The Press., 1902-07-24
BY CharAes Wilstead


y oopsrtoas. 1909, Dy dss &
s. s. McCAsre Company 4
tsestaseaSstafafats1x
ssFather will have cold drive from
town tonight against that awful wind"
remarked Mrs. Muir as she drew her
chair up to the old fashioned fireplace
between her son and daughter. .Hope
lie won't come by the new road. The
bridge over the ravine isn't just In
proper shape yet"
@Lasten! There are sleigh BELLS In.
terrupted George.
sIt's not father" volunteered Mary.
HE took the old harness with the
string bells.r
NO." said George, winking at his
mother; ''those bells belong to Fred
Watson, and you know 1t. Who is
leading In the race now, sis-Ed Simp-
son or FredT'
Mother, make him behave" plead
ed the girl.
"Oh, George, don't be such teasei
Open the door and help Fred put the
horse up."
"Well, am betting two to one on
Simpson, Mary. He is poor starter.
but he'll finish strong" laughed the
young man as he reached for his hat.
If Mary heard, she made no reply.
In a moment he returned. isis" he
shouted, FIRED has the colt hitched up
to his new cutter, and he wants to
know II you win go over TO Thomp-
sons
'Not as far as Thompson's," answer
ed Mrs. Muir. 'Tt is too windy and
cold, but II Fred has plenty Of wraps
you may drive down toward the vii
lage and come home with father"
The young people were soon speeding
along the road. Near the ravine they
came upon Ed Simpson, dragging to-
boggan. Ed was passionately fond Of
the sport and generally went to the
hills on the nights when Fred Watson
was at the Muir home. Mary had a
great fear Of tobogganing and would
not share his pleasure.
Fred Watson and Ed Simpson. ac-
cording to village gossip. were both
courting Mary. Mr.. Muir was said to
look with favor upon Fred. Simpson,
on the surface, was more the friend of
George than the lover of Mary. He
had come up to Maysville from the city
| two years before to start small COM
mission store and was well liked by
the farmers OF the community. Fred
was the son Of rich Farmer Watson
and did little else than drive good
horse.
Timid little Mary. If she had any
L fvpI1x W. nd
both men had vowed to have definite
answer soon.
| "Going to the hills on blowy night
like thtsT called Mary as they passed
Simpson.
eyes," came the good natured reply.
"It takes worse weather than this to
spoil sport for me-"
The cutter sped on. and Ed plodded
/ cheerily along the road. deep In
1 thought.
Suddenly the Jingle Of bells ahead
stopped. Looking up, Ed saw that
some one was struggling to jump out
of the cutter. 1t was girls figure. In
stinctively Simpson rushed forward
dragging the tobOggan behind him. AS
he came nearer he heard her gasp:
"Please-go. Drive like mad by the
old road, and will wait here and cal
to father should he come from the 9th
err side"
Il mo, Mary" answered Watson, 81
will not go and leave you here"
i whats up?' cried Ed, hurrying te
the side Of the cutter.
"Oh, Mr.. Simpson, the new bridge
has given way in the center. There
see, it has carried away the lights or
the other end. If father should come
!, this way, he would drive straight tt
death. Mr.. Watson. please hurry! Oh
doy'
Miss Mary" interrupted Ed, ''let me
stay here, and you drive round will
Mr.. Watson. IT'S too cold for you t.
stand here"
"No, no! I would only be an added
burden for the horse. Oh, why dom
/ you drive on, Mr.. WatsonT
ii There Is the light of q rig down a
the second bend" cried Ed excitedly
pointing across the ravine. Then, with
out another word. he seized the tobog
gan nd.rushed for the edge of the hill
Watson, realizing that time was pre-
cious. whipped up his horse and mad
for the old road around the ravine. Th
distance was fully two miles, but tin
/. rig on the other side was fully half
mile from the bridge, coming slowly
D He might make it.
II 'sYou are too late, Watson" yellet
Simpson. ''Stay here with Mary
will go down the rayine."
i Watson was out Of hearing, but Ma
ry Muir took in the situation at |
glance.
v .'Mr. Simpson," she called. running
after him. ''you must not! See! Tn
d wreck has fallen right across the foo
. Of the slide, and you will rush to you
i death. Please don't go that way"
!, II must. There is slight openin
: there to the right, and can make It i
the moonlight. Besides. It's your ia
. ther or me. and can take the chance
9 for"-he hesitated second, then spok
OIL hurriedly-"Watson will never cato
{ him In time, but will catch him at tn
: | foot OF the first turn If all 10 we'll"
'Can't we caliY' she asked appea
ingiy.
mo. The wind is too strong fror
that direction"
0 .Then am going with you, Ed"
II nd! she had never called him fha
q before!
!. 'Mary. dear, It might mean you
Z death. You must not cornes
I She laid her hand on his arm. 4 OK
going. You can steer better with tw
9 o. board. And. Ed, I know you VIII b
4 1 R.,v q Z .,