Evening star., 1900-04-07
hlmy spangled scarlsstt, stun. caught in place

Win diamond stars
They went in the. buggy, Miss Lucindy-
Tom driving. Il Wouldn't risk it unless i
did drive" she said!o SWhy. there is no bot
tom TO the roads after these two last warm
days Sarah was something upset She
with driver and footman. and John on
horseback riding beside. She did not know
the strength of Miss Lucindy-Toms prin-
ciples. The carriage could not have gone
by her consent, even to her own funeral.
unless the weather had been fair and the
roads fine. -C.r
For reasons purely financial the Ewings
had no carriage. Miss Marticia had been
content with buggy ever since her
fathers carriage wore out. Marcia had
pacing horse and handsome saddle. but
most times she went abroad sitting at Miss
Marticas elbow. So 1t fell out that just as
Miss Lucindy-Tom drove off, sitting very
upright, and fiicking the horse with her
whip, Miss Martcia ,clambered into her own
vehicle. settled Marcia snugly under the
robes and took up her reins with an air of
indecision.
Which way would you go, Marcia?'' she
asked; straight, or round by the turn
Straight. It's three miles the shortest
way-and We would only have little piece
of pike" Marcia said.
'.sull; I believe I'll try it." Miss Marticia
said, cluektng to her horse. "Merry-Tom
does hat" mud. and so do l."
Thus 1t happened that two vehicles bound
for the same place set out for it in al
mcSt opposite directions. Ncltner went by
the front way. Miss LucindyTom headed
for Griggs lane, which ran along the south
side of her farm and was reasonably dry.
1t also ran beside the Ewing farm, little
beyond which it merged into mill road,
rocky and rutted, but still passahe At
the mouth of tee lane, back of the Warfield
farm. was the turnpike. Miss LucindyTom
would unhesitatingly have chosen that route,
only that she knew she would have to
pay at two toll gates for travelling very
little more than five miles,
The lane was narrowish, but vehicles
could pass in it. unless they met at the
big mud hole. There the fences were not
closer than elsewhere, but 1t was the foot
ing of which you had to beware. The mud
hole stretched from fence to fence; it was
soft and semi-fuid on top. but got thicker
ana sucker the deeper you went down in
1t. So long as it was not more than knee
deep riders and drivers struggled through
it When it got over hubs and up to saddle
skirts something had to be done. The
Griggs boys and their neighbors did not
bother with road commissioners. Instead,
they went to work and built stout cross
wayed bridge.
1t was amply wide for one set of wheels
Two could by no possibility pass each
other on it. But that did not matter-any-
body crossing it was bound to see anybody
else on the other side. Nobody need wait
longer than half minute-and nobody
could possibly be so foolish as to refuse TO
wait.
When the unexpected happened there was
really some excuse for Miss Marticia. She
was driving southwestcrly with the sun
at o'clock full in her eyes, 1t blinded
her to the nearncss of the approaching We
hicle-she thought she had a clear right
of passage, and drove Merry-Tom boldly
upon the stout timbers. Her heart gave
started Leap as she saw the other horse
come on. and recognized it as Miss War
fields BliXen.
Merry-Tom and Blixen rubbed noses ami
cably when they met in the very middle of
the bridge For a long time nobody said
word. Miss Lucindy-Tom glared at Miss
Marticia; Miss Marticia glared back un-
wtnkfng. Sarah and Marcia studied each
other covertly. They had met more than
once before the break. hut then there was
no need for appraisal of rival charms
Sarah l do wonder how long we will
have to walt before those-ahem-persons
find out 1t Is their place to back and let
US get by?' Miss Lucindy-Tom said at
last. Marcia giggled. softly. The hunor
of the situation overcane her She knew
well Miss Martica would spend the night
where she was rather than give in.
Il m glad it's warm-but warm Febru-
ary day is a weather-breeder" Miss Marti-
cia said to Marcia. Shouldn't be surprised
If 1t was showing hard by morning. 1 do
wonder what makes some people so hatefulI
That buggy yonder is on the down sidc-it
would go back of itself If only the driver
hadn't cut the Wheels
"Oh, do please let me pass"' Marcia en-
treated half an hour later Don't put
yourself on their level, Aunt Marty! lit
is not nice to be standing here I feel per-
fectly idiotic'
Il won't back my horse! That's fiat"
Miss Marticia said loudly. Under her
Warfield there is somebody in this world
she can't run over If die for it,"
sarah l wish you'd sing something
Miss Lucindy-Tom said, u
Its lucky Merry-Tom never was afraid
of noise" Miss Marticia said to the uni
verse.
"oh, do go back-or-else drive on
deep.' Sarah entreated, in fearful whis-
per. Miss LucindyTom shifted audiblv:
That shows how much you KNOW she
said. ITS over the hubs-even if we didn't
get stuck it would be certain to run in the
buggy box and ruin your new dress"
II don't care! You must go on, I wish
was dead! l shall die unless you take me
homeI' Sarah protested. sull fearful.
Miss Lucindy-Tom struck up a hymn and
sang loudly through three lines of it. Sud
denly she checked herself-she heard some
body sEysH' coming grnst rapidly ~ up behind:
checking his horse at the end of the bridge
Then he whistled softly.
A glance across had told him the whole
story, story, This Will never do. Tanty! You
get get through this way" he said Lucky
l overlook you. should hate to think OF
you mired five miles from home, and not a
soul to help"
, 81 wont turn back and I will go on"
Miss Lucindy-Tom said distinctly. ''If YOU
are a man and kin to me, ride across and
make those other people get out of nv
way"
John pleaded and entreated It was all in
vain. He saw and heard that Marcia was
likewise trying to bring her aunt to reason,
with like i'll success. At last he turned des-
thing to end this?' he asked. Instantly
Miss Lucindy-Tom took the word from Sa-
rah's mouth. "Yes-if she'll say, John
M r. HscsN