Middletown transcript., 1898-02-05


dash that attracted the attention Of all
beholders.
Some who hastened to get out of the
way predicted disaster if the pace was
con inued. But the rider smiled at
their looks Of apprehe nsion as he pas
sed, settled himself little more firmly
in the saddle and increased the speed.
He knew a few things about horseback
riding himself, and the notion that he
could meet with an accident never en-
tered his head. Horse and man pre-
seuted ine sight as they careered
along in the twilight, for the horse was
large and we'll built, with clean, trim
limbs and an arching neck, while the
young man was of stalwart build and
well-favored countenance.
AS he rode the moon arose, creating
nigh lights here and there that con-
rasted strongly with the darken shad-
ows. Eventually, perhaps, the young
mans sense Of delight in rapid motion
began to give way to appreciation of
he evenings beauties. At all events,
10 slackened the reins bit as the
morse swung round corner into a side
street.
Just ahead iD the moonlight he saw
: girl upon crosswalk. At the sud-
len sound of hoofs she stepped quickly
to the shaded footpath. There was
iutter of white drapery and the horse
started yioiently;a moment later the
lashing rider lay prone upon the ground,
mis- clothes torn and bimself apparently
,uffering severely from the sudden CON-
tact of bis head against jagged pile
If stones.
AN INFORMAL INTRODUCTION.
The girl screamed, but, in spite Of
lrr fright, she FASTENED to the fallen
nurseman's aid. She had hardly reach
ID him when he rose nimbly, brushed
the dirt from his clothes and stood !,
sn ling before her.
"Are you-are you badly hart?"
tsked the girl.
"Why, no, not all. 1t was awkward
n me to take snch tumble from my
lnrse," said the young man. II hope
didn't give you too much of start,
tough, Miss-Miss''
"Miss Kissam, "said the girl demure-
" finishing his sentence, while her face
turned rosy red in the moonlight.
AS the young man gazed upon her
pretty features he suddenly grew faint
I'll don't know but am bit more
shaken up than l thought l was,'' be
stammered, ''but-l'll be all right in a
moment.
II do hope it is not serious, "said the
girl, again blushing vividly. ut was
all my fault, too. Ny home is in the
next house, and am sure it would be
brst for you TO go in and rest little,
Mr.-Mr.-"
"Vanderbilt," responded the youth.
u turn finishing an interrogatory SEN
ence. civilian H. Vanderbilt-and
and possibly 1t would be well for me
10 accept your invitation"
ACQUAINTANCE WELL BEGUN.
So the young man entered the home
# the Rev. Mr.. Kissam, at that time a
well-known Lutheran clergyman of the
State capital. The minister received
his guest Hospitality, Of course, when
the accident was explained, and the
girls mother hustled about to make
snme simple applications to the horse
mans hurts. While his bruises were
neing attended to, young Vanderbilt
and The minister engaged in conversa-
tion on some topic Of the day, in which
the mother and the daughter Joined
and, all forgetful of his horse, the un-
expected guests remained the evening
through. When at last he tore him
se.f away he thought he had never
been entertained more pleasantly il
his life.
OF course, he was invited to Cal
again, and, CT course, he accepted the
invitation. In fact, bis calls at thu
modest parsonage were exceedingly
frequent from that time on, and it wa
not many weeks before he decided
sooner or later to ask a particularly i'm
portant question of the gill who haC
frightened his horse, and then anothe
Of her father.
Il vast not until The following July
however, that he was aule to mus' g.
up enough courage to put these inter
rogations.
He may not have been worker il
that Geld before he met Miss Kissam
but it is of record that the following
July he acted as superintendent of th
Sunday school connected With he
fathers church, and that the entir
school went somewhere on picnic il
that month.
Mrs Nissan was teacher. and bot
the young folk were naturally KEEP
pretty busy all day long.
A PROPOSAL UNDER THE TREES.
But some time before the close o
the day they found it possible to take
quiet stroll together afar in the grow
where the picnic was held. When the
had got away from the others youDI
Vanderbilt stammered out his story An
asked bis question. After the stor
had been listened to and the questio
answered in the way he wished. he too
from his pocket keen-bladed penknifs
and with it carved an inscription in th
smooth bark OF 3 maple tree. This in
scription read:
Heeaeesesee9sese
( Mr. and Mra william h. Vanderbilt
l2eeeeeeeseseseeeeeeeee