The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-26
FOR HER RIVAL;
A woMAN's HEROIsM.

pony chaise that was rolling rapidly
along the quiet country road. "But then
suppose your father needs your"
MAY, a fair. haired blonde, with won
derful blue eyes, hesitated a moment be-
fore answering, and then, pulling off her
glove, held her small left hand up before
Annis' eyes, where diamond ring
sparkled.
"You are engaged ?" asked her friend,
in astonishment
eyes" replied May, with a pretty
blush, "and he knows you very well.
When told him / was to spend few
weeks with you at Greyhurst he said he
had met you often at your uncle's."
May did not notice the sudden palor
that spread suddenly over her frieds face,
as she continued in the same happy strain.
"You see, | met him rather oddly.
When our minister was called away sud
denly on account of illness, Mr.. Cole
ridge came to take his place. Papa, in
vited him to make his home with us dur
Ing his stay
AS her friend spoke Annis' thoughts
had flown back to the past year. She
remembered how her interest had been
caught at her first sight of the young
clergyman whom her uncle had brought
home with him one evening, and how
the oftener she saw him the deeper that
interest grew, until suddenly she became
aware that all uncousciously she had
given away unsought her girlish heart.
Then had come the announcement of
the death of her fathers only brother,
and that he had left her his sole heiress.
Then she had been obliged to lease the
quiet home in which she had been so
happy, to enter upon her duties as mis-
tress of the stately "Greyhurst. She
had had many suitors since; but her
heart yet remained true to its first Inn
TO which she had looked with the hopi-
fulness of youth held no bright posi-
bilities for her.
As her friend paused, with a strong
effort Annis regained her self-control and
said, calmly as she kissed the little I'M
gloved hand which had nestled itself in
her own:
Then Ralph Coleridge is the happy
man. Indeed | do congratulate you,
May, for he is, as you say, good and
noble. AS his wife you cannot help but
be happy"
When the girls had driven away from
"Greyhurst' the sun was shining
brightly; but, though they had not no.
ticed it, in the distance there had been
little cloud "like a mans hand" and
now all at once they became conscious of
the storm gathering about them. With
frightened face Annis suddenly ex-
claimed, as she turned toward home:
1--WE must hasten, May, for the ponies
are afraid of lightning"
Suddenly, as they were on the brow of
long, steep hill, at the end of which
the road turned abruptly to the right, a
vivid fash of forked lightning shone be-
fore their eyes.
With one terrified bound the ponies
were off at mad pace. Nothing could
stop them. OF no avail were the girlish
figures which endeayored to check their
wild career.
Standing erect, Annis retained her
grasp upon the reins; but her eyes dilated
with an agonized expression as she saw
the almost certain destruction which lay
before them. AT the foot of the hill
which they were swiftly descending was
Ahigh stone wall.
"Annis," exclaimed May, 'can you
stop them before they get to the foot Of
the hill?"
=, In low, intense tones came the hopeless
Answer:
NO, May; l can do nothing will
them. We are doomedW
With a sobbing cry May bowed hel
her head upon her hands.
"Ralphl Ralphl Can it be that shall
never see you AGAIN. OH it is hard tC
die so young and so happy"
AS Annis heard the piteous words
sudden determination flashed into hel
mind. She had once read of brave
deed which at the time had filled he
with marvel. Could she not do the samt
thing herself, and save her friend life
For herself it did not matter; she wal
alone in the world; but for May-shoulC
her life be spared--a future of happines
with him she loved so dearly stretched
out before her. STOPPING, she sale
quietly:
May, listen; do not give way
think that before long | can check thi
terrible speed, and in that instant do yo'
jump from the carriage"
May looked wonderingly into Annis
face, scarce comprehending her words
Check that terrible speedY' 1t seemed
certainly more than human power coult
do.
Now, May!' cried Annis, With tn
words she had made desperate sprin
and the next moment she had lande,
squarely upon the back of one of tn
ponies, and had grasped the check
rein with all her force.
With a startled plunge the ponie
stopped-then reared wildly and stoo
paving the air with their hoofs
Jump, May Jump for your life?
cried Annis; and May obeyed,
A few wild plunges, and then with
snort and scream the two ponies dashe
on, shaking from her insecure seat tn
brave girl.
The storm was over. The clouds ha
dispersed and once more the sun cam
forth in royal splendor His rays fe
upon pitiful scene. Upon two girls
forms-one yet living, but unconsciou
where she had fallen-the other still an
quiet, with the solemn seal of deaf
upon the white, bruised face.
Annis had saved her friends land he
unconscious rivals) life at the expens
of her own.
Another summer had come and gon,
and 1t was fall again. In one of Nature
loTeiest spots, Swallowed by droopin
elm, near which q limpd streaml,
gllded with happy murmur on its wa
to the sea, a marble shaft reared il
snowy head.
The sunshine glAncing through tn
caves dropped a gentle kiss upon III
grave beneath and fell upon the bowe
heads OF two mourners 1t was Ralp