The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-01-21

- W <Ao a I1A<Ahr ClA nlons a EAOE LINE
THAT.
toned. with true womanly persistency
In pursuing an intensely personal topic.
He bantered her.
There was no room for me upon
your horse was there? Besides. did
not stop the horse"
''Oh," she laughed gayly, believing in
him anew. rejecting his disclaimer as
he knew she would.
And yet She bit her lip with vex-
alton. She wished that Vincent would
avow the deed more earnestly. She
wished the glory of his deed rested on
something more substantial than the
testimony of her younger and more ro-
mantle sister Evelyn. Moreover, she
could not forget the persistent skepti-
cism of her aunt, who openly branded
Vincent as a fraud.
She tried to put her doubts aside.
She secuted the notion that Vincent
would stoop to false pretense. And yet
he smiled so oddlyl
AS though enraged by the lingering
of autumn. long blasts of chilling wind
swept down from the west and north,
shrieking and roaring among the hills
and proclaiming the reign of another
king throughout conquered land. The
gaunt remains of the wild flowers were
beaten down upon the face of the
fields by angry scouts of the tempest
and hung quivering in one terrified d.
rection. Across the ground like routed
armies innumerable companies of dried
leaves scurried madly before the fierce
invader. The mournful trees bent low
At last the dusty road was notified
with raindrops. and in the air was the
odor of moistened earth.
Elaine was riding ahead, and her
pace was slow. Behind her Vincent
marveled that she did not press her
mare to faster gait, for they were
still far from a place of shelter.
On the brow of a sharp declivity
she checked the FESTIVE Kitty. Below
the country road wound tortuously un-
til it Joined acutely with a broad white
pike. Vincent. overtaking her, was
startled by the changed expression on
her face. She raised her whip high in
air just as the black dome split. re-
vealing a universe of fire. The crash
of thunder aud the cruel blow from
Eiaine'S whip fell simultaneously. and
the high strung beast rose upon her
rear boots, stationary. but a-tremble.
The clean fore limbs hung motionless
In the air.
Vincent cried out hoarsely. but
Elaine again used the whip, and the
gathering energies of the animal were
released like the second bolt, which
suddenly rent the bullying clouds with
a streak of fame. Finding him. the
naddened mare -pilngeu down the
grade. a cry from Elaine vas - ..e
back to him. The mare was beyond
her control
Already Vincent had spurred on his
steed in pursuit. The brave animal
caught the mans spirit. 1t was fear
fri risk, pace like that among treach-
erous rocks, but he was overtaking
her.
Leaning farther forward upon the
rigid neck of his flying horse, strain
ing the animal to the limit of its
strength and speed, he saw only
Elaine, thought only of Elaine
In places the road was like a ruined
staircase, the level pike beyond sepa-
rated from the gully only by a low
stone wall. Here Elaine would pay
for her rashness with her life unless
she fell before they reached the wall,
for the runaway would certainly leap
to destruction.
Into the broad. white road the mare
shot like living projectile and made
for the wall with the thunder of hoofs
behind her. Taking the obstacle, she
swerved from the force of equine hab-
1t.
That was the moment.
Vincent's horse crashed upon the
mare, and both animals reeled from
the shock. The fugitive went over the
wall, but Elaine was safe in the arms
of Vincent. Her foot providentially
slipped from the stirrup, but he was
hard put to keep her from slipping to
the ground.
He heard her mutter incoherently:
81 did it on purpose-to see-if you
actually would do it-and she-she
really ran away. Oh, VincentI' And
thus they chung together while the del
uge poured upon them.
''There they come at last" said Mrs.
Buford. with satisfaction and retribu-
ton mingling in her tones. HE is a
stupid impostor. and he cannot deny
the proofs | now have"
Two rain soaked figures mounted the