Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/226

214 carpet of the earth, for Goodlough, after hours, was tightening the reins over a handsome team. Miss Morgan was by his side, cuddling close in her furs to avoid the flying snow and the cold twilight. When the horses had grown quiet, so as not to require all his time and strength, the train-master turned to his fair companion, and reminded her that this was the nineteenth day of December.

"Yes," she said.

"It was a year ago to-day that I first saw you—and—"

"Turned me down," said the girl, darting a quick glance at the train-master, which was followed by a pretty blush.

"But I know you now," he went on, feeling himself at a disadvantage, "and I have but one regret, and that is—"

"That I am a woman."

"Never," he declared earnestly. "It is that I did not know you sooner."

"But you have said so. I heard you tell Mr. Creamer that you were sorry I was not a man."

"Then I was thinking only of your