Evening capital., 1895-10-04


ity. carelessness or fright might mean
great danger.
II saw Earnest Fernow turn whita
and jam his hrsske down hard. while be
back pedaled with all his might sud.
denly we We're startled by a cry Of fear
Ia cry for help. Earnest, save MOT
The next instant Emily Brant sped hy
rs. She had lost control of hcT wheel.
''Fernow paid no heed. He was too
frightened himself He turned his BIZ
cycle into the bank and jumped Even
at the speed with which she was going
/ knew she realized he had deserted her.
Unless you have been similarly
placed, you cannot understand the
ghastly feeling of horror that comes over
You as you know yoar wheel is beyond
your control ON a steep mountain. There
is no way 10 stop but by turning into
the bank and taking a headlong plunge.
and the chances of injury or death, 10
keep on, while the speed increased with
each revolution of the wheels, aud the
chances of escape grow less
Il realized if started in pursuit n.y
wheel would be in moment more he
yond my control Still, my opportunity
had come, and | did net hesitate 4
moment more, and was close behind
her. had no idea up to this time what
/ should do. but as my wheel owing to
superior weight. closed up the gap be-
tween us my thoughts began 10 take
form.
"The road. fortunately, was almost
straight. 1 remembered that whore il
came upon the valley there was a wide.
shallow river Ii came down the moun-
tain ut right angles 20 this river, then
turned to the left. There was q small
open field between the road and river. |
knew that instinctively she would try
to turn away from the river In that
case she would be hurled against mass
Of rock through which tho rold had
been cut.
81 must reach her before we came
upon the river. For a time oar speed
was terrific Therocks and trccs eemed
to be strangely blurred as they sped by.
We could feel the air like resisting
wall through which we We're plunging.
Then we came upon rise in the road,
almost hill, which reduced our speed
somewhat, and came nearer her.
GAS | came close beside her wheel
she turned her head as if she could not
bear the sight of the water toward
which we were plunging
"She saw me, and in al the horror
that surrounded us felt great happi-
ness, for there was trust, confidence and
admiration in that look II said, 'You
will save me
"Upto that time believe sho thought
she was riding to death alone.
"Then was close beside her, and as
we came toward the turn in the road /
reached over and seized, for ono instant,
the handle bars Of her wheel, keeping
both wheels pointed for the open field
and the river.
"There was minutes jar as we
crossed the field, then the river seemed
to spring forward to meet us. There
was dull shock, and a plunge into the
water.
81 found myself, when had recover
ed from the force of the blow, half stand
ing, half floating in the shallow water
holding Emily Brant, who was white
and unconscious. The landscape seemed
to be spinning round like top.
81 realized we had escaped serious in
jury, as the river had acted as a cushion
and lessened the force of the impact as
we plunged from our wheels. She soon
revived, but was very weak and dizzy.
That night the order of things was
changed. l remained, and it was Fer
now who left for the city.
"From that day the haze Of Indian
summer that threatened to euvelop my
life has given place to the glory Of noon
tide. {"
For a moment or two as Fred ceased
speaking we both sat looking at the
CRATE fire where the Goals glowed in the
ruddy flame
Twas thinking, knowir~ Tecl 81 vol
as I did, that Emily might wei consider
that hour q fortunate houT for her,
though at the time it carried with it
great dread. but all / said was, Thanks
for the story, old man. Henry i.
Haydock in Once a Week.