The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-01-12

Hht was way oh'uAN
have feared to train to Chichester
even If l had had the money, which
was not the case. My father rarely
seemed to think that | might like a
shilling or two in my pocket, and as n
consequence he saw no necessity to
burden me with the dross. l believe II
is not an uncommon consideration with
parents.
SO far had progressed satisfactory
ly, If slowly, but about half Il mile out.
side of Ellsworth went into rut. A
swishing of water followed, the ma
chine sweryed suddenly, and | was
prccipitatcd with some violence into
the road.
Picking myself up much shaken. my
first thought was naturally of the bicy-
Gle, and upon examining it in the dark,
for my lamp had gone out, ] discover
ed, to my dismay, that the front wheel
would not bulge. Feeling in full the
horror of the situation, | succeeded aft
or several vain attempts in lighting my
lamp, when an investigation of the
front wheel disclosed the fact that the
fork had been twisted and that the rim
of the wheel pressed against the side.
There was nothing left now but to
run the thing on its back wheel and
trundle it before me, and this l did
feeling my misfortune very kecnly.
The rain came down in torrents, and
the road was gradually transformed
into series of miniature lakes, into
which | splashcd with disconccrtng
regularity. But pl0ddcd on Sturdly,
and presently the lights of the town
opened up, glad sight to the eyes Of
the weary wayiurcr.
Then began the trying search for a
repaircr'S shop. and after the shop was
found another expedition had to he
formed to go in search of the repairer.
Eventually he was run to earth in Il
ncighboring public house, and with Il
very bad grace he consented TO see
what he could do.
When at length left Ellsworth, l
found that it was after II o'clock.
Save for the street lamps the town was
in complete darkness, and melan-
choly and uninspiring sight it presented.
But l was glad to see the rain had stop
ped, for that had seemed to make the
darkness more profound. 1t was, how
ever, melancholy outlook. and | set
forth feeling in marked degree the i'll
l1ucnce Of the night
passed never a soul upon that drca
ry road. Occasionally bclated light
shone dimly from n window. The trees
lowered above me like gloomy phan
toms; the wind whistlcd in an uncanny
manner through the hedgerows. | fan
cied | saw men Flooding before me in
| the dark; even thought could hear
| the swish of their boots as they rose
and fell in the mud. A thousand
strange thoughts kept me company,
and have a vivid recollection of re-
pcating over and over TO myself, keep
| ing time, as it were, with the crunch
| Of the wheels and the movement of the
| pedals, snatrhcS Of that ballad which
| tells how HoratilS kept the bridge in
the brave days of old, my favorite
stanzn beginning:
lie recled, and on Terminus
He lcant one breathing apacc.
Then, like wildcat mad with wounds
sprang straight at Asur's face
| suppose most people have expert
enced something akin to this. 1t was
| quite common thing for me to find Il
verse of poetry running through my
head while my mind was deeply Ell
crossed with other matters.
In this manner l carefully pursued
my way, Of necessity going slowly. uu-
i I'll | came within mile and a half Of
| Chichester. Then l began TO breathe
! freely. The way had seemed never end
Ing, tie miles multiplied by three, but
gradually had reoled them off, and
was beginning to dream of home and
warm food and clothing, when turn
in the road disclosed the lamps of
carriage. saw by a glance that 1t was
coming swiftly and somewhat cratic
ally, and at once took my proper side
of the road Fortunately my lamp was
burning brightly, SO that had no fear
Of being run downfall is, supposing
that the driver was neither mad nor
drunk.
Presently the clatter Of hoofs pro-
claimed that the horses were coming ut
a gallop, nrd edged over still nearer
! to the gutter, not that had the least
fear Of being run down, but the bicy
, Gle, being the weaker vessel, always
gees to the wall. However, the advanc-
ing carriage, much to my dlsmay, in
stead Of drawing aside, came toward
me, and instantly realized my imme-
date danger. I shouted, but my voice
was unheeded or>was drowned in the
clatter of hoofs, the noise of the
wheels. Instant humiliation seemed
mine. There was no way Of escaping
that dreadful rush. The great eyes Of
the carriage glared into mine. l saw
the figure of man rise up, and heard
the crack Of the whip as he dashed the
horses onward. Then when it seemed
as though the maddened animals must
bear me down, when almost fancied I
could see the hoofs raised to batter out
my brains, ! suddenly swerved to the
left. drove hard on the pedals and
found myself flying headforemost into
| the ditch.
1t WIS desperate move, but II saved
me. A few moments later the carriage
Numbered over the very spot which
had so precipitately vacated, and as it
dashed by | caught the momentary
glimpse of man us he leaned forward
in the glare Of the lamp. 1t was but
glance, inconceivably rapid, but rapid