The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-11-15
MISS FAULKNER.
BY EMMA A. OPPER.


Dick was prepared for a dull morning.
Driving your sister is not the most exciting
occupation imaginable, and when that sister
and her betrothed occupy the back seat and
are totally absorbed in each other, the situation
is almost dreary. Dick was feeling gloomy.
If Jim Gardner and Carrie were pretty pic
ture of devoted happiness. Dick was no less
pleasing as a sample ofsturdy young manhood
sturdy and yet shy.
Dick was a bashful fellow; but he was so
handsome and blue-eyed, and fairhaired and
sunburned, that his modesty was only an added
charm.
"Drive into Mrs. Ransom's, Dick" said
Carrie. Mother wants me to get her spiced-
pickle receipt"
Something blue and white was visible in a
hammock in Mrs. Ransom's rear yard.
"Oh carrie murmured, 'it's Mrs. Ransom's
niece, Miss Faulkner from the city-some
CITY, Sally Decker was telling about her.
She says she's awfully rich and stylish; says
she's been here before, but she never dared
call on her. She says she's been to Europe
twice, and-well, that she's been too stylish
for anything!" Carrie ended, hurriedly.
Jim gave derisive laugh, but Dick sat
painfully blushing. To be forced to encounter
such a creature! He preferred being swallow
ed by an earthquake.
Cordial Mrs. Ransom came out at sight of the
buggy; 99yoa nere Moorv y .ha called INV
niece Miss Faulkner@Miss Corwin, Mr.. Cor
win and Jim Gardner. I've heard you were en-
gagged to a Jim Gardner from Mecklinville,
Carrie. and l suppose that's the young man."
1t ended in good general laugh. But Dick
was too bewidered to laugh. For there was
added to his awe the element best calculated to
reduce shy young man to the depths of mis-
ery-admiration
Miss Faulkner wore some airy summer garb
in which blue predominated-blue stripes,
blue felt hat blue lacings in her blouse. She
was black-haired, dark-eyed, pink checked,
and the possessor of deep dimple.
''You must come with us for drive, Miss
Faulkner" said Carrie, promptly.
"Go on Maggy,'" said Mrs: Ransom. :,
Dick stepped down.. and Miss Faulkner,
with laughing word of depreciation, stepped
up; then Dick drove on.
"Forgot the pickle receiptp' Carrie cried.
If Dick could have laughed with them But
he could not. His mood was almost solemn
He was not only stiff with embarrassment,
but he was startled.
Had he ever seen her before? Where? 1t
might have been in some angelic vision.
Miss Faulkner wascharming as she turned to
him, with faint blush, for the oddity of the
situation.
Pm rather unconventional to come like
this" she declared, to Dick. Jim and Carrie
had settled back to duet. "But do love to
drive"
"You do?" said Dick.
He meant it to sound genial, but he knew
it sounded stiff.
II think the roads about here are beautiful"
said Miss Faulkner. 'But the names you call
them Eve heard of the Crabb Road and the
Old Cider-mill Road
"And the Josiah Hinckley Road" Dick
managed to add
II should think you'd call this the Rick
rack Road" she said, scanning its winding
length.
Dick laughed. If only the blood had not
gone tingling into his face the next minute
1t was the sudden recollection that Miss Faulk-
ner had been twice to Europe which made it.
Aunt Mary thinks there's no place like
Norwood, said Miss Faulkner, brightly. ut
is pretty"
Her blue sash blew into his lap, and he did
not know what to do about it.
"But it is" said Miss Faulkner. "Are there
many young people?"
mot very many" said Dick.
He wished Carrie and Jim would help him
out, but they were fathoms deep lin low-toned
dialogue.
whispering and smiling, "that your sister was
engaged, even if didn't know it."
'It's plain enough" said Dick.
If she were not so Stylish so rich-hadn't t
been abroad SO frequently And if he were
not haunted by that queer notion of having
seen her before!
IF l didn't bring my book alongw she
calculated, humping her hitherto forgotten
pamphlet. "a silly little thing l was reading
in hammock-a regular hammock novel
Molly's Lovers Molly has six frantic lovers
so far and Pm expecting a seventh every min
ute''
Why couldn't he think of something funny
to rejoin? He should think of the right thing
later, he knew.
He flicked the horse. and thought of saying
something about the length of her visit, but
that brought to mind the imposing glories to
10 wbiob ba would return Rich StVliSb
travelled, and Dick had never been farther
than Harrington in his honest, healthy life?
But he mastered courage for desperate final
effort.
Haven't seen you before2 ?" he said, rather
bluntly.
ME! Where?" said Miss Faulkner.
"That's what don't know" hesaid lamely.
"But | thought--why--sOme don't
know / can't explain it. Maybe | never
He expected no reply to that stammering
attempt and got none. Miss Faulkner sat
quiet as though discouraged and exhausted at
last And Dick--poor Dick He wished
that he was somewhere anywhere else; that
he knew enough to say boo to goose; that
he had never been born.
What must she think of him? That he was
a tongue-tied, rural gawk -
He cast an affrighted glance at her, sitting
demure and lovely. He was almost in love
with her, he knew that. In love with her F!
wen, MS IulSSry was oOAohSCig SOAAA
Half an hour ago he had been phlegmatically
serene. Now
"Lookp' Carrie CRIED miIaculously rous..
ing herself. "Wild roses Jim, go and get
some this instant. Dick, too. You want some,
don't you, Miss FaulknerY
''Oh, yes ~ Miss Faulkner cried, and took
the lines from Dick.
''You shall have all I can get," he murmur-
ed anxiously.
Jim followed him, and Carrie followed Jim.
II know they'll overlook that prettiest spray
Just for a minute, Miss Faulkner she said.
1t was for more than minute. The horse
gave 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 frightened animal
gave snort and galloped down the road at
ferocious speed.
There was turn not far away, and Dick had
not recovered his breath, before he saw the
| last flicker of Miss Faulkner's blue dress in a
| cloud of dust. The old horse flew round the
! corner.
''She'll be killedr Carrie shrieked, while
| Jim stood petrifed.
But Dick swung into the road and ran OF
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 temporarily insane old horse
He should find her lying lifeless somewhere
that he was sure of.
But where? He had turned the corner, but
| ba could no vet See nothinO How far he ran