The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-08-26

"AiSSAc A~
ity, Gu, elessness or fright might mean
great danger.
II saw Earnest Fernow turn white
and jam his brake down hard. while he
back pedaled with al his might. Sud
denly we were startled by a cry OF fear
"a cry for help, Earnest, save me!
The next instant Emily Brant sped by
us. She had lost control Of her 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
I knew she realized he had deserted 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 Il steep mountain. There
is no way to stop but by turning into
the bank and taking n headlong plunge,
and the chances Of injury or death, or to
keep on, while the speed increased with
each revolution of the wheels, and the
chances Of escape grow less.
II realized if l started in pursuit my
wheel would be in a moment more be.
yOnd my control. Still, my opportunity
had come, and l did not hesitate. A
moment more, and l was close behind
her. | had no idea up to this time what
I should do, but as my wheel, owing to
superior weight. closed up the gap be-
tween us my thoughts began to take
form.
1.-The road, fortunately. was almost
straight. l remembered that where it
came upon the valley there was Il wide,
shallow river. 1t came down the o
tain at right angles to this river, then
turned to the left. There was a small
open field between the road and river. l
knew that instinctively she would try
to turn away from the river. In that
case she would be hurled against q mass
of rock through which the road lad
been Cut.
Il must reach her before we came
upon the river. For a time u speed
was terrific. The rocks and trees seemed
to be strangely blurred as they sped by.
We could feel the air like a resisting
wall through which we were plunging.
Then we came upon a rise i'll the road.
almost a hill, which reduced our speed
somewhat, and ] came nearer her.
CAS- l came close beside her wheel
she turned her head as if she could not
bear the sight of the water toward
which we We're plunging.
"Shc saw me, and i'll all the horror
that surrounded us 1 felt a great happi-
ness, for there was trust, confidence and
| 60, -, xl.A l-4j- ~.,l SN~,
will ave me-
"Upto that time l believe she thought
she was riding to death alone.
"Then / was close beside her, and as
we came toward the turn in the road I
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 a minutes jar as we
crossed the field, then the river seemed
to spring forward to meet us. There
was a dull shock, and a plunge into the
water.
II found myself, when I had recover
ed from the force of the blow, half stand
ing, half floating i'll the shallow water
holding Emily B-ant, who vas white
and unconscious. The landscape seemed
to be spinning rOund like q top.
II realized we had escaped serious in
jury, as the river had acted as a cushion
and lessened the force Of the impact rs
we plunged from our wheels. She soon
revived, but was very weak and dizzy.
That night the order Of things was
changed. I remained, and it was Fer
now 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 noon
tide
For q moment o. two as Fred ceased
speaking we both sat looking at the
CRATE fire where the Goals glowed in the
ruddy flame.
Twas thinking, knowing Fred as vel.
rs I did, that Emily might well consider
that hour a fortunate hour for her,
though at the time it carried with it
great dread, but all l said was, Thanks
for the story, old man. Henry +.
Haydock in Once a Week.