Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-10-17


much what Kate Lloyd said as she
danced up to Belle, and glancing, as
usual, to Miss Wood.
"A very pretty cage, Mr.. Granger
but where's the bird?"
Arthur looked politely contemptu-
Gus.
81 DON'T understand you, Miss
Lloyd"
why, Mr.. Granger, a bachelor
has no business to have house at
all"
Granting that" rejoiued Arthur,
looking at Belle, who had grown I'M
accountably rosy, might there not
lie such a thing as providing your
cage first, and catching your bird
afterward?"
what do you thiukl" turning sud
denly on Miss Wood.
Really, | have never given the
subject my attention" returned that
extraordinary little person, with per
feet GOODNESS, and taking Valerie by
the hand she marched into the house.
Arthur bit his lip. Miss Lloyd
looked puzzled, while Bellies large
eyes dilated and glared. and the rich
blood leaned upin her clear cheek, To
fade as suddenly away again INTO
dull, angry white.
She saw at last.
The day neither passed nor hew-lt
worried away. The water was too
cold. the sun too hot; there were
sharks; there was an undertoW; there
were not enough biscuits and too.much
chicken: the whole thing was bore,
and an early return advisable. Our
wagon CHANGED to be brought up first.
Valerie and i took possession of our
back seat. Miss Wood perched her
self where she was before. Belle was
already liz, looking cross and Jaded,
and Arthur was coming down the
steps with Bellies shawl, which she
had forgotten, when an accidental
movement Oh the part of some of the
othe RS started the,high-spirlted horses,
already rcstive from the delay, and
with one powerful spring that jerked
the reins from the coachman, they
were tearing wildly down the road to
the beach
a moments work, and yet how it
had changed for US all things. There
had been a groan, and we knew
the could be no,pursuit-That would
only be to hesitate our destruction.
Valerie had faintea-BellG was filling
the air with cries of help. l sat frozen
and apathetic. Only few moments
more and the white lines of the waves
came in sight.
1.-The water! shrieked Belle.
"Helyl oh, help! quick! mercy
mercyW
BE still, said Miss Wood, for the
first time moving since the horse start
ed. You brighten them still more
with your senscless clamor.
Belle answered by another shrek.
Miss Wood looked at her with con
tempt, and holding with one hand on
the wagon, with the other to unloose
her shawl, and draw it around her
waist.
Hold on as do, by one hand, she
said, turning to Belle, land take the
ends with the other"
Bell stared vacantly at her, but
made no effort to obey.
The gOverneSS made passionate
gesture with the hand that held the
shawl.
Mad woman don't you understand
1t is for life-I mast get those reins,
and | want both hands. Can't you
reach them2" and see turned as well
as she could toward me.
The moment before | had been
stupidity helpless, but some inkling of
her brave design was beginning to
penetrate my benumted brain. With
no small difficulty, tossed and thrown
as we were by the swaylng of the
wagon, seized and held firmly the
ends Of the shawl, wedging myself on
the floor between the seats Then
MISS Wood kneeled before the dash
board and, leaning over. grasped the
rcins, trailing under the feet of the
flying horses. AS we flew past a lane
branching down to the beach we
caught glimpse of Arthur riding to-
ward us, his horse painting and stag
gering, evidently hopingto head US off
only a glimpse, and the water splash
ed around our wheels and the thunder
OF the surf sounded in our ears.
Still the governess. no longer kneel-
ing, bat almost hanging over the
dashboard. her wonderful eyes fairly
blazing, struggled and suatched, and
caught the reins, Selling one and hold
ing it as though the muscles in her
little hand We're iron, now grasping
the other and pulling on them with
all her strength, careless that the
shawl grew loose about her waist, as
|, faint and dizzy, relaxed my hold :;
once almost dragged out headlong,
growing of deathlier white as she
felt her strength receding. but never
quitting her hold till-well, | don't
know how it was, for tainted as the
wagon turned over, and the next
thing knew opened my ejes on half
a dozen women with smelling bottles
Belle, disheveleG, muddy, almost in
a rage, sitting on pile of rubbish
Mrs. Granger by her, looking unutter
able things, and Arthur Granger
kneellng on the sand, kissing, and
calling that brazen governess tender
names as she opened her eyes, having
tainted likewise. "Of course, after
such shameful conduct, Belle said 10
me, while applying vinegar to her
ankle, which was slightly sorained,
"of course there is nothing left but for
him to marry the girl, and he did.
nr IInn,