The Afro-American advance., 1900-11-17

The golden afternoon was waning as
they passed from the more populous
part of the residence portion of the
south side. Along the smooth, hard
road rang the horses hoofs. On the
left the lake rippled sapphirine and
slumbrous. Here and there on either
side were sweeps of bronze-brown
grass and clover which would never
more be crimson. Ahead-like the ru-
ins of az old-world eity-stretched that
| gravy yard in which are buried more
mexnories than in all the cemeteries of
Ghicago-the erumbling landmarks of
the worlds fair.
ssWaitl" screamed Lila. "Wait!
Something is wrongl"
Wrong decidedly, The horse on the
left, swerying with fright at some OBJ
ject-possibly the gaunt. rotting cara
vels Of Columbus-had covered down,
had shied sideways. In struggling up
the pole was thrown over his back.
Frantic with terror at his efforts TO
free himself, he reared, heayed,
plunged
Give me the reins!" cried the girl.
I'm hold the. You get out and lift
the pole. Quick.
There was no answer.
She looked hastily around. Dildine
sat stirless. His face was CHASTITY. His
heavy lower jaw had fallen. A bewil-
dered terror glared from his set eyes.
Quick" she cried again. "The
reins!"
They fell from his nerveless fingers.
At the same instant the maddened
beast freed itself from its unaccus-
toned incumbrance, scrambled to its
feet, and then-its furious fright COM
municated to its mate-dashed wildly
southwark. Lila had grasped the reins
was straining at them with all the
vigor and tensity of her strong young
body. But IL would have taken more
| muscular arms than hers to have ar
rested that headaong flight. Then
just as her grip began to relax ever
so slightly-an obstacle ahead in the
shape of a temporarily abandoned
buggy-brought surge of fresh fear.
Dildine saw it and scrambled to his
feet. The next instant he had leaped.
He landed in a mass of dank leaves at
the roadside. And Lila-deserted-
still holding fast to the reins - sat
stone still, resolute, waiting for death.
were close upon the buggy
now. Her arms seemed 70 be
wrenched from their sockets. She
shut her eyes. A prayer of her baby
hood days came to her lips.
Dear God" she began.
Then she was dimly conscious that
the speed was less rapid. The strain
on her wrists was not SO agonizing.
She opened her eyes. Something black
was hanging from the head of the
horse on the left-was swaying back
and forth.
Fierce fear seized her for the first
| time.
You will be killed." she tried to
shrek. you are madl Let goi You
will be killed." But she knew that no
word passed her dry lips.
Ten et-fifteen--twenty!
Snorting, sweating, trembling. the
conquered beasts stooo still. And the
men who had risked his life to save
a woman's looked bewildered into that
womans face.
"Lila!" he painted. "Lila-is IL
you?"
He was covered with dnxt His
clothes were torn. His hands were
bleeding. She dropped TO the ground
came and stood beside him. Her
lips quivered. Still she could not
speak.
II was wandering over there" he
said, indicating the desolate fair
grounds. ~ often come here. have
no home, you know" The simplicity
of the bitter confession hurt her. "No
home-and but few friends. saw the
runaway. I did not dream you were
the woman. VINO was with you?
Where is he?"
She found voice fast enough then
voice and indignant utteranee.
"Burton Dildine was with me. And
he jumped to save himself-the
| cowardi"
"Hushl Here he is now!"
He came up, begrimed as 70 at
tire, solicitous. apologize, explana-
tory. but unhurt.
Lila turned from his self-exculpa-
tory torrent of words with uncon-
eeaIed disgust.
"Will you take me home, Mr. Clar-
endon?" she asked.
They had to walk quite q distance
TO get a carriage. Lila noticed that
several times he WINGED and hesitated.
She noticed, too, that he useu only his
left arm in helping her into the We
hicle. But il was not untii--refusing
10 come in and allow her father to
thank him--not indeed. until the next
day did she learn that in his desper-
ate struggle his right arm had been
broken.
That he should act as her fathers
secretary for some time 10 come was
obviously impossible. But one may
fancy that those days o: heiplessness
which followed were the happiest Max
| Clarendon had ever known.
When lie was able TO resume his
duties he found that Burton Diidine
was no longer a partner Of John Wills
berg.
Papa bought out his interest," Lila
explained. my father could not for
give him-and I would not receive
| him.
The routine Of life seemed TO have