The evening Republican., 1902-05-21

BY GRACE WILLARD.

lOOU, ike u ulVlu0 bUOfki Illou d ouu-
den upward soaring. a flash of slen-
der ankle, tlutter of white, and
she alighted on the top seat.
The stage started forward with
venerable creaks, as if protesting
at having to stop for such light
freight. There was but one other
passenger on top-a thoughtful and
freckled young man. The Girl put
back floating bit of brown chiffon
looked about her with a little sigh
of delight. The charming vista,
the brilliant animation of the streets,
the red gold of every housetop on
which the sun threw a good-by
glance-how lovely it all was.
She was enjoying it very much
when the picture admitted an in
truder. How dye do, Miss Betty9"
said the young man passenger;
"that sunset is regular Klondike,
isn't it?'
The girl turned with slight start.
Oh, she said, didn' t See you.
~ And II you had, you would have
thought the ascent too perilous, l
dare say? He smiled an Interrogation.
She dealt him glance that did net
belle his supposition.
The young man looked unhappy.
I'm sorry, he said, humbly;but was
here first you know. I'm dining
above Fourteenth street to night, but
III drop off now, il you say SO.
The Girl surveyed the bobbing heads
below. 1t was too bad. She had
come up for bit of fresh air and
Lenten reflection. And here she was
tete tete with the one man she re-
GREETED dances toavoid! BUTT was child
ish to ask him to get of. Besides he
must not be allowed to suppose that
his presence made the slightest diff
erence to her.
Please don II think of such a thing!
she said, sweetly, you don't disturb
me in the least.
The Undesired One raised his hat
and bestowed his attention on the
contemporary scenery. If it were
not for the friendly veil which had
come down again, one might have
said that the Girl, taken at her
word, looked hurt and sad.
It was at Twenty third street,
where it is a feat at all times to
cross without manslaughter, that
the thing happend. Some nurse
maids with muslin little girls and
plush slipper bags were in the act
of alighting when the stage, with
an impulsive lurch forward, scatter
ed them neatly over the asphalt.
The horses then charged at lamp
post and sent the vehicle spinning
on one wheel like ballad dancer.
Suddenly peace was restored. The
horses stopped, backed, and pro-
ceeded across the crowded thorough
fare at a restrained pace.
When the shock came the girl
clutched the seat with both hands
and turned a very white face to the
youn. man passenger. What she
saw made her rather faint. He
had climbed down and was swing.
ing far out oyer the dashboard,
striving 10 regain the reins that
were dragging on the ground behind
the terrified horses. A going
Observation-Disclosures sensation
caused her to close her eyes. But
the end was slow in coming and
she ventured 10 look again. Every
thiag was rlghted aud the young
man passenger was driving the
stage.
lie pulled up at Madison Square
where Admiral Faragut IN bronze
was regarding the sparrows. The
driver was quite out Of it now, and
the new whip looked around for re-
lief. But none came. The nurse
maids and the muslin little girls
and the plush bags had been pick
up and brushed Off Everybody,
discovering that he had his neck
and his allotted number OF limbs,
had promptly fore o,ten the Incl
dent. The police had fresh troubles
OF their own.
The yonng man suddenly appreci-
ated that he had stage on his
hands lie sent an upward glance to
the girl. She had come DOM to tine
second seat. Her face was tender
with sympathy. Poor man she ex-
claimed he must be very III.
The usurpcr looked grave lie Is
very, that's the wUrst Of those tee
totalers. just then the stricken
horseman raised his head, Live Yves
Twenty.seycn street. he cOnfided to
his pal on the box.
An instantaneous. heaven.sent i'm
pulse moved the rai. Well. l think
you had better 60 there then, he
said l dare say you can get along.
He motoned to an INDECENT gentle.
man who was watching the scene
from the sidewalk. Just give my
friend start west. will you? A piece
OF silver pressed into the ragged
party's hand insured consent.
There was careful lowering OF
cargo. When the new driver saw the
ex-incumbent being guided In the
right direction he started the horses.
Where next, Miss?" be asked,