The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-10-16

more free and cordial day by day, and
threw me into an ecstasy that is always
felt by one who inagines himself on a
smooth course of true love. 2. d.
Zone morning 1 occupied my accus-
toned position, and at the usual time
discovered Irene's carriage approaching.
Something, however, seemed to be
wrong. The horses were coming at nn
unusual rate of speed, and the coach
man was standing up in front of his
seat, apparently using his utmost exer.
tions to control them,
"After moments anxious watching,
| saw, with thrill of horror, that the
fiery. steeds were running away. Irene
was in dangerl
'Full Of fright and distress, on her
account, I rushed to the roadside. The
horses came flying along at mad
speed, needing net The energetic pull
ing on the reins by the driver nor his
frantic shouts at them.
"My course was determined upon in
an instant. braced my nerves for
desperate struggle, and awaited the ap-
proach of the running team. They
we're soon close upon me, and sprang
forward and seized the reins close to
the bit. clung with an ironlike grip,
and lifted myself up from the ground
to avoid being trampled upon, as well
as to bring dead weight on the horses
heads. Fortunately, my grasp was a
sure one, and / was able to retain my
hold firmly. The animals were obliged
to succumb, and soon stopped, painting
and reeking with perspiration.
The driver, as soon as he could,
sprang from his seat, and came to my
relief. He began to pour out profuse
thanks, but /, not needing him, ran
around to the side of the carriage. 1
was out of breath, and somewhat blind
ed with dust, but unhurt.
Irene sat upright, clinching the seat,
with wildness in her eyes, and a
frightened flash on her cheeks, that
made her dazzlinglys beautiful. As
soon, however, as she realized that the
danger was past, the color fled from her
face, and she sank back, almost over.
come.
Thank heaven you are safe, I
calculated.
""Thank you also,' she said, in
trembling accents. 'Oh, was fearfull
How brave and prompt you were i
"She gave me a melting look that
penetrated to the very marrow of my
bones.
"'Don't speak Of that 1 said. 1T
is enough to know that you are unhurt.
"'Is it, indeed?' she said, in sort
of shy surprise.
"'Your safety would repay us for a
dozen broken bones, I rejoined, with
fervor, let alone this slight sprinkling
of dust. What caused the horses to run
away?'
"'I cannot imagine. They are
spirited, but seldom fractions. Some
thing must -,haye frightened them. /
can never feel grateful enough to you.
"' Grateful Please do not use that
word. 1t is cold, rs compared with my
Joy at seeing you unharmed.'
"'I Is my safety then, so much
She hesitated at blushed.
"'It is everything to me- I said.
Are you not afraid to continue to ride,
now?'
"'Ob, no ! The horses, think, will
make no more trouble. James usually
manages them with perfect ease. L
think he must be slightly intoxicated
this morning.
"Then you must not think of in
trusting yourself with him again If
you insist on finishing your ride, you
will at least permit me to accompany
you.
"' If it will not be inten'upting your
morning siesta, she said, hesitatingly,
but, I imagined, with a very wistful
look.
81 assured her that it would be a
most charming interruption, and, wait
ing only long enough to brush some of
the dust from my clothes, sprang into
the carriage beside her.
"When we were under way, 1 in
formed her that our daily greeting, as
she passed my favorite resort on the
beach, was bright spot in each morn
ing of my life.
"She opened her eyes in innocent
wonder, and expressed doubt that
such little thing as that deserved such
extravagant mention.
81 assured her that it was not little
thing - that a kind look from her
was Il very great thing in my estima-
tien.
"She then suggested that was given
to fiattery.
"I disclaimed any such propensity
with earnestness, and then she became
pensive and thoughtful.
"After that we became more conf
dental, and talked in low tones.
"Ah, that ride i wished it might
never come to an end But it did, and
after assisting her to alight and bidding
her good morning, l walked about with
a swelling exultation and buoyant Joy
that knew no bounds.
"After that was with Irene much.
We walked, and rode, and sat together,
and occasionally had long, solitary,
blissful interviews, that seemed to me
like glimpses of some higher exist
ence.
"To be sure, my public attentions to
her were little in excess of those she
received from some others-she would
show no preference that might cause re-
mark. But if was occasionally piqued
at this, walk in the moonlight, or a
half hours tete-a-tete in a solitary cor
ner of the verandah, would set matters
right, and elevate me to an exalted
point of beatitude. And so my infatu-
alton waxed stronger and approached
its zenith.
"One evening-I shall never forget
it-Irene came to me in trouble. L was
sitting on the verandah, taking my GUS
tomary smoke, at an hour when most of
the guests had fled to their rooms to
make their evening toilettes.
Suddenly heard footsteps ap-
preaching, and the sound of voices en-
gagged in hostile discussion. One voice
woe tbaf of n ,noo and the otbar xr,o @