The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-12-11

EN- and one week when she was sick, an
KEEP in the house, you en- believe it or
not, but it's fact them creatures lost
flesh. She bralds up their front hair for
'em, and ties it with RED ribbon one
day, and then the next day she upbraids
it, and it's crimped, all in the fashion,
you'll understand. As they was comm
to party to-day they've got their hairs
crimped."
Bnt alas for Caesar, and slack for Alex
ander. 1t was terrible piece OF work
that you came near doing that day,
though we girls never shall feel that you
were much to blame.
You see this was what happened.
We were all tucked into the wagon as
tight as figs in box, that afternoon,
ready t. start for home, when Loua call
ed out that she had left her parasol. She
must get out. and run up to the tower to
get It.
"You Just Keep y'r sitting said Obed.
"I'll fetch yer umberill;" and he started
for the tower.
It was abont ten rods off. The tower
and stable are built in a small cleared
space at the top Of the mountain. All
around and ibclow are thick old woods and
great rocks.
Obed had just gone out OF sight when
Quecny gave little scream, and put her
hand to her eyes. Something has stung
me-" she SAID, and then that instant while
we were all looking at her it happened.
The horses both reared, then gave a
r,11n~o tho E,,a I'd IN, ~
the ground with great leap, and sooner
than I can tell it, we were all being borne,
at an awful speed, down that narrow
rocky road.
glanced toward Cesar and Alexander,
and saw terrible pair of wild animals.
I looked toward the girls, and saw two
rows of white, frightful faces.
The reins were dragging on the ground.
Some Of us were shrleking, "Whoa!" A
few were getting ready to jump. All
this in al instant, and then, suddenly,
above the noise Of the wheels and of ev-
erything else, we heard voice ring out
clear:
"Sit still, girls think I can stop the
horses"
Itwas Ray Tinkham, Of all peoIle in
the world.
She stood up with steady look in her
eyes.
must explain here that the road from
the tower runs down a gentle slope for
half mile, and there comes short turn.
Beyond tina: is Long hill, the steepest,
most dangerous part Of the way. Kate
seized my hand and whispered:
IF the horses are not stopped before
we get to the turn, we shall all be killed.
Ray was climbing over the drivers
seat. She always could climb anywhere,
like cat. She didn't pause an instant,
but she called back to me:
''Natty Brock, put on the brakes. The
rest Of you sit still, only pray as hard at
you cam
I sprang to the drivers seat, and
iammed down the handle of the brakes
prayed, too. Ibelieved should ncve,
pray again.
saw and thought hundred things al
once. I saw the great tree trunks and the
huge black rocks close upon US. l re-
membcred the clematis over the front
door at home, and wondered who would
tell my father that I was dead.
Meanwhile Ray was over the dashboard
! and down with her feet over tho whiffle
| tree.
How she did it l shall never know, bu
the next we saw of her, she was creeping
along the pole between the horses, steady
ing herself with her both hands on thei
| backs.
The horses went tearing on like wilt
horses, their m anes flying, and their grea
bodies quivering all over.
Every instant the girls were becoming
more excited.
Queeny was holding Mrs. BANDS cous
in with both hands, to prevent her leap
ing out. Kate cried:
I'VE are almost to the turn. What j
Ray doing2 She will brighten the horse
worse than everp' and she covered he
eyes.
The brow of the hill was not fort,
feet off. Far behind, We could hea
Ooed's voice screaming to the horses t
stop. The keeper of the tower was flynn,
toward us.
But they were too far away to do an,
good. There seemed not one chance in
Thousand for us. But that very instant
when We all believed we were lost, "
looked at Ray.
We saw her reach forward with on
hand, and grasp the reins which joine,
the heads Of the horses together. Jus
where the connecting straps crossed on
another, her fingers clutched them.
One sharp, fierce jerk Of those grea
heads backwards, and the horses slacken
ed their speed, and in an instant NOR
stopped.
| The wagon stood still, although til
horses were plunging yet. But tina
small hand of Rays held on with
deathlike grip, and in moment NOR,
Obed caught the horses by their heads.
His face was as white as ever it couI
be, and he spoke one word only. 1twa'
."Hornets!'
! The horses had been stung in 1nor
than twenty places. They we're uaha1
messed at once, and we we're all out O
the ground directly.
BANDS cousin distinguished herself b
1ainting away.
~ don't blame the horses in the least,
Queeny said. "One sting is bad enough,
and she showed where her eye was b,
ginning to swell. 1.-THE hornets cam
swarming out of the woods there" A
: for Obed, he was Inundated man.
"But was the one to blame," he sale
: II thought the horses would "a stood ii
Their hides dropped off'n Their ribs; b,
3 l tell ye Their never was the team Intel
cd up that 'ud STAN hornets. Blarst tn
crecturs!' he added, in an undertonc.
But Ray Hnkham!' cried Kate, an
D. she went up to where the thing ",