Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-08-02

finally stopped, and they started back
to the hotel. There was a shifting of
seats. The wsgonette led the way,
followed by those on horses, and when
Miss Briggs came through the gate,
DR.. Powell was waiting to help her on
to the jaunting car.
They drove along in silence some
time, before the doctor remarked un-
easily, "The drivers have been drink
ing. l hope they'll not get US into
trouble"
81 have never been in any kind of
an accident" answered Miss Briggs.
81 have always thought should like
to be, just for the sensation"
For short distance they enter
tanned each other by recounting the
most dreadful accidents of which they
had ever heard both on land and sea.
They reached the climax at last. They
could recall no supremer horror than
had already been related.
| just then the half intoxicated driver,
having fallen behind the others, took
up his whip and lashed the horse furi-
ously. The frightened animal reared
and broke into a run. Now was Miss
Briggs opportunity for q sensation.
They were running away. She gripped
the seat firmly and held on with
all herr nit. She would have stuck
on val = to the snd, had not the
horse suddenly 20 one side, and
then plugged on more madly than be-
fore. Both she and the doctor were
thrown violently out.
When the-doctor picked himself up
and looked around in dazed way, she
was standing erect as ever, vigorously
brushing the mud from her dress.
She had experienced an accident and
had come out of it, as she had come
out of everything else, unscathed.
The party on ahead, alarm ed at the
sight of the runaway horse dashing
past, despatched Mr.. Lumb. who was
on horseback, to investigate. As they
were near town, it was not long be-
fore he had sent cab to their assist
ance.
Caroline" said the doctor, as they
drove back in the twilight, 81 have
always been impressed with the rapid
ity with which the brain acts. Man
thinks at lightning speed"
"That depends on the man," Miss
Briggs interposed laconically.
"When we went flying through the
air, he went on, without noticing the
interruption, ''it flashed across my
mind that 1 should find you lying
stunned and insensible-that ] would
pick you up tenderly in my arms, and
kiss you, as I did long ago-that I
would claim you for my own again."
"Well," she answered provokingly,
81 suppose the shock of such fall,
to a man of your weight. would natu-
rally bring him to his senses"
'It was not that" he said, little
confused and nettled by her cool re.
ply, "but the situation was not as ro-
mantle as l had imagined-as hoped
it would be-"
"You had hoped. then, that should
be stunned?"
"Oh, Caroline" he demonstrated,
sis there never to be anything but
Misunderstanding between us? You
must listen to me, for it is fate that
has brought us across the sea to find
each other at last. / was sure of it
when l first met you, although you
seemed so stolid and indifferent.
Think of the time when we were all In
all to each other"
81 thought Emily" began Miss
Briggs.
The doctor laughed happily. "Nol
No! Emily is not as blind as her aunt.
She has known what wanted from
the first. You have not said no." he
added presently, as they rode on
through the darkness, land shall not
let you say it now. You are mine
and thousand times dearer than
when you were the sweetheart of my
boyhood.
he slipped his arm around her, and
felt her shaking with suppressed sobs.
"Why, what's the matter ?" he asked.
81 doL't know" she answered. For
Miss Briggs had met with an expert
ence she could not fathom. The ten
der undercurrents of her nature, frozen
SO long that she doubted their exist
ences, melted as in February thaw,
and found vent in tears.
At the hotel entrance they found
the drunken driver awaiting them, hat
in hand, "I'm sorry to be troublin'
yez, sorr, but theirs the two shillin'
sixpence for the journey out, and two
shillin' sixpence for the journey back.
An the same shud be more, for it
broke me vehicle an famed me baste. J."
The doctor smiled down into the
face beside him, where his fond eyes
saw blooming again the beauty of girl
hood, and said, "The rascal knows the
accident was all his own fault, but if
it had not been for him, might never
have found you as did, on iaunting
car"
He dropped shower of silver pieces
into the outstretched hand.
"Shure an ye're fit for prince,
sorr !" cried the man, delighted at the
unexpected generosity, and shrewdly