Gloucester County Democrat., 1902-08-07
stood it much longer" !"

By this time Joel was chuckling over
his rivals predicament, and Susannah
sat up in sudden dismay.
"But you won't tell anybody, will
you, Joel? The whole town'll be laugh
in at me-"
Joel turned serious on the instant.
mo, they won't laugh at you. If they
do they'll have to answer to me. Be-
sides. the joke amt on you. It's on
Ed"
But just at this time Ed was having
fresh troubles of his own. Careening,
swaying, he drew near Hufflesburg at
a racing gait utterly unconscious that
Susannah was no longer clinging to
the seat before which he still stood,
tugging at the reins. Occasionally he
threw an encouraging word over his
shoulder or told her how brave she
was not to scream and add to their
danger. The horses would soon run
themselves out, and the road before
them was clear.
But, alas, just as he turned into the
town a sudden obstacle appeared in
their track-Farmer Schneiders big
sleigh, laden with the rosy checked
Mrs. Schneider and three equally rosy
daughters! At Eds warning shout
to one side, but the flying team caught
the rear of Schneider's sleigh, and
chorus of feminine shrieks was watt
ed to the fleeing Ed. The drift was
deep, and the five Schneiders, when
disentangled, found themselves unin-
jured, but nevertheless wrathful at
the reckless driver.
In the meantime Ed had reached the
center of the town, and his horses, ex-
hausted and steaming, finally respond
ed to the rein. With a feeling of in
tense relief Ed turned to his compan-
ion. CONSERVATION seized him. Where
was Susannah? Caught in the mael-
strom of Schneiders? No. his cutter
had not been injured in the collision.
He remembered with horror that she
had not spoken since the horses first
began their mad run. What if she had
been back there in the woods all this
time, frozen, perhaps attacked by
tramps? Ed was too frightened to be
logical. With a curse he turned his
tagged horses back into the road and
whipped them on at a mad gait. Again
he passed the Schneider family, and
as the farmer once more pulled out Of
his way, this time more successfully,
his goodwife murmured:
II did not think Marcy Johnson's
wine was so strong as that"
Half a mile farther he met Joel and
stopped at the latter's vigorous hail.
Good evenin', Ed" said Joel, with
a cheerful smile for his discounted
rival. Are you goin' to look for Su-
sannah? She's here, safe in my sleigh,
an you can just bet she amt goin' to
make such mistake again."
Ed ignored the complacent Joel and,
making his best bow-that is, the best
he could make while trying to hold the
two astonished and trembling horses
said:
'I'm awful sorry had such an acci-
dent, Miss Peters; but if you aren't
hope you'll let me see you safe home"
Susannah choked back a persistent
giggle and clung to JoePs arm.
''You see, Mr.. Sparks-Mr. Herrick--
mean Joel-an' I-we-I'm just as
much obliged
Joel took up her faltering explana-
tion and made it clear.
ST don't mind tellin' you, Mr..
Sparks, that hereafter Susannah an
I'll do our sleighin' together for all
time, but if you want recommends
tion to any other girl Susannah she'll
give it, an we won't mention this here
little affair.""
And Mr.. Sparks. with dignified up
lifting of his fur cap and few unin-
telligible words, whipped up his horses.
swung around in the road and raced
back to town.