The sea coast echo., 1895-07-20

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sparkled in the sunlight. The grea
Edrifts rolled up along the fences
looked blue in the shadows of thei
fantastic terracings. The sleighinE
never was better
All at once Clint heard the noise o.
sleighbelIs, and u voice called TO him
"Give me the road"
He turned and saw Isabel Hiltor
coming toward him, driving her own
bay ponies at a fearful rate.
Clint drove quickly out Mt one side OF
the road, and she sped by him.
He saw that her horses were running
away.
There had been no alarm in Isabel's
face, though she was holding the reins
with all her strength, and had looked
neither to the right nor the left as she
passed him. If there was one thing
more than another that the Holder
mans prided themselves in, 1t was their
knowledge OF good horses and splendid
horsemanship.
Isabel Hilton's love of horses and her
daring in driving them had been one OF
the first things that had won Clint's
admiration. Her control and courage
now appealed to him tremendously.
His own horses seemed TO have caught
the spirit Of the runaway pair ahead,
rs they few along over the snow after
them.
Clint know that at any moment lsa-
bells slight arms might lose the power
to hold those tense reins so securely,
and the horses dash to one side and
the crash come, and there was nothing
he could do On went the cutter ahead
of him, swaying to the left and the
right, but still keeping the road. The
bridge across the Iowa river was just
ahead. Clint thought of the bridge
with terror. II the cutter swayed to
one side, as 1t was doing now, the crash
would come on entering.
He saw Isabel's strength tightening
on the reins, and knew that she felt
the danger.
Her horses flew up the slight incline
to the bridge, and Clint braced his
nerves to withstand the shock. But to
his amazement he saw that the horses
were slowing up, and entering the
bridge with all the respect of we'll
trained horses and by the time they
were over the frozen current below
they were walking as quietly as though
they had decided on that point as the
end of their excitement.
Clint entered the bridge as Isabel
was leaving It, she drove out to one
side of the road and waited for him to
come up to her. "Ili let you go on
ahead of me now, II you want to-" she
called out, as he stopped.
Look here" Clint called back, did
you think of those horses stopping at
the bridge that way, I'd like to know"
Yes; didn't you? knew they might
not, but thought they would if /
could keep them in the road. Didn't
you think of their doing it?"
We'll, no. Lhad something else to
think about he answered, looking at
her admiringly.
lsabels face flushed, but she looked
at him smiling,
II wasn't afraid as long as the road
was clear, but l should have lost all
courage If had seen team coming"
Talk of pluck!" Clint said, driving a
little nearer to her cutter. Isabel,
what did you think of last night?
What did You think of me, anyway%
She drove out into the road ahead OF
him, and then looked back over her
shoulder, laughing. ~ thought If you
had only waited half an hour longer |
would have been eighteen. 1t Is my
birthday to-day. I'm of age" And
with that she touched her ponies with
the whip and kept well ahead Of him
all the way to the village.
When they met again it was before
the fire in the sitting-room at the brick
house, where they had held the hours
the night before. But the contest with
the judge had lost its seriousness.
Between them he sat, imperturbable,
as he had sat the night before; but to-
night he was only an amusing barrier,
and not a serious obstruction. Love
had leaped the bounds and was free.
1t triumphed in their eyes as they
looked across him, and over him, smil
ing knowingly at each other.
We're going to have dance over al
our house Saturday week, and an oys.
ter supper. 1t is going to be celebra.
tion of great event in our family,
Clint announced, with meaning ges
ture to Isabel.
Whats the event you're celebrat-
ing?" the judge asked, looking over his
spectacles,
well, that's something of a secre,
until tomorrow. / hope can tell you
then. You must be sure and come
We're going to have great time"
The judge looked at Isabel. "Doyor
think we can go, my dear?'
Her cheeks were rosy. "Why, YES,
should think we could, father"
Thank you, then. Wen come" tn,
judge said, leaning back in his chair
and looking at the ceiling, ''And nov
would you like to play that game o
chess we didn't have last night9"
1t was evident he had no intention
of giving up the field. Clint did not
answer, He was not rs fearless of tn,
judge as he had supposed. His heart
throbbed exciIedly.
Isabel pressed her hands togethe,
hard and looked into the fire. Tn,
clock ticked loudly, emphasizing the
silence. ID.
Finally the judge brought his ewes
from the ceiling, and looked at the
young man.
Didn't you hear what said tc
you9" he asked, running his hant
through his forelock and grasping tht
arm of his chair.
"Yes, sir, did," said Clint, respect
fully.
well, then?"
'If You'll allow me to saw II sir