The silver star., 1899-04-20

horse alike stood petrifled and thuu
derstruck, then In wild pursuit the two
started. for unthrown as yet. the gir
still sat. the stirrup hanging loose. hel
body croucbing low along the Great
ure's back. her hands gripping with
convulsive clutch at her name
| Straight as an arrow went the mad
dened animal. straight to death for
both 1t seemed.
A half-mile space ard more the
down-crest ran in low and gentle
swellings. to end abruptly at the edge
of cutting deep and dangerous. whose
barren fence OF broken bars would
scarcely stay such terror-stricken
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 lit
tie red flag waved; the golf players
threw aside their clubs and ran hope
less race.
Still horse and groom rode on. he
with blanched cheeks. his eyes OF fire;
the horse with long. swinging strides.
as though he guessed his goai-and at
last they gained-they gained. Inch
by inch. yard by yard. the distance
lessened,
To the girl half-falnting now, came
a shout musical with the sound OF
laundering hoofs. A voice she heard
and needed cried: sit up-let go
your holdi-
Mock ht, -act, rsp horSo and marc n
pull. sudden swerve and the strong
arms were round Miss Doris. dragging
her from the saddle.
Well for her now were her youth and
llghtness-tne freedom OF her foot.
One breathless. maddening moment.
then dismountins from his painting
horse the groom laid his burden. safe
and sound. though for the moment
f-intlng. gently on the turf. and turned
to see the mare rise at the fence SO
close now and go over into the abyss
beyondl
Here's telegram Just come for you
and Miss Doris says will you go UP di
rectly and see her: she's in the little
sitting room" So said one Of the
maids to the groom going on with his
usual work in the stables now that the
first excitement and talk had worn
themselves out
Subtle 1attery was in the girls
glance and tone, but this. her first
chance Of hero worship. maybe availei
her nothing.
Its object hastily tore open the tele-
gram. read II. crushed it into his pock-
et, then made straight FOR the door into
the house an went on toward the lit
lie room she had spoken Of.
Miss Doris. alone therein. flushed and
fair, with shining eyes. rose to receive
him, coming forward with outs;retched
hands.
How can ever thank you?" she
said, and her voice was low and thrill
ing. "You-yol saved my life. and /
what can do for you in return Surely
there IS something? You need only
ask"
Her eyes fell. her cheeks paled a lit
tie. her hands. taken by him perforce
for one moment. but only to be
dropped the next like live Goals.
clasped themselves nervously together.
What would he ask? \ 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 yol 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 a shop
and didn't want to lose her place IL
possible. but nowhere the groom
grew very red and pulled the crushed
telegram out of his pocket-"but now
well miss. there's a baby: she's with
my mother and they're doing we'll. she
and the little one. but it's twenty 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
few days holiday just to go and see
her"