The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-17
Twice Saved

| MES OoTlS dlu ner groom Gathered TO
gether across the downs that swept IN
broad folds of many tinged greens to-
wards the sea, flashing and sparkling il
golden sun CLEANS on the horizon
She. the 17-year-old only child of parents
married late in life, elderly now, with
settled ways and habits according III with
the latter-day intrusion of restless youth
this growing up of the daughter they
doubtless loved but little apprehended-
Fair she was and sweet, happy in her
recent emancipation from school re-
straints and trammels, content with life,
unaware as yet of her lack of parental
comprehension and control, her youthful
mind attuned TO all maiden fancies in their
modern garb of universal brotherhood
equality. the leveling of class distinctions
as preached by her best loved sehoolmate,
the daughter of an ardent, well-knoWn So
cialist leader
He who rode besid. ssr at her own re-
quest, a few years oder only, good look
ing, manly, with that air Of clear cut
| cleanliness common to grooms in general,
not so very long ago the pride of his
| schoolmaster. captain of the village crick-
| ct club. refined. too, for his class in speech
and manners, steady and sober in stables
! and kitchen, as his fellow servants could
have told
In very truth were there not the ele-
| mentS of romance in the air? Youth,
| beauty, innocence, with the scent OF
| spring. the tanning of the solft west wind
in the sunshine.
After a while the girl drew rein, her
| companion doing likewise. keeping his
| horse a little back as though meaning TO
fall into his proper place behind her. But
! Miss Doris would have none Of it; she
| wished to talk, and talk she would when
she so chose. Many a time had il hap
/ pened of late during their morning rides.
At first the groom had responded shyly
/ in monoSylla bles Yes, miss, mo, miss, y
! as III case required, in a manner little
satisfactory to enthusiastic maiden at
tempts at surmounting class barriers, but
| Miss Doris had the courage Of conviction
/ "a little patience and matters, AMI mat
tiers mended themselves.
A social evening in the parish school
! room, including among other items a
would-be tragic reading, turned into hope
| less comedy by the accident Of forgetful-
ness on the reciter's part, gave occasion.
The groom bashfully described a similar
| incident as happening at a like entertain
ment in his own village home across the
county, and the ice was broken, the free
masonry of common joke established be-
tween this girl and her little mora than
boy servant.
She hal read much after a fashion, and
would talk of many things with the light,
facile readiness of clever, immature NC
manhood. He could claim acquaintance
with but few authors comparatively, but
he could listen with hattering difference
and intelligence, while she was lu * to
recognize his genuine good sense and men
tai grasp of any subject he would ven
ture an opinion on, though it might be
expressed in language a little less Gle
giant than hers.
SO days and weeks passed on, and IT.
tie reckoned Miss Doris of any harm she
might be doing herself or MIN. ct to
the groom's credit be it said never once
did he ''presume'-to use an old-time
word she doubtless would have secuted
on his young mistress kindness. Still did
it need a distinct request on her part to
bring him TO her side as now today.
A word or two did she speak-the beauty
Of the sky, the sparkle Of the sea, then
a question-had he read a look she had
told him of?
Yes was his answer, half of it, and
that half he did not like at all. An arSu-
ment, eager and somewhat hot on the
lady's part, ensued, the groom sticking
quietly and respectfully to his point. while
his mistress Qrritated perhaps by the nd-
getting of her mare, which could not
brook contradiction in Uhe matter Of g.
wished for galtop), responded sharply,
conscious Of her own weakness, and was
rapidly losing her temper when-what
happened exactly was never quite clear
to either.
Whether or not the mare stumbled or
put her foot in hole unnotice1 by her
absorbed rider, anyhow, she plungel for
ward, recovered herself and reared, then,
with a snort of mingled fright and ind.g-
nation, dashed wildly off, dragging from
her mistress careless hands the loosely
held rein, to flop on her own neck, bring
ing on herself thereby a mad frenzy of
alarm. For one second Of horror. groom
and horse alike stood petriied and thun-
derstruck, then in wild pursuit the two
started, for, unthrown as yet, the girl still
sat, hte stirrup hanging loose. Der tody
crouching low along the creatures back, |
her hands gripping with convu.sive clutch |
at her name. Straight as an arrow went |
the maddened animal-straisht to death |
for both it seemed.
4 half-mile space and more the down |
crest ran in low and gentle dwellings, TO |
end abruptly at the edge of a cutting deep |
and dangerous. whose barren fence of bro |
ken bars would scarcely stay such ter
strides. No help was there |
about. Far out at sea boat with Ing
white sail danced on the waves as though /
in mockery; away in a down hollow a lit |
tie red flag waved; the golf players threw
aside their clubs and ran a hopeless race
Stin horse and groom rode on, he with
bianched cheeks. his eyes of fire, the
horse with long, swinging strides, as
though he guessed his gOal-and at last
they gained-they gained. Inch by inch,
yard by yard, the distance lessened.
To hte girl, half fainting now, came |
shout musical with the sound of thunder
ing hoOfs. a voice she heard and needed |
cried: Sit up-let go your hold"
Neck by neck ran horse and mare a |
pull, sudden swerve. and the strong
arms were round Miss Doris. dragging her
from the saddle,
Well for her now were her youth and
ightnesS-the freedom OF her footi
One breathless, maddening moment |
hen dismounting from his painting horse.
he groom laid his burden safe and sound.
-hough for n moment fainting gently on
he turf. and turned 10 see the mare rise
A. the fence so close now, and go over
nto the abyss beyond.
Here's a telegram just come for YOU.
md Miss Doris SAYS viii you go I'D d.
'ectly and see her; she's in the little sit
So said one of the maids to
he groom going on with his usual work
n the stables now that hte first excite
nent and talk had worn themselves out
subtle fattery was in the girls glance
md tone, but this her first chance Of hero
Forship, maybe awaited her nothing
It's object hastily tore open the teie- / I
ram, read T. crushed Il into ais pocket ,
hen made straight for the door into the |
.ouse, and went on toward the little room |
he had spoken Of
Miss Doris alone therein. flushed ard
az ---g~h