Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-10-26

without realizing what | was doing Z
| shut off the motor stcered toward an /
open space by the side of the road and |
put on the brake. Thcodora's carriage /
stopped gracefully and without jolt. /
as if it were the most docile creature
one could wish for. When we had re-
covered from this shock of surprise,
we all stepped down upon the ground
Well" said Theodore with a self
congratulatOry tone, I'VE didn't Kill
anybody"
mo-" remarked Jack. but by gee,
we come mighty near it once or twice"
was too much fatigued to reprove
him. Notwithstanding natural abhOr-
renee of slang. Instead, suggested:
Lets go down to the spring and get
a drink"
This idea was approved by all. and
we strolled through the cool woods to
rock whence gurgles stream sf
cold. pure water 1t was refreshing.
very, and after we had rested ! sent
Jack after the lunch baskets. He re-
turned with the information that they
were not in the carriage.
IL do believe you came away and
forgot them" Theodore said, looking
me in the eye.
who" demanded.
I'VE" she replied.
Then little Dorothy began to whim-
per. 1t had been time for her lunch
con half an hour previous, and she
was becoming fretful.
I'll tell you what we can do | said.
"Farmer Wortsels place is AT the foot
of the mountain, and only "A mile or
two distant. The children can get
bread and milk there, at any rate. and
we can procure something for our
selves, | suppose"
"And see dear old Don" cried Doro-
thy with sudden glee. She had wept
when | sold him.
We retraced our steps through the
woods. climbed into Theodora's car
rage and started again. put on the
pressure this time, and when we reach
ed the summit of the mountain sup
| pose we were travelling y miles an
hour.
Better go slow" said Theodore.
| put on the brake without apprecia'
BILE effect. BY this time we were de-
scending the steep road at what seem
ed terrific rate. Trees. fences. rocks
simply sailed by us. The machinery
whirred and clattered. | was strug
Cling with the brake, which somehow
failed to work.
Don't you dare jump" | command
ed rs Theodore made slight move
ment. you hold Dorothy in your arms
md. Jack you hold on to your mothers
ankles as tight as you can so she can
jump"
what will become of us" asked
Theodore.
We're all right If we don't meet ;
team on the mountains" | shouted II
return. "When we get to the level II
reverse the machinery. which | can
do now. for the sudden stop woul'
throw us all out on our heads"
never knew before how the youn
lady feels who dives from the top of
circus tent far down into the net sprea
few feet above the sawdust. And
never want to know it again. At las
we reached the foot of the mountain
and | reversed the motor. There was ;
sudden stop, during which Jack ant
Dorothy cad Theodore hurried out o
the carriage, which. thus lightened o
half its load, Immediately started again
= When she saw the wheels revolvin,
" again. Theodore shrieked
"Oh. jump! Do jump! But mad
no reply. Like flash | remembers,
that few hundred yards farther OF
was sand bank reaching close to TIN
road, quite near Mr.. Wortsels farm
house, in fact. | succeeded in steering
the carriage straight into that bank
; l knew there was a whole mountain O
rocks and forest back of the bank, an
| didn't think Theodora's purchas
would penetrate very far. And it didn't
When my wife and children reache
the spot, they found me sitting on
log smoking pipe and observing tn
horseless carriage in the interestin
> process of kicking itself to pieces. Tn
I machinery was Gathering and whirrins
the rear wheels were revolving at
/ rapid rate, and the front wheels wer
! burrOwing a few feet into the sane
Now, Theodore is a woman of actor
Il and when she grasped the situation sh
:, also graspcd something else-namely,
u long thick stick, one end Of which sh
u Immediately showed into the motor
u But little thing like that didn't dis
. courage the cogs and wheels. The
. simply chewed it up into fine piece
y and went on whirring. Then Theodor
u and Jack logged branch of tree t
y the carriage and jammed one end c
i, that in among the machinery with
!" like result. So Theodore sat down b
II the roadside and cried. She dried he
D. tears soon. however. because Farme
Wortsel and his wife and five childre
" and hired man came out and forme
q circle with us. And there we sat
preoccupicd manner. saying very Ii
IA tie, but thinking great deal, Will
u TheodOra's carriage continued to kic
~ itself into fragments. After awhile til
motor seemed to yawn and stretch |
:, self. Then it gave a few last thumI
II and fell to pieces. Mrs. Wortsel too