The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-24

TOOK 1t with a rush, showing clean
SIX inches of daylight between his
flying hoofs and the top rail of the
gate. Mary's little mare qr:vered
and tossed her head and then lcaped
over as lightly as cat.
4 Poor Puck, Ruth's pony, refused
point blank. "Don't give in to him.
Ride back and make him do it,"
shouted Rob.
Ruth, angry and excited, swung
Puck round and rode with him back
to get new start. Then she struck
him repeatedly with the whip till he
was running, and so they came at
the gate. Puck qnivered and raus
ed. but with a jerky lift and with a
wild cut she made him Jump.
The Jump was high enough to
carry him over, but his heart was
not in it, his heels ticked the rail.
:is struck the ground badly, turning
his ankle, and horse and rider rolled
over on the turf.
Rob Allen and Harry Downs hur-
ried to the PROSTATE figures. Ruth
Lay still and white, and only moaned
9 little when 29o5 picked ner up.
Harry rushed away to little stream
for water, and by bathing her face
and chatting her hands they brought
her baci, to consciousness. She sat
up sobbing, "Oh, poor Puck, ought
not to have made you do it," and
then quietly tainted away again.
| '"This won't do," said Harry, and,
jumping on his horse, he assured
them he would find a carriage if Rob
would carry her out to the road.
So Rob gathered up the forlorn lit
tie figure. and Mary followed, lead
ing the three horses.
Harry was fortunate in securing
a passing vehicle-a farm wagon
with meal bags in it. Mary got in
and received Ruth's unconscious
form, while the farmer good natur-
edly agreed to ride Rob's horse and
lead the others.
At last they reached the farm
house, and Rob took her carefully
down. Her foot just touched the
wheel, and with sharp cry she re-
gained consciousness and began to
weep Historically.
ooh, darling, DON'T" said Rob
helplessly; 'shere's mother. Now
you'll be all right" Ruth clung
about his neck, and th.J disappeared
into the kitchen.
Mary clambered down from the
wagon as best she could and stood
moment with clinched.hands. 'Rob
loves her." she said under her
breath, and then with shame in her
heart she went to her sister and did
all that could be done for her.
By the time the doctor had made
his visit she had so far conquered
herself that she went to Rob, who
was pacing the yard like wild
thing, and told him III quite sisterly
fashion that Ruth was not seriously
hurt A sprained ankle and general
shaking up was all.
For the next few weeks Ruth was
an interesting invalid. Every
morning Rob carried her out under
the trees in the doorway and che
held her court there. She iusisted
| that Mary should ride with one
young man each day, while the
other staid at home and entertain
ed her. This arrangement kept
Harry Downs in u trying state Of
mind, for on the day he rode with
Mary he longed to ask her to bo his
wife, but the very next morning he
spent with Ruth, and she teased and
1 petted him till he was sure she was
the only woman to make him happy.
The weeks went by swiftly and
Ruth gained steadily. One day
Mary came home from her ride with
Harry Downs, and coming round
the corner of the house found Ruth
and Rob walking together, Ruth
using Rob's arm for crutch. They
were SO busy talking they did not
notice her, and she hurried into the
house, stumbling over book on ti.y
threshold.
She opened it mechanically and
found the leaf turned down at Low
ellis Glove" $50 that is what
they are discussing" she thought,
with bitter little laugh. Her feet
carried her heavily over the stairs,
and she felt worn and old as she
entered her room.
The evenings were cool and were
usually spent in the big living room,
where q cheerful wood fire burned
in the big fireplace. On this even
!! ing after supper Ruth occupied the
couch, and Mr.. and Mrs. Allen sat
/! by the hearth, she knitting a red
/ stocking that was to delight some
I pickaninny's soul, and he with the
i evening paper spread before him.
Rob and Mary were at the piano,
! and soon Harry Downs came in, was