Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-04-28

weakness, ano was rdpldly losing her
temper when. What happened ex-
actly was never quite clear to either.
Whether or not the mare stumbled or
| put her foot in a hole, unnoticed by
her absorbed rider; anyhow. she
| plunged forward. recovered herself.
and reared then with snort of min
| gled fright and indignation dashed
wildly of. dragging from her mistress
careless hands the loosely held rein. to
flap on her own neck. bringing on her
self thereby mad frenzy OF alarm,
For one second of horror. groom and
horse alike stood petrified and thun-
derstruck. 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 Great
ure's back. her hands gripping with
conyulsive clutch at her name.
Straight as an arrow went the mad
dened animal. straight to death for
both it 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 a boat with big white sail
danced on the waves as though in
mockery. away in down hollow lit
tie red flag waved; the golf players
threw aside their clubs and ran a 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
lessenedi
To the girl. half-fainting now. came
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, 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
lightness-Ine 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
fainting, gently on the turf. and turned
to see the mare rise at the fence so
close now and go over into the abyss
beyond
and Miss Doris says will you go up d.
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 fattery was in the girls
glance and tone. but this. her first
chance Of hero worship. maybe awaited
her nothing.
Its object hastily tore open the tele-
gram. read IL. crushed it into his pock-
ct, then made straight for the door into
the house and went on toward the lit
Miss Doris, alone therein, flushed and
fair, with shining eyes, rose to receive
him, coming forward with outstretched
hands
How can ever thank your" 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's 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.
,lasped themselves nervously together.
What would he ask? A kiss of her
Ups perhaps or-her foolish girls heart
beat with great throbs-if maybe he
Jared more. spoke OF love, would she,
Could she,
He. too. twisted his hands, cleared
lis throat, then spoke at last
well, miss. II you would be SO good.
'eally, you could do me very great
this very day. You see I'm
married, but we've kept it dark, my
wife and me. because she was in a shop
md didn't want to lose her place IL
possible, but nowhere the groom
rev very red and pulled the crushed
elegram out of his pocket-"but now
well. miss, there's baby; she's With
~ mother and they're doing well, she
nd the little one. but it's twenty miles
way and she will be wishing to see
ne. know If you would speak to Sir
ohm for me naYhe he'd let me haua q