The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-09
Theodora'S
HorSefe55 Carriage.
BY H. E. Rood.
Copyright, 1900, by Il. E. Rood.
N n OST of the neighbors say they
NJ are unable to understand why

n N OST Of the neighbors say they
| NV are unable to understand why
Theodore purchased horse
| less carriage in the first place. But of
course ones neighbors are not suppos-
ed to know all of ones domestic af-
! fairs, although l am free to confess
| that in rural community such as that
wherein we reside there is very, very
| little to escape the neighbors knowl-
edge However, that is neither here
nor there The reason Theodore bought
granduncle of Theo's died and was
considerate enough to bequeath unto
her the sum of 81 400 If the old gen.
tleman had left her $1,000 or $1,000,
l have no doubt but that the money
would now be drawing per cent on
mortgage. But Theodore saw an adj
| vertisement of a horseless carriage
costing $1,400, delivered free, and she
decided at once to invest in it.
| Just Think" she exclaimed. Now
| we won't have to worry and bother
ourselves about safe investment for
| dear Uncle Johns money. If we let it
remain in bank, the cashier is sure to
run away, and if we put it in real es-
| tate am certain the mortgage will be
burned up. Besides the highest inter-
est we could reasonably expect, you
say, would only amount to $40 year,
and know we will get more than $40
| worth of enjoyment out of it riding
around our own lovely mountain roads,
and the fresh air will do US and the
children lots of good"
But, my DEAR" l responded, I'VE get
all the fresh air we need now. We go
driving every day with Don and the
surrey
"Donw she cried -scornfully. "Why,
do you know that poor old horse was a
wedding present? And we have been
married - years? And he was years
old then"
Eyes, you're right, but he seems to be
a pretty good horse yet"
"Good for use on a small farm" re-
sponded Theodore. II am afraid to
trust him going down hill, he's SO old
and feeble; and feel morally certain
he can never pull us to the top every
time we start up mountain"
said nothing further. The money
was Theodora's, and she had right to
do with it as she desired. Besides, in
my inmost heart did cherish magma
ry dreams of sailing over the roads, up
hill and down dale, in an automobile;
passing the slow going horses Of ac-
quaintances who had been in the habit
of jeering somewhat at old Don. But l
confess that it hurt me when we sold
the faithful animal to farmer named
Wortsel, especially as had determined
not to let him 60 for less than $50, and
the farmer finally led him away in tri-
umph after paying just $47.S5.
The horseless carriage arrived the fol-
lowing week, accompanied by young
and active man sent on by the manu-
facturers to explain the working of the
machinery. AT Theodora's request
went to the station and saw her pur-
chase unloaded from platform car.
Then the young agent inspected the
motor casually, announced that it was
all right and invited me to step into the
vehicle, and l did SO, sitting beside
him, and he pulled a lever which start
ed the wheels. We went slowly at first,
until we reached the broad, main street
of the village, and then he gradually
'slet 'er out" as he expressed it, and we
were whirling over the ground like an
express train. Fortunately, we met no
team and reached home in fine style.
Theodore and the children were wait
ing at the gate, and all three cheered
as we arrived. Then the agent said he
would exhibit her fine points," and he
made the carriage go forward and
backward and describe circles to the
right and left and perform other feats
equally interesting with equal ease.
Finally he opened the box containing
the machinery and carefully explained
every part. Then he glanced at his
watch and found that by hurrying he
could just about catch train for the
city.
Better take me down to the station
in the carriage" he suggested. "Then
you can run it alone, and can keep an
eye on you"
OF course hailed the plan with joy,
and off we started, my hand on bar
and brake, he sitting beside me. 1t
was no trouble at all to manage the
thing, and when we met bicycle /
steered by with ease.
you'll do" the agent said approx
ingly as he jumped out at the station.
"Just be careful and as a matter of
common precaution glance at the mo-
tor before you start out every time, as
good horseman glances over the har-
ness before taking a drive"
He waved his hand in farewell and
ran across the platform and jumped
aboard the train.
glanced at the motor, as he had
suggested, and it certainly looked all
right. especially to quiet professional
nan who hardly knows the difference
tween cogwheel and bowsprit.
~ the time had entered the vehicle
again it was surrounded by ten boys,
the station agent, three expressmen
and a group of loungers. They spoke
audibly and not at all in compliment
tary terms concerning the new pur-
chase, and one of the lounPers said he