Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-09-19

"Ternow paid no heed; he was too
frightened himself; he turned his
bicycle into the bank and jumped.
Even at the speed with which she was
going knew she realized he had de-
serted her.
UNLESS you have been similarly
placed, you cannot understand the
CHASTITY feeling of horror that comes
over you as you know your wheel is
beyond your control on steep noun
tain. There is no way to stop but by
turning into the bank and taking
headlong plunge, and the chances of
injury or death, or to keep on, while
the speed increases with each revolu-
tion of the wheels, and the chances of
escape grow less.
81 realized if started in pursuit my
wheel would be in moment more be-
yond my control; still my opportu-
nifty had come, and | did not hesitate
moment more and / was close beside
her, | had no idea up to this time
what | should do, but as my wheel,
owing to superior weight, closed up
the gap between us my thoughts be-
gan to take form.
THE road, fortunately, was almos
straight. l remembered that where it
came upon the valley there was wide.
shallow river. 1t came down the noun
tain at right angles to the river, then
turned to the left. There was small
open field between the road and river.
| knew instinctivcly that she would
try to turn away from the river. In
4, Il l. l.. Il
mass of rock through which the road
had been cut.
II must reach her before we came
Ipon the river. For time our speed
was terrific. The rocks and trees
seemed to be strangely blurred as
shey 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
"As ! came close beside her wheel
she turned hor head as If she could
not bear the sight of the water towarl
which we were plunging.
"She saw me, and in all the horror
that surrounded us l felt great hap
piness, for there was trust, confidence
and admiration in that look. 1t said:
You will save me-
"Up to that time | believe she
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 one
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 q dull shock, and plunge into
the water.
81 found myself, when had recov-
cred from the force of the blow, half
standing, half floating in the shallow
water h olding Emily Brant, who was
white and unconscious. The land
scape seemed to be spinning round like
n top.
~ realized we had escaped serious
injury, as the river had acted rs Il
cushion and lcssened 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; ! re-
maincd, and it was Fernow who left
for the city.
From that day the haze of Indian
summer that threatened to envelop my
life has given place to the glory of
noontide."
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.
was thinking, knowing Fred as
well as | did, that Emily might well
consider that hour fortunate hour
for her, though at the time it carried
with it dread but all | said was:
"Thanhs for the story, old man.
Once Week.