The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-26

dreamed of setting up for himself this
private equipagc if he had not become
martyr to rheumatism. Not govt,
not n bit of it," Stanfield's informant
had added; hes altogether too plain
liver for that"
And now, as the slow, massive car
riage passed him, Stanficld glanced with
in it and discerncd, though somewhat
family, Il thin, hard-faced man leaning
against it's back cushions. just after
this glimpse of his unknown uncle had
been offered him he started as he per-
ceived large dray, drawn by two mad
dcncd runaway horses, come dashing up
the street. At first there seemed no
danger to Mr.. Van Dorcns carriage,
though the coachman brought it to an
abrupt standstill and watched the hur-
rying bulk with anxious eyes. AS it
sped nearer. however, the headlong reg
ularity of its progress changed. The
driver was gone, having rashly jumped
from his scat some little time ago. The
horses now began plunging course and
several other wagons narrowly cs-
capped collision. Not SO Mr.. Van Dorcn's
vehicle. Towards that the wild crea-
lures now swcrvcd, and in another in
slant they were rearing furiously and
yet still galloping onGard, with their
own wheels locked in the heavy yellow
ones. 1t was u horrible moment for
Stanficld. Young strong, with urgently
humane impulses he saw the carriage
of the old man violently overturned and
the coachman flung from his box. There
is no doubt that he now acted with
splendid promptness and courage, for
Nr.,x@ 4 r.
after the whole hurtled comminglement
of horses and woodwork. The Van
Dorcn team had not yet taken fright
and were pulling stolidly against their
terrified brothers. This gave Stanfcld
chance, and he leaped with great dar-
ing and nimblencss upon the shafts of
the dragging COACH Still greater was
his act in springing thence upon the
dray itself lie happened to have Il
large clasp-knifc in his pocket, a me
mento of n shooting trip in the South
Carolina wilderness, taken but short
time before his romantic marriage. He
remembered afterwards that while get
ting himself over the dashboard of the
dray, and clinging to it with one hand
as he cut the traces with the other, it
flashed through his mind how he was
almost giving his life one chance out of
twenty. But n few lunges of that stout
steel blade SO far unfcttercd the furious
horses that within the next twenty sec
onds they had quite rid themselves of
every restriction and were scampering
uptown with a new and horrid liberty.
Stanfield felt dazcd after his magnifi-
cent work. Still clinging to the dash
board, with the knife in his hand, he
fancicd himself for the first time in his
sturdy young life on the verge of a
positive swoon.
Then somebody caught him and he
opened his eyes without realizing that
he had closed them.
a crowd had collected, and plaudits
rang to him from every side.
1.-The most heroic thing l ever saw"
said n man who had the speech and APP
pearance of n gentleman. I'm proud
to shake hands with you, sir. Perhaps
you don't know whom you saved from
Il horrible DEATH" he continued, while
holding Stanfeld's hand cts Mr.. Van
Doren, the retired shipping merchant"
Ivan Doren?" faltered Stanfield, who
now began to feel himself again, his
brief faintness vanishing as scrap Of
mist is blown away from Il rugged hill
side. "Do you mean Mr.. Myndherst
Van Doren?"
YES" said another voice, before
the gentleman could respond. 'Hcre
he comes, now. It's wonder he
wasn't llilled-by the carriage upsettino
as it did"
Nothing could more clearly have cx-
AL. -
at that period than what now followed
from another member of the throng:
"Oh, he's so equity, or rheumatic, or
whatever it is, that he keeps his
carriage all padded inside. just like a
baby's."
''Hush! here he comes" murmurcd
the gentleman, and soon Mr.. Van Doren
moved upto Stanfeld with an extended
hand. His rheumatism made him limp
n little, but he had sustained no injury.
His greeting OF the young man who
had certainly saved his life was civil,
but by no means gracious. The face
which his nephew looked upon, rising
clean shaved and sharp-fcatured from
it's ample stock, was almost frigid and
lifclcss enough to have been carved
from some sort of grayish marble.
II thank you, young sir-I thank YOU
very much, very much" He was hold
ing Stanfcld's hand while he thus
spoke, but on sudden dropped it and
fumblcd i'll side pocket of his
coat, which was cut like the evening
'swallow-tail" coat of the present.
Soon he produced wallet and drew
from it card, which he handed Stan
field. "Thcre!" And then lie stared
fiNedly at his prcsesvcr for an instant,