Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-05-23

fortunately his thoughts were diverted
in another channel. At sudden turn
of the road q gust Of wind lifted the
old palm-leaf from his woolly head, and
carried II far away. Nov. dear mars'r, "
said Bill, laying his hand on that OF Mr..
Dclafield, you'll sartin let 'em breathe
while I picks up my hat. case you see
how'll you look. gwine into town wild
me bareheaded." +;
,Gr!lncing over his shoulder. Mr.. Della
field saw the hat away over the fields,
and quietly taking bill from his pocket
and placing It In the negro's hand. he re.
piled, THAT will buy you five such hats"
'Yes. but dc bosses, dc hosses:' tx-
claimed Bill, almost frantically. Don't
you see Ferd IL gwine to gin outT'
Mr.. Dclaiield feared so. too. and more
to himself than to his servant, he said,
''perhaps the cars will be behind time
they usually are."
Without considering the consequence,
Bill answered. mo, they won't; 'cdSe ]
hear how they hired an engineer who
drives all afore him-gits ahead OF de
time an all dat"
The next minute he repented speech
whose disastrous effects he f0resaw. and
he was about to deny It as a fabrica.
ton Of his own brain. when his master,
who really saw signs Of lagging In the
nervous. fiery Ferd, said. bill, you have
q peculiar whistle with which you spur
up the horsea. Make II now; Fcrd has
run himself almost down."
A they approached the town. they
heard a heavy, rumbling sound. II was
the roll Of the cars In the distance. A
few more mad plunges and the horses
reached the depot, covered with foam
and frothing at the mouth, just % the
train was moving slowly away. With
one plying farewell glance at his dying
grays. Mr.. Delnficld exclaimed, "Cut the
harness instantly" and then with a
bound bound sprang upon the platform.
which he reached just as Bill called If.
ter him In mournful accents, "Ferd's
dead, mars'r. Ferd is."
But little cared he for that. Rosa Lee
was b be ovcrtaken. and to accomplish
this, he would willingly have sacrificed
every horse of which he was owner. even
were they twice as valuable az the dap.
pied grays.
Mr.. Delaaeld, with closely knit brows
and compressed lips. sat musing In the
cor of the time when Rosa Lee would
be his wife. They were about half way
between Augusta and Charleston and 70.
Ing ut great speed, when suddenly at a
short curve there was violent commo.
tion-the passengers were pitched for.
ward and backward. while the engine
plunged down steep embankmcnt,
throwing the train from the track, and
dragging after It the baggage car, which
In some way became detached from the
rest. Fortunately 10 one was seriously
hurt except Mr.. Delafield. whose injuries
were simply mental, as he knew this nc.
cident would probably detain them for
many hours.
The sun had long been set and the
stars were shining brightly ere they
were able to proceed, and II was after
midnight when they at last reached
Charleston. Driving Immediately to the
landing, Mr.. DelaAeld. to his great Joy.
found that the steamer bound for New
York still lay at the wharf and would
not start until morning. But was Rosa
Lee on board? Tint was a question
which puzzled him, and as there was no
way Of satisfying himself until morn.
ing, he sat down In one OF the state
rooms and rather impatiently awaited the
dawn Of day.
-
The hurry. the confusion and the OK.
element Of starting was over. We were
out upon the deep blue sea, and from the
window Of my state room I watched the
distant shore as It slowly receded from
view, and felt that was leaving the land
Of sunlight and flowers. Notwithstnnd-
Ing the fatiguing journey Of the previous
day, l was better this morning than I
had been for many months before. for !
had slept quietly through the night.
An hour or two after breakfast Char.
lie came to me with very peculiar ex.
preston In his face, and nsked me to 20
upon deck. saying the fresh breeze would
do me good. consented willingly, ond
throwing on my shawl and simple Leg.
horn hat which had been Of much service
to me at Cedar Grove. and which Mr..
DelaReld had often said was very becom.
Ing, ! went out with Charlie. who led
me to the rear Of the boat, where he
said we were not 40 liable to be disturb.
ed. Seating me upon small scttee, he
asked to be excused for few moments.
saying I should not be long alone. The
motion Of the boat produced slight dix-
siness In my head. and leaning my elbow
upon the arm Of the settee, shaded my
eyes with my hand and sat lost In thought
until l heard the sound o. footstsp.
ut was Charlie" said, 80 I did not
look up, even when he sat down by my
eide and wound his arm round me. wrap.
ping my shawl closer together, oh. 40
sentlyl "Charlie 10 very tender Of me
since my sickness" l thought, and much
loved that he should thus caress me.
It thrilled me strangely, bringing back
60 my mind the night when sat In the
vine-wreathed arbor. where ! should new
or sit again.
For n moment there was perfect ST.
lence, and ! could hear the beating Of
Charles heart. Then leaning forward
and removing my hand from my eyes,
he pressed a kiss upon my lips and whis-
pered ms he did 50. MY own Rosa"
Once. when ! was apparently dying.
the sound Of that voice had called me
back to life. and now with cry OF joy
l sprany to my feet, and turning round,
stood tute to face with Richard Delaiield.
who, stretching his arms toward me-,
said. "Conr to my bosom, Rosa. Hence
forth It IL your resting place"
The shock was too much for me In my
weak state. \ fnintness stole over me.
and II ! Obcyed his command, 1t was be.
cause ] could not help It, When ! re-
turned TO consciousness. Richards arms
were around me. and my head was rest
Ing upon his bosom, while no whispered
to me words which leave to the imag-
nation, us l dare not give them to the
world. lest he-Uncle Dick ! call him.
should be angry In his way. and I have