Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-22


lighted upon one that sent the quick blood
bounding to my cheeks. 1t was Daphns She
stood by the fence, near where had leaned nv
wheel, her soft, close fitting travelling dress but
toned close up to her white throat. bareheaded,
with her brown hair flying about her temples
She looked very pale and one little hand-did
see aright9-yes one little hand rested lightly
on the backbone of my Shadow" for support.
Back OF her was the brown cottage with the
vines-hOw we'll knew it of old! I wondered
If she remembered me-if she guessed who the
''velOcipedef" from Sorelle was?
My fixed gaze seemed to attract the atten-
ton OF the man who had first spoken to me-
He came closer to me, and recognized him at
Daphnis was stopping. Aren't you the school,
master at Sorelle?" he asked 'Well, now.
thought so-the young man that used to come
up to see my wife's Cousin there, Daphnis
Brown-standing yonder. by the fence. You
knew her, didn't you? Well I'll bet she remem-
bers you, too. She was asking at supper table
II you still taught school in SOrelle. Come in
come in: We can't do anything just yet, and the
folks d be glad to see YOU"
If my heart was tripping fast before It was
me- she had asked after me- of her own accord!
l felt as though was treading on air as l fol-
lowed my conductor through the crowd. He
stopped, and said to one of the men, keep
close watch of the big dam, and if she
shows the first signs of giving. let me
know right off. 1 suppose you know"
he continued. addressing me, with Just q touch
of honest pride his voice, that they made me
boss here last year, and SO the whole RESPONSE
bility Of this afrSf rests on me-" replied with
some vague expression that | hoped the danger
was not serious, and the next moment l stood
cap in hand, before Daphnis
'Daphnis, you rembmber Mr.. - Mr.. -'
She looked up at me with a quick, half-sur-
prised expression that 1 knew was not all
genuine. and then smiled happily, and held out
her hand, saying before l could suggest nay
name to my baff1ed companion
''Oh. yes, l remember Mr.. Templeton well
indeed. knew it was he from his bicycle. But
O. Mr.. Templeton, isn't this dreadful thing? DO
think there is any danger?"
was turning my cap round and round In my
nervous hands, and gazing down in her anxious
eyes. IL hope not. replied; "oh. am almost
sure not. The dam is very strong and even if
it should break, there would be plenty Of time to
seek safety on the hillside"
But the dear little cottage, and all these
pretty homes! Oh. how badly should feel if the
village should be all swept away-and then we
shouldn't have place where we could stay, aud
her little hands together and shuddered. was
about to offer the Inequalities Of the entire vii
lage OF Sorelle, with the air of the master Of
feudal mansion to the fair lady of benighted
band. when suddenly a man came running into
the midst OF the group. He spoke quick and
sharp.
''Mlr. Marsh, the dams giving!" cry Of dis
may went up from half hundred voices. and in
the fright and excitement of the moment am
not sure that did not move closer to the side of
Daphns Brown. or she to mine: at any rate
found myself supporting her for moment Mr.
Marsh turned to me with a pale face
There's but one thing can be done" he said
excitedly; land yet hardly dare do it,"
what is it?" cried Don't let US hesitate
now at danger l, for one, am ready to help at
the peril of nv life'
Its not a personal danger" he answered
NOR danger to any of u.s. but to those
below US in the valley. We could save
the mills and the village by opening the big
get warning? The water would come down on
them in a torrent before they could reach higher
ground. We could save our homes but only at
the expense of the lives of our friends
"But cried. lit would be the same if the
dam gave way"
$40; some one would have time to warn them.
You would have time. if you start no,c!"
My brain worked fast. and seemed to see the
events of the next half hour unfolding before me
like picture. spoke quickly: "How long
me fifteen minutes?"
John, will she stand it fifteen minutes?"
eyes, think she will, SIR
"Then," | Cried springing to my machine.
you may open the gates, and will warn the
valley!"
1t took me but second to mount. saw the
fair face OF Daphnis bent upon me with a look
that made all my nerves Jingle. and then and
there resolved that whether | could do it, or
not too,tld continue the wild whfl TO the valley
below without touching finger to brake!
You can't run it In fifteen minutes!' cried
Marsh
II will do it in tent I shouted back as van
ished over the top of the ridge in the darkness
A few firm. steady strokes on the pedals and
then I threw my legs over the handles and
braced myself for the long coast It was to he
race against time with the angry waters,-a
race upon which depended, perhaps, not only
my own life. but the lives of halt score of
families on the river bottom below. And yet 1
was not afraid. l felt the good roadster beneath
me. tight in spoke and bearing, lissome, supple
elastic, bounding down the road, literally a
creature all Of rubber and steel. knew that
nothing was loose, that the bearings were well
oiled. and the saddle firm. Why should i be
afraid to trust the faithful wheel which had
never played me false in all my flying trips over
hill and dale? The only thing feared was de-
lay,-a sudden header over some unseen rock
or. may be, team climbing the narrow road
and necessitatng a spill into the river or hasty
dlsmount All OF which thoughts passed rapidly
through my mind within less than sixty seconds
from the time swept down from the ridge and
threw my legs over the handles.
had never before cOasted the long descent
from Brents' Mills to the valley There were too
many turns, and the road was apt to be rutty
to try it. however. and had about made up nv
mind to take night when the sky was clear and
the moon at its full, and make the run before
the season closed. But now. as never before,
though circumstances were against me, felt
equal to the feat. My nerves thrilled i'm me and
seemed rather to be swOoping down the hill on
the wings of a bird than spurning dull earth with
the hOOf of my rubber-shOd steel.
Before | had mounted my bicycle glanced
hastily at my watch. 1t was then Just twenty
minutes of nine 1t seemed scarcely a minute
ere nv wheel had caught the full momentum of
the long grade; and almost shudder ran through
the delicate webs and bars of steel when swept
around the first curve without the usual check
OF the powerful brake The clear. ringing rush.
ing sound OF the flying wheel seemed to falter
and tremble. as much as to say, Careful, nv
master! | need the rein" But no rein nor check
was the flying bicycle to have till it's whirring
rim struck the long level of the valley Fifteen
minutes and the great floodgates would be
opened, and the white torrent would be CHASING
me down the slope! The friendly ridge would
soon be passed, and could have no refuge save
the speed of my trusty wheel If might turn at
the foot of the SLOPE and climb the rising ground
towards the village, the danger would be small;
but nv DurnOSp and INV nromiSo woS RI ,yorn = h -