The Opelousas courier., 1897-06-12

horse veered suddenly TO one side, ant
then plunged on more madly than be
fore. Both she and the doctor were
thrown violently out.
When the doctor picked himself NJ
and looked around in q dazed way, sht
was standing erect a. ever, vigorously
brushing the mud from her dress
She had experienced TN accident an(
had come out of it, as she had com
out OF everything else, unscathed.
The party on ahead, alarmed at the
sight of the runaway horse dashine
past, despatched Mr.. Lumb. who was
on horseback, to investigate. AS they
were near town, it was not long be-
fore he had sent a caD 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 i~nterposed laconically.
"When we went flying through the
air." he went on, without noticing The
interruption, sit flashed across my
mind that I should find you lying
stunned and insensible-that l would
pick you up tenderly in my arms, and
kiss you, as I did long ago-that /
would claim you for my own again.
"Well," she answered provokingly,
81 suppose the shock of such a fall,
to a man Of your weight, would natu-
rally bring him to his senses"
cit was not that" he said, q little
confused and nettled by her cool re-
ply, "but the situation was not as ro-
mantle as [ had imagined-as I hoped
it would be-"
"You had hoped, then, that I should
be stunned?"
con, 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. I was sure of it
when [ first met you, although you
seemed so siolid and indifferent.
Think of the time when we were all ID
all to each other"
81 thought Emily" began Miss
The doctor laughed happily. "No!
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, ''and I shall not
let you say it now. You are mine
and a thousand times dearer than
when you were the sweetheart of my
boyhood."
He slipped his arm around her, and
.eit her shaking with suppressed sobs.
''Why, what's the matterT' he asked.
81 don't KNOW" she answered. For
Miss Briggs had met with an expert
she could not fathom. The ten
Ter Inducements of her nature, frozen
% long that she doubted their exist
noes, melted as 3 a Februaryathaw,
nd found vent il tears.
AT the hotel el4kance they ''ound
driver awaiting them, hat
n hSld, ';I'm sorry to be troublin'
ez, sas,sog, but thez,s the two shillin'
lzpence-~ out, and two
hillin' sixpence for the journey back.
n the same shud be more, for it |
roke me vehicle an famed me .baste."
The doctor smiled down into the
ice beside him, where his fond eyes
blooming again the beauty of girl
God, and said, "The rascal knows the
,cident was all his own fault, but if
had not been for him, I might never =
ave found you as I did, on a jaunting
IT."
He dropped a shower Of silver pieces
ito the outstretehed hand.
"Shure an ye're fit for q prince,
'rr!' cried the man, delighted at the
nexpected generosity, and shrewdly
aesslng its cause. "Geod luck to We
l. the swate leddy!" .
And as they walked on down the ,
'rridor, his voice followed them, in
'king the blessing of all the saints in
s calendar. The Puritan.