ready now,” warned the operators .talking to the whol e United Staes. “The spike wiil soon be driven. The signal will be the three dots for the commencement of the blows.”

The spikes of alloy and of silver were set in their holes and driven home by 'the representatives of the states. Gracefully, Doctor Durant hammered home the golden spike which symbolized the Union Pacific’s completion. To President Stanford went the honour of driving the last spike. He approached his task nervously, feeling not only the eyes of the group about him but the fixed gaze of millions. He struck and missed the gleaming head of the spike, hitting only the (tie. But the telegraph instruments clicked an excited response. 1 To President Grant in th 0 White House and throughout the na'tion flashed the magic “Done!” Fire bells clanged in San Francisco and two hundred and twenty guns roared from th e forts. Sacramento exploded with uproarious delight. The big guns boomed in Omaha. In New 7 York the bells of Trinity clamored in "Old Hundred,” while below in the shafts of sunshine from (tinted, figures of saints and holy apostles the people chanted the “Te Deum.” The Liberty Bell rang in Philadelphia . In Chi. cago a procession sang its way for four miles along the lake front. The whole country resounded. While the Jupiter and the OneNineteen, shrieking their joy of meeting, nosed slowly together to bathe in the champagne which spouted from two shattered magnums, while the bands in determined conflict crashed out “The Star Spangled Banner,” while Stanford and Durant stood a(,t the joining of the rails with clasped hands, while the crowd hurrahed mightily and the official photographers raised beseeching pleas, Davy leaped to Miriam’s outstetched arms. Her pretty toy of a parasol fell disregarded and was trampled into the dudt by hurrying feel. Around his neck wont her soft arms, drawing his face to hers. Their Ups met and clung, Davy holding her to him fiercely, bruising her soft bosom against his throbbing heart. In that moment disappeared every dark and ugly misunderstanding that had tor. lured their lives. Without shame ,os frankly as the first man and the first woman, utterly oblivious of the staring eyo%a round them, (they held each oilier close, mouth to mouth, eyes misty, their souls on the threshold of their dreams. It was Mirfiam who drew away, very gently, still clinging to jth e arm of her man. Her wonderful eyes bathed him with radiant love. Davy spoke, murmurously .words tumbling from his lips.

“My beautiful, my beautiful! My lovely, lovely girl! I can’t realise It! I have been such a fool! I was cruel, brutal beastly! I left you without a word! ’ And you forgive mol Oh,

Miriam, toll me, toll me over and over again! You forgive me!’ “Oh, my boy, there’s nothing to forgive,” sh e said softly. “I did not understand everything clearly. You frightened me, hurt me. It seemed you took my love cheaply. I was wrong, I know. Pride, Davy, miserable, miserable pride! With both of us. We must watch it. I am not an angel, Davy, my dearest.” “You are a blessed angel,” he whispered in her car, his lips brushing the velvet of it. "A blessed, blessed angel!” Marsh approached with Doctor Durant and General Dodge. The lovers drew aparlt, Miriam’s face flaming, transfigured with new beauty, the pure joy of her love. They were three wise men, gifte.d with swift understanding. But had they been much less wise they could not have failed to read the rapture of Ithe young faces before them, Marsh, with his arm around his daughter, gave Brandon his hand.

“Doctor Durant,” ho said, “this is the young man of whom I was speaking. David Brandon, a very old friend and about to assume” —he paused, eyes twinkling—“a somewhat closer relationship. Davy, I have ithe honor of introducing you to the Vice-Presi-dent of the Union Pacific, General Dodge, you have met.”

Durant, bowing in his courtly way. always the personification of polish and poise, gave Davy his hand and studied the young man with a shrewd and appraising eye. “Both Mr. Marsh and General Dodge have been (telling m e the story of what you did for the Union Pacific, Mr. Brandon. It was a service which can scarcely be measured in terms of money, in dollars. The pass which your father discovered and which you relocated in such dramatic fashion was the most vital, single problem connected with the building of the road. Your splendid work saved us weeks, months, perhaps, of invaluable time, when the Na,tlon was clamouring for speed. “I’m not offering you a reward, Mr. Brandon. I am offering you n, career. In the years to come, the Union Pacific will need men of your stamp, square men, resolute men, loyal men. I take more pleasure than I can express in inviting you to accept the superintendency of the mountain division. Mr. Marsh assures me that you are well qualified. General Dodgy corroborates jthat opinion. My friend Crocker, who has just extracted 10 000 dollars from my pui-sc, warns me on pain of physical vio. U-nce, not to tamper with you. That decides me, Mr. Brandon, If for no other reason than that I owe Crocker one, I mean to have you.” Davy stared breathless. He could not believe his ears. To become superintendent of the great mountain division! His own country! And at this time! His eyes found Miriam’s bright with pride. He tried to make a fitting reply, but the words would not come. He could only take Doctor Durant’s cool white hand with an awkward: “I accept, sir—l am proud”

“That settles It,” said Doctor Durant, swiftly. “I turn you over to Mr. Marsh. He will discuss your duties with you, issu e the necessary instructions —all (that.” With a graceful gesture he dismissed details. “I am glad to know you, Mr. Brandon. We will keep an eye on you In New Y r ork.

He bowed, caught Dodge’s eye and led the way toward his private car. Miriam’s eyes flashed proudly as she caught Davy’s hand. “Oh, it's wonderful!” she cried.

‘:Davy it’s the lifework you have longed for. It was what your father would have wished. Its heavenly. I couldn'jt bear to marry) anybody ex. cept a railroad man.”

“What’s this?’’ said Marsh. “What’s this I hear from my shameless child?’ "Oh, daddy, we do love each other. W e have both made mistakes, but that’s over, forever and ever.” ’'Now let me see,” said Marsh, v. ith pretended solemnity. "This Is the tenjth of May. Between now and the first of June there are only twenty days. Any other day than the first of June is quite unthinkable. Yet how can you assemble a bride’s trousseau in three weeks?” “Trousseau?” cried Miriam. "Who wants a (trousseau? If Davy will have me I’ll marry him in my most tattered old rags.” They dined in Marsh’s car that evening, Uncle Toby’s black face shining as he wailed upon his young missus-with special care and pressed

"young: massa" to eat. By special invitation Mr Patrick Casey came to ihe car, with Schultz’ and young Dinny at his heels. Casey, with the re. splendent glory of service for both roads had been paying supercilious visits to the U.P. camp, escorted like a mandarin by a grinning squad of his own celestials. "Sure an’ they’re but there) now. the Oryintil divvies. ’Tis 'Bossee Pattce.’ from morniu’ till night, ‘Bossee Patten,’ grinhin’ like yeliy apes. But they’re byes, Miss Miriam. What’s thfs I hear, Davy, about yer becomin’ prisident of the U. Pay? Whatever? it Is, Mister Brandon, ye’ll not iave me behind. Well ye know, ye laughin’ divvle. that, ye’d amount to nawithin’ widout me!’* "You’re going, Pat,’ assured Miriam, and the Irishman grinned his inimitable impudent grin. ** 'Tie plain to see who's the boas

of the new carperation.” he said. "Resthrain yourself, Davy. Don’t strike me, you brute.’ ’ . He fled from the car, shoujting orders to his escort. Davy and Miriam arose from the table and went to the platform. Lights gleamed from the windows of the private'cars .and the sounds of revelry rose and fell. As they stood, his arm around her, her hand in his, the climbing raon was gioryfying .the night. Softly, secretly, the golden goddess leveled y her wand at the glistened pathway v. hich stretched straight before them, the shining pathway to the future, the pathway of love. THK END.