St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-06-16
@est6ara tbe Gourss Of empire takss its Map."

When the scream OF locomotive
startled the horse, and he dashed fo,
ward at a full gallop.
There was rush, crash, and the,
were on the road side-the horse /
mangled corpse, the carriage thrown
violently back several feet. Mr.. Cooke
insensible on the grass, and Mrs. Day
ton on the other side of the road, un
| injured.
Mrs. Dayton sat up, and with q
nervous, hysterical laugh called hel
companions name. He did not an
swer. She went to his side. He was
still, white, insensible, and she thought
him dead. With wild cry, she raised
his head to her breast, calling his
name, Horace, dear Horace" and
begging him to look at her. Then she
looked round for help. There was no
house in sight. Mrs. Dayton was not
woman to spend many moments in
useless grief. She soon recovered
her presence of mind. Her vnaigrette
full of salts was hanging to her belt,
and she drew out the cork and tried
its effect. Her companion was only
stunned, and in a few moments be
was able to feel her hand on his brow,
hear her voice in his car. He kept
perfectly still, his eyes closed, and his
breathing low. The most delicious
ecstasy was holding him quiet. The
low, sweet voice, but which would
never before speak one word of prefer
ence for him, was now saying,
Horace, dear Horace, speak to me
once more" Then there fell upon his
face tear.
He family opened his eyes. The
next instant he regretted it, for he
found his head on the grass, and Mrs.
Dayton at least five feet from him.
Are you hurt 2" she said, quietly.
Had he been dreaming? Was this
the voice that said Horace, dear Hor-
ace?
He sat up. He was not hurt, only
stunned, and in few moments he
stood beside her. Her veil was down,
and he could not see her face. How
are we to get home?" she asked,
pointing to the dead horse and broken
carriage. Her voice trembled now,
and the wind blew aside her veil.
Her eyes bore traces of weeping.
Horace forgot his wager forgot
their awkward prcdicament, forgot
everything but his love, and he poured
it forth in broken, passionate words.
Her heart throbbed high with ecstasy,
for she was too great an adept i'll the
art of Irritation herself, not to be able
to distinguish the voice of real feeling
Yet as he went on, the scene with Mrs
Harrington occurred to her, and she
stified back the eager welcome her
heart gave his words, and said coldly,
" Enough, enough, Mr.. Cooke |
am sorry to cause you the loss of
thousand dollars, but Mrs. Dayton can
not accompany the Saratoga party as
Mrs. Cooke"
Stung to the quick, Horace stood ST
lent for moment Then in a low
voice he said,
l was an impertinent fool. Can
you ever forgive me ?"
"On one condition." she said smil-
ing.
Name it," was the eager reply.
" That you pay your wager, own
yourself beaten, and do not address
one word of love to me until we return
from Saratoga
"The first two | agree to, but the
last is very hard" he replied, taking
her hand.
How are we to get home ?" she
said, abruptly.
ave must walk to the nearest
house, and then hire a carriage
Now | will not tell you, reader, what
they said in that long walk, but |
know Horace paid his wager, con-
tesscd himself beaten, and bore the
banter Of his companions with great
philosophy. How the last clause was
kept know not, but early in the fol-
lowing fall, Mrs. Dayton became Mrs.
Horace Cooke.