Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-04-20

horse alike stood petrified and thun-
derstruck. then in wild pursuit the two
started, for, untbrown as yet. the girl
still sat. the stirrup hanging loose, her
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 and 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 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 goal-and at
| last they gained-they gained. Inch
by inch, yard by yard. the distance
| lessened!
To the girl half-fainting now, came
a shout musical with the sound Of
laundering hoofs. A voice she heard
and needed cried: "Sit up-let go
| your hold"
Neck by neck ran horse and mare,
| 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-tne freedom of her foot,
One breathless, maddening moment,
then dismounting from his painting
horse the groom laid his burden, safe
and sound, though for the moment
fSinting gently on the turf, and turned
: to see the mare rise at the fence so
close now and go over into the abyss
beyond!
Here's a 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 fiattery was in the girls
glance and tone, but this, her first
chance of hero worship, maybe availed
her nothing.
Its object hastily tore open the tele-
gram, read 1t, crushed it into his pock-
ct. then made straight for the door into
the house anu went on toward the lit
tie 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 I 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. Surely
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 themselves 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, II you would be So good.
really, you could do me very great
kindness this very day. You see I'm
married, but we've kept 1t dark, my
wife and me, cecause she was in a shop
and didn't want to lose her place II
possible, but nowhere the groom
grew very red and pulled the crushed
telegram out of his pocket-"but now
well, miss, there's baby; she's with
my mother and they're doing well. she
and the little one, but it's twenty miles
away and she will be wishing to see
me, know. II you would speak to Sir
John for me maybe he'd let me have a
few days holiday just to go and see
her."