Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-02-12

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culdin' q fence Jest beyond the barn.
II II all on between Milly and himrs
Cant say whether tits or not. Did
you ever know our old gray mare 20
run awayf"
Lands. no, Nothin' on earth would
scare her"
But n sometnin' did. Johna III Mnly
was drivin' her TO town and she ran
away. what would happen7"
Shed probably stop for breath after
goin' about five rods" laughed the hus-
band.
~Shes wouldn't kick the wagon TO
pieces or kill MiliyY-
."She might fetch mp In a fence cor
ner and bump her own head. but I
guess that would be the worst of Il.
What's mp. Nancyr'
-Nothin' for you TO know. You Jest
keep quiet and femme work this thing
out by myself. Miiiy's goip' to town
after darniE' needle and a spool OF
black thread after dinner tomorrer, and
she'll drive the old mare"
After dinner next day the horse was
hitched to a light wagon and left
standing under a shed I'm the BARNARD
until wanted. When Milly was ready
for her trip. the mother brought the
outfit around. taking much more time
than seemed necessary. Moreover.
when the old mare. who had passed
her twentieth birthday. was brought
up ut the gate she was what Milly call
ed "wriggly"-that Is. she was nervous
and restless and evidently full OF go.
She had TO be held by the bit until the
girl got In and secured the lines.
'She acts real cOlty today" said the
mother as she patted the mares nose.
but she'll steady down before you get
70 the schooihOuse. She has never run
away I'm her life. but IL she should do
40 now
Il guess I won't GO" interrupted
Milly.
You so right along As was sayin',
II she should run away you hold her
steady In the middle OF the road and
scream for help. Now let her g'iang."
The old gray mare moved or with a
rush. and for a quarter OF mile she
maintained pace to surprise her driv-
er. Then she suddenly gave n squeal
and broke into run. Milly dropped
the lines and chung to the seat. and she
also remembered her mothers injunc-
ton to scream. Silas Johnson was still
working on the fence lest beyond the
barn." He was also calling himself a
fool and thinking ne would give five
years OF his life to make UP with Miily
when he heard screams and clatter
down the road He grasped the situa-
ton at glance.
II is none OF the readers affair
whether be resolved 20 do or die.
whether he made n hero OF himself or
not. whether the ''wriggly' old mare
was glad OF an excuse to stop OF made
frantic efforts TO continue her wild
flight. 1t Is sufficient that he stopped
her, that the screaming Milly fell into
his arms that after n time he drove her
back home and didn't return TO his
fence building again that day.
The main point of interest shifts TO
that side veranda again. Nancy is sit
ting there alone with n smile OF tri-
umph on her face when John comes up
from the barn and holds up to view a
dozen burs and innocently says:
Nancy. this Is mighty curious.
found all these burs under the harness.
and they must have been what made
the old mare run away"
''Very likely" she replies without
looking up.
And somebody must have put 'em
there"
Yea"
ABd-and-it-was''-
"Sllas says he thinks they ought TO be
married next month" says Nancy as
she looks up and almost winks at the
puzzled face above her.