Newport daily independent., 1903-04-09

his machine refused to obey orders, and remained immovable.
 Hello! Those little darleys must have been fooling with it." he re- marked, jumping out.
 A half hour of coaxing, pulling, jerking and experimenting, resulted in the discovery that no motion could be induced out of that costly and comfortable auto. The night had fallen, and they were 20 miles from the city, in lonely part of the par ish.
 No one lived near the De Courcy place, Gordon knew, as also that there was no possibility of getting horse or a vehicle of any kind within a radius of five miles. "D-d idiots!" Gordon apostro- phised under his breath, the causes of the catastrophe, while scratching match to light the lantern.
 What on earth are we to do?" Alice asked anXiously. The whole ex- tent of the evil had not yet dawned on her, Gordon plainly saw.
 A full moon had risen, and threw it's pale, white glory over the pillared front and white marble steps of the once beautiful old home, poetizing it's ruins and giving a solemn grandeur to it's melancholy solitude.
 We must go back to the house. I'll build fire in the hall, and I dare say I'll find chair or something for you to sit on. We'll take these cushions. Then I'll go in pursuit of some sort of trap or wagon. After all, we are in a civilized community. l can't tell you how awfully sorry I am. I know you'll never forgive me"
 "Oh, it might be worse," Alice said. ''You might have run into tree and broken my neck. Those things hap pen when one goes driving in autos, you know"
 There was no trouble about mak- ing the fire. Tramps had evidently done so before.
 But when Gordon started to go in search of help so distressful a look came over Alice's face that he stopped short.
 'Oh, don't leave me here all alone!" she cried. half laughingly. That murdered girl will be sure to come out to keep me company. I'd much rather you'd stay. A market cart or somebody will be sure to pass by be- fore long. Let us sit out on the porch"
 Gordon held her hands and looked in the lovely upturned face, and along with his remorseful anxiety strange eXhilaration pervaded his whole be- ing.
 They stood on the porch, and long shafts of moonlight flooded the tan gled garden and threw long shadows from the tall pillars over the marble flooring.
 The voices of the night were abroad, but Gordon and Alice were strangely silent.
 A iingling of harness and run- bling of heavy, slow-moving wheels were audible down the road.
 Alice, sweetheart, you are en- gagged to me, you know, if only for short time, and at your sweet will and pleasure" Gordon said, holding her hands and drawing her gently toward him.
 And Fan?" Alice said, drawing back.
 What has she to do with us?" Cor don asked, surprised.
 With a low cry Alice yielded.
 That's the way them durned ma chimes act" the man said, who, driv- ing his cart piled up with vegetables to market was hailed by Gordon. T guess you and your wife can sit up here. You'll be pretty crowded, and you won't get to town for over three hours. Them machines can't be trusted"
 Three hours? It seemed about half an hour tG Gordon when they reached the outskirts of the city and they took the belt electric car.
 What a lovely, terrible adven- turel How you must have enjoyed
 cling thrown out and smashed up!" exclaimed pretty Mrs. Madge For rester. fluttering in the next day for five o'clock tea. How dreadfully mean of you, Alice, not to tell me of your engagement! To think of your keeping it dead secret all this win ter! Wonderful!'-N. o. Times-Dem- ocrat.