Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-03-17

responded sharply, conscious of her
own weakness, and was rapidly losing
/ her temper. when-what happened ex-
| actfy was never quite clear to either.
Whether or not the mare stumbled or
| put her foot in hole unnoticed by her
| absorbed rider-anybow, she plunged
/ forward. recovered herself and reared,
then, with snort of mingled fright and
/ indigna ton, dashed wildly off. drag
| ging from her~mistress' careless hands
/ the loosely-held rein. to flap on her own
neck, bringing on herself thereby mad
/ frenzy of alarm. For one second of
horror groom and horse alike stood pet
rifed and thunderstruck, then in wild
pursuit the two started, for, unthrown
as yet, the girl still sat, the stirrup
hanging loose, her body crouching low
| along the creatures back, her hands
| gripping with convulsive clutch at her
1 name. Straight as an arrow went the
| maddened animal-straight to death
for both. it seemed.
| A half-mile space and more the down
crest ran in low and gentle dwellings.
to end abruptly at the edge of cut
| ting deep and dangerous. whose bar
| rem fence of broken bars would scarce
| ly stay such terror-strieken strides. No
| help was there about Far out at sea a
boat with big white sail danced on the
waves as though in mockery; away in
a down hollow a little red flag waved;
the golf players threw aside their clubs
and ran hopeless race.
| Still horse and groom rode on, he
with blanched cheeks, his eyes of fire,
the horse with long, swinging strides,
! o. he
last they gained-they gained. Inch by
| inch, yard by yard, the distance les
sened.
/ To the girl, half fainting now, came
a shout musical with the sound of thun-
| dering hoofs. A voice she heard and
needed cried: "Sit up-let go your
holdi"
| Neck by neck ran horse and mare, a
| pull, a sudden swerve. and the strong
arms were round Miss Doris, dragging
her from the saddle!
! Well for her now were her youth and
/ lightness-the freedom of her footi
| One breathless maddening moment,
then dismounting from his painting
horse. the groom laid his burden safe
and sound, though for the moment
| fainting. gently on the turf, and turned
to see the mare rise at the fence so close
now, and go over into the abyss be-
| yond!
| Heres a telegram just come for
you, and Miss Doris says will you go
!! up directly and see her; she's in the lit
tie sitting-room." So said one of the
| maids to the groom going Oh with his
l. IN 1oc III L
| first excitement and talk had worn
themselves out.
Subtle fattery was in the girls
glance and tone. but this, her first
chance of hero worship, maybe availed
her nothing.
It's object hastily tore open the tele-
gram; read it, crushed it into his
| pocket, then made straight for the door
into the house. and went on toward the
little room she had spoken of.
Miss Doris, alone therein. flushed and
fair. with shining eyes, rose to receive
| him, coming forward with outstretched
hands.
How can ! ever thank you?' she
| said. and her voice was low and thrill
| ing. "You-you saved my life, and L
| what can do for you in return? Sure
~ there is something? You need only
| ask"
Her eyes fell. her cheeks paled lit
tie. her hands taken by, him perforce
| for one moment, but only to be dropped
the next like live Goals. clasped them
| selves nervously together.
What would he ask? A kiss of her
lips perhaps, or-her foolish girls
heart beat with great throbs-if maybe
| he dared more, spoke of love, would
| she? could she?
He. too. twisted his hands, cleared
his throat, then spoke at last.
''Well, miss. if you would be so good.
really. you could do me a very great
kindness this very day. You see. I'm
married, but we've kept it dark. my
wife and me, because she was in 4 shop
and didn't want to lose her place if pos
sible, but now" here the groom grew
very red and pulled the crushed tele-
gram out of his pocket, "but now-well.
miss. there's a baby; she's with my
mother. and they're doing well. she and
the little one. but it's 20 miles away.
and she will be wishing to see me, +
know. If you would speak to Sir John
for me. maybe he'd let me have a few
days holiday just to go and see her,
Chicago Times,Herald.
An Eye to Business
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