The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-07-04

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veloped into action. She had remem
bered that Jennie Long, Tanningtor
girl, owned a bicycle. The Phono-
graph reporter was an expert wheel,
woman, and to borrow the wheel from
the girls mother, get ready and start
was for our energetic heroine the work
Of but few minutes. She had cut out
a lively pace and overtaken Ainsworth
while he wrestled on the mountain with
the refractory trace
The young mans admiration for the
girls pluck was so great that he was
more than half inclined to call her back;
but as he hesitated she passed out of
hail, so he let the horse out, and by ten
minutes sharp driving overlook the cy-
! clist. AS he saw her whirling along
in the white road, now brilliantly il
Illuminated by the risen moon, he said
to himself:
There's no use trying to head off a
girl like that; I'll do the decent thing
by her. She's bound to reach Jonesville
IN time anyhow, and l might as well
have the pleasure of her company"
When he got close enough he called:
Miss Lumsden, / can't see you going
on alone. l surrender. Won't you get
into the buggy?"
Thanks; but I'm doing quite nice
iy. I'm not one bit afraid, and it's lust
cool enough to make the exercise de-
hghtful. Please drive on, and don't
mind me-"
lie knew she meant it, and after a
few unavailing words of remonstrance
he pushed brislSly on, but determined
to keep within hail. After that he
let her set the pace, urging the horse
when she forged ahead, and slackening
speed when she did.
A very few miles of this kind of
travel were enough for the bay. He was
homeward bound, and decidedly ayerse
to poking. After several abortive at
tempts to break away, he finally settled
matters by shying at spectre-like tree
that lifted its bare white arms across
the road, and started down a steep hill
at a rafting pace. The frightened
driver in vain hauled and tugged upon
the lines, and within half a mile the
hayward beast was master. The end
came swiftly. Near the bottom of the
hill Ainsworth was tossed out. landing
anything but gently on pile of stones.
while the nag sped merrily homeward.
There came to the Iuckless journalist
one sharp spasm of pain and then
merciful Inconsistencies. When he
presently returned to anguish and the |
world again, sweet-toned voice was
asking:
Are you much hurt? Can Won
move?" His fair rival had again over
taken him.
Ugh! my arm!" was all he had the /
grace to answer. When he tried IN
raise his right arm it fell back like
lead.
Miss Lumsden gently touched the
limb and said: "I'm afraid it's
broken"
Ainsworth groaned acquiescence.
Just lie perfectly quiet while I 90
Ind explore. There must be a house
near somewhere.
In less than Is minutes the g;rl was
pack again with horse and wagon,
stout farmers lad and flask. She
made the injured man swallow little
u the contents of the aforementioned
Ind, and then she and the boy helped
nm to lie down on the straw in the bot.
ON of the vehicle.
The bicycle was lifted in, Miss Lums-
EN- followed. the boy took the reins
nd the eventful journey of the two
was resumed, this time slow
:, for Ainsworth was not in condition
stand much jarring and the wagon
oasted no springs. For the first half
lille no one spoke. The Photograph
irl sat beside the sufferer, tanning him
nth sheets of copy paper. Ainsworth
Tas silent, save when an exceptionally
ad jolt forced a groan. AT last he said:
Indeed, Miss Lumsden, don't de-
,rve this. / was a brute; / know
as. I'm afraid all this delay will make
on late, and you certainly deserve to
itch the press after all you've gone ]
trough. Leave me at the nearest farm ,
ouse and drive ahead fast"
Wow, do keep quiet, Mr.. Aims &
orth, or you'll worry yourself into a {
yer and me into temper. It's only I
N now, and the boy says we can make 7
by 1:3o. You did perfectly right in
fusing my absurd request; l never I
lould have asked such thing" '
But" he persisted, 81 want you to c
low that l tried to keep near you
It." r
The horse didn't share your benevo- q
ut intentions. He's in his stable by c
is time, l suppose. There, now, don't b
Tx, or we shall be obliged to treat you a
re Jonah and throw you overheard" c
He tried to say more; to tell how sorry
was, and how grateful, and what a o
'etch he had been; and between pain
d weakness, and the bliss of being O.
nistered to by such an angel, there 0
no telling what he might not have o
Id. But Miss Iumsdep was as firm | o