Smyrna times., 1892-01-20

find her lying sOmewhere-thath he was
sure of. But, where ? He had turned
the corner, but he could as yet see
nothing. How far he had run he didn't
know. 1t was nearly a mile. Small
wonder that when he did make out
something ahead of him at last things
were swimming before his eyes and his
head was buzzing. The object was a
person, and not redundant person
either. 1t was Miss Faulkner hurry
ing toward him.
Mr.. COrwin," she painted, "oh, did
you think l was kiIledP How absurd
it was Nothing but a newspaper. But
how you look You've run all the
way!" She dropped down on the grass,
and pulled him down beside her. pm
afraid you've almost killed YOURSELF"
she cried. DO take off your hat and
loosen your collar. You're purple !"
Pm all right" Dick gasped. Its
you. | thought l should find you
lying dead somewhere. saw your hat
back there"
THAT came eff, of course"
almost gave you up then" She
half pouted.
Didn't you think l had a bit of
nerve to let myself be killed Just by
frightened horse? l just sat still and
held the lines with all my might and
let him run till he got tired. l was
sure he'd stop some time. He's up
there under that big maple. See him.
l tied him to post and run back.
thought you'd be worried, f" she finished
demurely.
But you're plucky !" cried Dick,
his heart humping a trife less fur
iously.
why, not so awfully!" said the
girl, glancing at him half frOwningly.
ANY other line of conduct would have
been stupid, you know. And why
shouldn't l know something about
horses? We have one and l drive all
over Harrington every day"
Harrington ?"
Don't go back to monosyllables.
Mr. COrwin. Yes, harrington. Why
not? I've lived there for nineteen
years and three months"
In FarringtOn?" said poor Dick,
dazedly. "Gly sister said you were
from the city"
Hardly. Harrington has only TO-
y
reason you were afraid of me ?"
She lowered her mischievous eyes.
That and a few other things.
"What other things?
"My sister said she heard that YOU
were very rich, high and mighty, and
but if it had been true, l ought not
to have acted like fool. Pm bashful.
naturally, Miss Faulkner, and | was
about ratified out of my wits. Oh. yes:
l heard you had been to Europe
twice"
She threw up both hands and her
pretty round chin.
Europe We went to the Thous-
and Islands once but we had to econ
/ Omize rather to do that. Father has a
hardware store and not such a very
prosperous one either. There Am l
candid enough for you? Are YOU
afraid of me still, Mr.. Corwin?
What was the matter with the blithe
girl ? She was smiling, but her dark
eyes were misty. Dick did not know
then, but time came when he did.
He had felt the power of her delicate
beauty, her brightness, and-there
was an answering thrill in his own
heart.
II ana not afraid of you," said Dick.
And l know now where l saw you
before; it was in Harrington, a long
time ago, and have never forgotten
you"
As he looked at her she blushed and
smiled and it did not occur to them
to drive back till Jim and Carrie came
| in sight down the road.
Dicks shyness was not wholly eradi-
Gated. 1t was five months afterward
that he came home from Harrington
and told his sister that he had left
ring on Maggie Faulkner's hand.
I'VE liked each other from the very
first" he said simply. "Only that
| story of yours came near settling
things; the horse ran away in the
nick of time"
1T wasn't mine, Dick" said Carrie.
(She and Jim had been married in Sep
tember.) 1T was Sally Decker that
said it, and she always mixes things
up. It was your own fault if you be-
lieved it, | didn't.