The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-05-01

to trrn the balance for or against
love. Lovers are now hot, now cold,
and at the mercy of every wind that
blows. One afternoon, as Carroll
and Martha were returning from
town they let their horses take their
own pace and settled themselves
comfortably back on the buggy seat
and listened to the hum of the
wheels and drank in the charm OF
the country, which the soft sunlight
was revealing in its richest mood.
Looking dreamily into Martha's
eyes as the carriage rolled home
ward, the question. which he had as
yet put to himself only vaguely,
came to him, Does she like Ine?"
lie dared not trust himself to ask rs
to love. While he was turning about
this to him startling suggestion, a
young farmer of the neighborhood
whom Carroll had often imagined TO
be covcrtly fond Of Martha cantered
down the road toward them. lie
pulled up sharply, bowed TO Carroll.
and directed to Martha a few com
monplace inquiries about her fam
lily, the crops, and the next party to
be given. Carroll thought he saw a
blush steal over her cheek as the
Young man talked. and after he had
ridden on. half in jest but bit in
earnest, he asked ii that we're her
sweetheart. The blush mounted
higher as she denied it. Carroll I'M
reasoningly and iealousIy insisted
that he was. and finally Martha
poutingly suggested that in any event
il was "A matter that did not concern
him. The clouds had fallen. Carroll
had had his question answered.
At supper he announced to his host
that his health was now fully re-
gained and that an urgent letter
from home would take him away the
following morning. Mr.. and Mrs
Rankin expressed regret. Martha
coldly said she was sorry, and con
tinued the meal in silence.
That night Carroll retired early to
his room, but not to sleep. His pride
was deeply hurt. and he was indig
nant. He called himself Idiot
and other pleasant things. "Shs
didn't have the heart to say she was
sorry, Love! Bosh!"
Finally, putting on a light over
coat, he started for walk upon the
pike. 1t was near midnight when HI
turned again into the little valley
: The long walk had fatigued him. ant
} the night air cooled his heated brain
! The full light of the moon was oh
! scured by a mist which rose from tn
, river and spread over the valley
The mansion was dark. The worl'
was asleep. The brooding silence o
the night was broken now and thel
T. by the distant cry of fox hound
. the low neigh of horse. OF the tin
kle Of a sheep bell
} "Clackety-clack! clackety-clack'
There was borne in on CAROLS ear
] the distant sound as of gallopin
horse upon the turnpike. Could
be the phantom Of Aunt Dinah'
S story? "Claclety-clack." The hors
: was coming nearer. An atmospher
; Of mystery that now seemed a
2 about him forced the thought int
t being. The forgotten tale spran
! wildly into CAROLS mind. and i
:, felt the chill of the unearthly cree
b over him. Sweethearts had qua
: relied, The phantom rider was due
r Bang. Crash. Crash. and Caro-
saw a wildly speeding horseman has
{ across the bridge and come up III
: road toward him with uncontrolle
n gait.
|, Carroll. forgetting all OF the In
n probability of the tale. ran to I'll
4 roadside and tried to scale the stor
d fence. But il was too high for hi
G to scale in his nervous condition. an
4 he cronched against it, his eyes glue
n upon the cver-advancing figure.
J. Numbered along. Now il was a
d most upon him. A vision of hor'
l. of thoroughbred build, with foa
n FIXING from its mouth. with fanl
heaving. and of a darkly clad rid'
n with gaze fixed ahead, cloud
h dust, sound of distant hoof beat
II and Carroll. completely cowed, III
n toward the house. There he sa
, lights were moving uneasily abou
Y. On the ycranda he met Marth
y strangely pale
e He clasped her in his arms 81
e whispered II won't go home :
y morrow."--N. Y. Times.