The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-01
"It's-plain enough" said Dick.

she calculated, humping her hitherto
forgotten pamphlet. GA silly little
thing I was reading in q hammock-a
regular hammock novel--'Molly's Low
ers.' Molly has six frantic lovers so
far, and I'm expecting a seventh every
minute"
Why couldn't he think of something
funny to Rjoin2 He should think of
the right thing later, he knew.
He tlicked the horse, and thought of
saying something about the length of her
visit, but that brought to mind the i'm
posing glorics to which she would re-
turn. Rich, stylish, travelled, and Dick
had never been farther than Harrington
in his honest, healthy life2
But he mastered courage for desper-
ate final effort.
"Haven't seen you bcfore7" he said,
rather bluntly.
"Me! Whcre?" said Miss Faulkner.
"That's what I don't know" he said,
lamely. "But I thought-why-some-
howl don't know; can't explain it.
Maybe I never have"
He expected no reply to that stam-
mering attempt, and got none. Miss
Faulkner sat quiet, as though discour-
aged and exhausted at last. And Dick
poor Dickl He wished that he was
somewherc-anywhere else; that he knew
enough to say boo to q goose; that he had
never been born.
What must she think of him? That
he was tongue-tied, rural gawkl
He cast an affrigted glance at her, sit
ting demure and lovely. He was almost
in love with her, he knew that. In love
with her Well, his misery was strange
ly complete. Half an hour ago he had
been phlegmatically serene. Nowl
"Lookm Carrie cried, miraculously
rousing herself. "Wild roses! jim, go
and get some this instant. Dick, too.
You want some, don't you, Miss Faulk-
ner2"
"Oh, yesl" Miss Faulkner cried, and
took the lines from Dick.
"You shall have all I can get," he
murmured anxiously.
Jim followed him, and Carrie followed
jim.
ssI know they'll overlook that prettiest
spray-just for minute, Miss Faulkner, "
she said.
1t was for more than a minute. The
horse gave a sudden plunge, though
eighteen years old and soberness itself,
but clung now and then to the frisky
habits of early youth.
A white paper was driven under the
sorrel nose by the wind, and the fright
ened animal gave snort and galloped
down the road at ferocious speed.
There was turn not far away, and
Dick had not recovered his breath, be-
fore he saw the last flicker of Miss Faulk-
ner's blue dress in cloud of dust. The
old horse flew round the corner.
"She'll be killed." Carrie shrieked,
while Jim stood petriied.
But Dick swung into the road, and ran
or rushed. He had not been aware that
such powers of speed lay in him. He
tore.
Of course she would be killed-thrown
and killed-or fearfully injured, at best.
A frail girl behind a temporarily insane
old horsel He should find her lying
lifeless somcwhere-that he was sure of.
But whcre2 He had turned the cor
ner, but he could as yet see nothing.
How far he ran, out of breath, with an
ache in his side, and gasping, he didn't
know.
1t was nearly o mile. Small wonder
that when he did make out something
ahead of him at last, things were SWIM
ming before his eyes, and his head was
hot and buzzing.
The object was not q buggy. TWAS a
per:on-and not o recumbent person,
either. 1t was young woman on her
feet, hurrying toward him. It was Miss
Faulkner.
"Mr. Corwin," she called out, breath
lessly-"oh, did you think was killed.
How absurd it wasl Nothing but
newspaper. But how the horse went!
How you look! You've run all the way.
How could you9"
She had dropped down on the grass,
and she pulled him down beside her in
her excitement.
81 believe you've nearly killed your
self!" she cried. "What did you do that
for9 Take off your hat and loosen your
collar, can't you2 You're purple!"
"I'm all right2" Dick painted. It's
you. I thought I should find you lying
dead somewhere. I saw your hat back
there"
"That came of, of course said Miss
Faulkner.
She was half pouting.
didn't you think I had bit of nerve
to let myself be killed just By frightened
horse3 The idea! 1 just sat still and
held the lines with all my might, and let
him go till he got tired. I knew he'd
stop some time. He's up there under
that big maple. See him9 tied him
to the fence, and came back to meet you.
I thought you'd be-worried," said Miss
Faulkner, demurely.
"But you're plucky!' Dick cried, his
heart humping little less furiously.
"Why, not SO awfully," said Miss
Faulkner, turning her clear eyes upon
him rather impatiently. "Anything else
would have been stupid, you know. And
why shouldn't know something about
horses2 We have one, and I drive all
over Harrington every day."
":*arrington2" said Dick, blankly.