Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-09-09

is hay doing? She will brighten the
horses worse than ever!n and she covered
her eyes. @ CF@
The brow of the hill was not forty
feet off. Far behind, we could hear
Obed's voice screaming to the horses to
stop. The keeper of the tower was fl5-
ing toward us. n
But they were too far away to do any
good. There seemed not one chance in
thousand for us. But that very instant,
when we all believed we were lost, we
looked at Ray.
We saw her reach forward with one
hand, and grasp the reins which Joined
the heads of the horses together. Just
where the connecting straps crossed one
another her fingers clutched them.
One sharp, fierce jerk of those great
heads backward, and the horses slack
ened their speed, and in an instant more
stopped.
The wagon stood still, although the
creatures were snorting and plunging
yet. But that small hand of Rays held
on with death-grip, and in a moment
more Obed caught the horses by their
heads.
His face was as white as it ever could
be, and he spoke one word only. 1t was
Hornetsr'
Tie horses had been stung in more
than twenty places. They were unhar-
messed at once, and we were all out on
the ground directly.
We laughed and we cried, and Mrs.
Bands cousin distinguished herself by
fainting away.
Il don't blame the horses in the
least" Queeny said. ''One sting is bad
enough" and she showed where her eye
was beginning to swell. "The hornets
came swarming out of the woods
there" As for Obed, he was humili-
ated man.
sBut | was the one to blame" he said.
/ thought the horses would "a stood
till Their hides dropped off'n Their ribs;
but | tell ye ther' never was the team
hitched up yet that 'ud stan hornets.
Blarst the creetursw he added, in under
tone.
g But Ray Tinkham !" cried Kate, and
she went up to where the little thing
was sitting on rock, looking pale.
:" You saved us all, you blessed child.
How did you ever think of doing that?"
my grandmother stopped some run
away horses in that way once" gaspcd
Ray. Il didn't know whether I could
stop these, but knew somebody must
do something, or we should all be dashed
to pieces
"Well," spoke Obed, 'pve known O.
that things bein' done just once afore in
my lifetime, but it was boy that did it.
There's sayin' 'mongst teamin' men
that, when you haint got the reins, you
can stop a runaway if you walk out on
the pole and grip hold O. the brides, but
'taint every horse that'll stand it,
But wasn't it splendid of Rayp" cried
Lou, going over, and putting her arm
round her.
Never knew girl cd have so much
pluck" answered the driver. 'If she
hadn't "a been light on 'er feet, an level
in 'er head, she never cd "a done it. !
tell you if these horses hadn't been un-
common good horses, nothin' on ;sirth
would "a stopped 'em.n
And Rayp i never meant to make so
long story of it, but I must tell you
that we gave her a party soon after this
All the fathers, and mothers, and broth
ers went, and we carried her carpet for
her room and new chamber set, and
nice new clothes all through; and few
of the gentlemen gave her bank book,
whatever that may mean. only know
that she was to have the income of GER
tain money, and that it was enough to
educate her thoroughly. We had the
best time that night, and Queeny's
father took Ray out to supper, and she
sat at his right hand, and everybody
treated her as though she had been a
princess of the blood.
do believe there never was happier
girl on earth than Rachel that night
Yoattk'S Con1pGas ion.