The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-04-13

in attempting to make the turn at top
speed the tired mare swerved, forcing my
horse into roadside ditch. where he fell
heavily, throwing me over his head.
rose quickly and attempted to remount.
but my poor beast had ruined his shoulder
and the men were upon us. Disregarding
me entirely. they both rushed at my com
panion, who had pulled up when l fell
The younger grasped her bride rein and
the other dragged her out of the saddle
! The objectionable roughness with which
he forced her to dismount angered me and
strobe forward.
! See here. sir!" / exclaimed you
might be bit more dainty IN your treat
ment of that young woman, even though
you are her father!'
| Father be dernedr' he replied in tones
| of disgust. 81 amt her father. I'm one
/ OF the keepers at the Rockville Sana-
/ torium an this young DOMAINS in
mate
ITS a lie" she screamed. These
! men have imprisoned me All. save me-"
/ She cried, suddenly disenga ging herself
/ from the keepers grasp and running 20
my side. Save me, you will. know you
will; for you love me-"
God help her, believe I had begun to
! love this mad woman; but now. there was
something in her voice that told me the
men had spoken the truth.
"Humor her, SIR whispered one Of
them in my ear.
We persuaded her finally to go back to
the Sanatorium and the men told me her
story. She had been great rider in Cali
fornia, where her people lived, but on one
unfortunate day she was thrown from
her horse in attempting to take a stir
fence and, in falling her head had struck
upon a stone and left her mind deranged.
! Her parents brought her East to the ia
nous Rockville Sanatorium, hoping for
her recovery.
She fancied that the Sanatorium au-
thorities had captured and were attempt
ing to force her into marriage with
someone she despised and she had fire.
quently threatened to escape and offer
herself to the first man whom she should
meet. This very evening she had bribed
half drunken hostler at the Sanatorium
stables to give her a mount and open the
gate by which she had escaped.
Its a wonder to me-" said one of the
keepers, that she didn't run of with the
hostler."
My grip frightened upon my riding crop.
/ could have cut the grinning fool across
his facet
Long after midnight I left the Sana-
torlum and started back to the Inn. l
made my way to the very chair in which
she had found me earlier in the even
ing and sat down in front of the fire.
place to conjure up her beautiful face and
figure In the flames. And then. | whis-
pered the apparitiOn that If ever she got
well and were free to choose man, who
would always love and cherish and pro-
feet her. that l. Dick Fenton-but pshaw.
the fire died out, her image faded in the
darkness and / started up to hear the
voice of my wife saying: Dick, l think
this place is bore. Judging from the
fact that | find you here asleep and prob
ably dreaming. we are OF one mind. Be-
sides YOU should be in bed. You know,
DIR. Paul said that after the tumble you
took over that terrible stone wall in Vir-
ginia last fall, your head would never be
sound unless you kept good hours. Let's
go home"
And | went home with my wife-the
daughter of the wealthy Western Con-
gresham.