Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-03-25
around early that afternoon and called to


Cora did not believe in worrying or
sulking.
The gay gown and the musi C, and the
bright look with which she greeted Aunt
Cecilia, when she stepped into the car
riage beside her, were the results of
sensible determination not to make mat
tiers worse than they already were.
Aunt Cecilia wore her blue silk hand
kerchief-that was enough. Perhaps
yes, ,surely-things would come out right
somehow.
Cora hummed the waltz as they drove
away.
eff I'll run back and get you lace
fichu, Aunt Cornelia," she ventured,
"won't you put it on instead-lnstead
Of"
"This handkerchief does very WE'LL"
Aunt Cecilia responded. II have had
1t twenty-five years, and wear it now
and then for old times sake, Cora"
"Um-yes" said Cora, patiently.
"What are you going to do with these
two jugs, Aunt Cecilia?'
81 am going to have them filled with
boiled cider at Bently's cider mill, "
Aunt Cecilia rejoined.
"Ohl" Cora murmured.
Never, never would Aunt Cecilia have
driven to Bently's mill for two jugs of
boiled cider if she had not been wearing
her blue silk handkerchief for old times
sake.
Eyes, Cora" said Aunt Cecilia,
gloomily. az have had this hand
kerckief twenty-five years this fall.
l remember perfectly how l came
by it. Your Great-uncle Cod
frey had store in West Gainesbro',
and lived there-that is how 1 came to
know the Pierces, Cora-and he gave me
this handkerchief. His store burned that
same winter, and the poor man lost his
sight only the next year. Was it that
year your Aunt Sarah died9 No, that
was late the next spring. An excellent
wom.n your Aunt Sarah was. She caught
a terrible cold, and it settled on her
lungs, and her death was painful and
lingering. The next year,"
Aunt Cecilia paused in her cheerful
"reminiscences.
''I wonder if Dan will be oil 6dgety
at that machine up the road2 l think
not. Can you make out what it ISL"
ga steam thresher," said Cora. "Dan
wouldn't mind if it wasn't in the mid,
die of the road"
"We can manage him." said Aunt
Cecilia, who was always plucky. "There
are some men there to hold him if he is
nervous"
She drove on.
"Nervous2" said Cora, anxiously
'I'm afraid he's more than nervous. If
we could turn back"
But Dan was prancing rapidly on
toward the monster which had startled
him as by frightened fascination.
Dan was young, and somewhat skittish
in his most soberest moments. He eyed
the machine askant, whinnying and
pricking his ears and already trembling;
ahd when its steam whistle was suddenly
blown, he gave neigh of wild terror,
threw up his head and his hind hoofs,
and dashed on up the road, swerviny
dangerously near the ditch at right o.
left as his frightened senses prompted
him, and oblivious of all but his foolish
equine fears.
That moment seemed lifetime to
Cora The roadside shrubs rushed ir-
regularly passed, the dust flew.
Aunt Cecilia was pulling frantically
at the lines, with no faintest effect.
They would be overturned in the ditch
and hurt-killed, perhaps.
In which ditch2 t5
Cora found her benumbed mind con-
centrating itself on that whimsical ques-
ton.
On which side of the road would they
be found with broken arms or necks2
"Upon my soulp' said Aunt Cecilia
twenty seconds later.
Dan was topped-caught by his bits
by strong hand whose possessor had
first broken his speed by springing into
his path and turning him aside. Tho
hand was not SO strong, though, but
that it felt the powerful wrench; the
young man looked pale, and was wine
ing. His hat was in the dust, and some
dark curls lay very becomingly on his
white forehead. He was broad should
cred, strongfaced, tall, and he was
smiling pleasantly up at them, and bow
ing TO Cora, too.
Aunt Cecilia reiterated her ejaculation.
"Upon my soul! Have you sprained
your wrists You certainly have. Well
l never saw anything braver. / Well, y
said Aunt Cecilia, wiping her flushed,
excited face, 81 can't express myself at
all! You might have been seriously in
jured-were you aware of that? 1t isn't
I every man that will risk his own life to
save strangers. Who are you9" Auni
Cecilia demanded, her intent, admirina
eyes rowing from the tall head to the
tirm-set feet of the preserver.
"Albert Pierce, madam. And don'i
thank mel" Albert Pierce begged. 81
am SO glad to have been of service te
you and-and Miss Coral"
His comely face shone.
''Oh, Mr.. Piercel" Aunt Cecili:
echoed, mildly, studying him thought
| fully HFrom West Gainesbro'2"