The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-06
ON REIGATE HILL.


ETC., and had lived it over in imagination
several times before starting.
This was what they had arranged, and
all went well until they had nearly arrived
at the steep hill leading into Reigate-
Perhaps Ella was a little tired or the heat
had tried her, but she was certainly not as
sweet tempered as usual, and instead Of
taking Jacks little hints in good part, as
she generally did, she resented them, and
showed that she resented them, by going
on in her own way and ignoring his adj
vice entirely.
you viii have to be very careful when
we come to this next hill, - Jack said just
before reaching Reigate. "YOu must dis
mount directly you see the notice board at
the top"
- My dear Jack, - Ella said impatiently,
81 am not beginner now. I often go out
alone and know how to take care Of my
self The other day, when the WiIkinsons
had their picnic Mr. Taunton said was
one of the best riders there. -
Taunton s a foo''- began Jack hastily.
"I mean-I know you are good rider,
but really good rider is always careful.
I've known Taunton do the most fool
hardy things just to show of Bit -
Mr.. Taunton is not in the habit OF
showing of, - Ella said stiffly.
She knew that what Jack had said was
perfectly true but she was annoyed with
him for so constantly finding fault with
her, as she expressed it to herself, instead
of praising her easy, graceful way of riding
as Mr. Taunton always did.
Jack was annoyed, and showed it.
Its rather pity Taunton s not here, %
he said, with touch of sarcasm.
''It is, - said Ella curtly. She was wild
with herself the moment she had said it.
for no one realized more than herself how
empty and shallow George Taunton was
or how weak and unmanIy he appeared in
comparison to Jack But she had said il
now, and she was not going to let Jack
think she was sorry So she rode straight
on ahead, her 1.-THE, graceful figure slightly
undulating with the movement of her ma
chine and her small head, daintily crowned
with simple hat, held erect
Jack made no answer, but for him the
day was spoiled Those last words Of
Elias had given him a curious tight feel
ing at his heart and he rode on silently.
Had he, after all, been raising false hopes
within himself, he wondered miserably,
and was it possible that Ella cared foI
Taunton? True, she had demurred little
at first about coming with him for this
ride and had finally consented by saying
that as he was such an old friend she sup
posed she might. But, then, he had put
that down to little natural shyness and
had liked her all the better for it. Now,
after her last words, he began to wonder
whether she had intended him to under
stand from that that he was only to be
friend-nothing else? And he had been
hattering himself that this would be such
a splendid opportunity for asking her to
be his wife and getting her consent. He
had imagined their going back together as
an engaged couple and surprising her
mother with the news. How they would
Here Jack suddenly became conscious
that they had reached the top of the hill
and that Ella was still going steadily on
in spite of the warning: ITO cyclists.
This Hill is dangerous.
"Stopl' he called out peremptorily-
"For goodness sake, stopI Don't be an
idiotP'
An idiotl Elias face famed at the in
sulting epithet. She had been thinking,
after all " neither it would not be better to
get off and SO be on the safe side, especial
ly as she was not by any means a prof.
cient rider yet, whatever George Taunton
might say, but at Jacks last words she
altered her mind and rode quietly on
ahead. After all it was not much of hill
only a very gentle slope at first, with
exquisitely smooth surface, and the view.
In spite of her ruffled feathers Ella caught
her breath with little gasp of delight
For miles round she had perfect pano-
rama. The left side of the landscape drop
ped suddenly, displaying a deep valley,
just beyond which the red little town of
Redhin nestled cozily in among the trees.
At this moment Ella became conscious
that her machine was gaining an impetus,
and she hastily put on the brake, realiZ-
ing, however, to her horror that it refused
to act. With awful feeling of some
dreadful thing coming she held on tightly
to her machine, her eyes fixed straight in
front of her on the road, which was get
ting sleeper than ever. Her head was in a
whirl, and she was getting dizzy and deaf
Some one-where had she heard that voice
before-was calling out to her. telling her
to keep steady and turn to the right-the
right. The right! Which was the right
The voice got louder and more excited.
1.-The right-turn sharply to the rightl
Good Godl''
For Ella in her sore distress had turned
the wrong handle, and with a little hall
stided cry of Jack Jackr' had gone
whirling madly down the steep bank at
the left.
It was more than an hour afterward
that ella opened her eyes, very surprised
to find herself in tiny room and still
alive. She felt stiff and bruised, and her
head ached horribly, while the strange,
giddy feeling made everything spin round
and round. Some one came softly forward
and touched her hair gently, then bent
down and looked at her with anxious,
heavy eyes full of anguish The face
seemed a long way off at first, then came
nearer, and in vague way Ella remem-
bered to have seen it before somewhere.
Another moment and she knew who il
was.
Jack, - she whispered family. And
Jack took her gently in his arms and let
her sob out all the fright and sorrow which
her little bit of willfulness had caused
them both.
And, after all, Jack realized his greatest
wish They did not 90 to the Barons'
cave or into Reigate, but took the next
train back to town, only they returned as
an engaged couple. And the next time
they visited Reigate they spent their
fbEra T217f they never ryTClp1