The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-09-03
FRANKLIN La, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1904

The pleasure wnica exuded from The
young mans face was not reflected in
that Of tho girls.
How do you do. Mr.. Reynolds"
she said I'D no idea you were in
this part of the country. No. so far
as / am concerned yon can be of no
assistance, | think. If the train peo-
pie want to try any experiments, of
course they arc welcome to do it for
| the sake uf ,"ting the train in mo-
ton Aunt My. She added, turning
to her companion, you have heard me
speak of Mr.. Reynolds? My aunt,
Miss Blthe-Mr Reynolds"
Miss Milly grasped his hand with
trast to the chilly demeanor OF her
niece.
80 glad to make your acquaintance,
Mr.. Reynolds. though | must say the
circumstances are not those l would
generally like to meet people under.
Such an embarrassing position! |
wouldn't have had it happen for the
! world never thought of Eliza be-
having this way on railway, or |
should have been afraid to drive her.
You see, Eliza has not sat down for
years now. and we thought she'd
quite forgotten it. She is an old cir
Gus horse as you may imagine, though
I'd no idea of that when | bought her.
| 1t isn't Eliza's fault. really. She
thinks she's doing perfectly right. You
know. They taught her to sit down
at the circus, and not get up till she
heard the Rule, Britannica and she
never will get up until she hears it."
Lady" cried the guard, elbowing
up, 1--WE are ten minutes late now"
Ten minutes late? How sorry l
am. 1t is most unfortunate in every
way that Eliza should relapse just
now, when she has not sat down in
years. It's just like her, remembering
about sitting down this morning, when
I am on my way to the station to
take the train to London to see my
old friend Amelia Lewes. intending to
let my niece drive the phatetOn home.
But now l shall be afraid to let Bar
bara return alone, and Amelia leaves
Lon don for Liverpool at !, and
would give the world to see her, as l
may never see her again for years.
II am only going around the curve
to the station" Reynolds suggested;
Il am en- route for the Potters. 1t
would give me great pleasure to see
yolr nice safely home
There is no need ia the world Of
any one accompanying me.' said the
young lady with great decision. Eliza
would not hurt a fly. l really prefer
driving alone"
That is like you, Barbara. You
are always so brave" cried Miss Mil
ly. But remember, love, that | am
older and more nervous, and since Mr..
Reynolds so kindly offers, | accept for
YOU, Barbara, and l insist on you
avai,ing yourself Of his kindness.
"You are perfectly right, Miss
Dlithe It would not be safe, to say
the least, for Miss Perry to attempt 20
return home alone And. far from in
eonveniencing NE, it would be a great
pleasure" urged the young man.
He seated himself on fallen tree
trunk and slipped the cover from his
banjo. keeping his eye fixed on a poT-
ton of the landscape where 1t was
impossible for them to encounter ane
efes of Miss Milly's niece.
A moment later a particularly viva
ctous Rule, Britannia" entered the
somnolent country atmosphere. Some
thing 10 the exultant strains of the
melody caused Miss Barbara to
gather her pretty brows.
Eliza, however, was unfeignedly
pleased. At the first notes her ears
txitched, assuming an upright atti-
tide. suggestive of earnest attention.
At "Britons never, never" she turned
/ her head and regarded the player
With what appeared to be unqualified
! approval. S,cwIy gathering her forces
together. she rose in a dignlf1ed man
T er at the first chorus and drew the
lhaeton from the line.
The spectators cheered. The guard
ihouted warning, general scramble
Tor seats ensued, and Miss Milly had
lust time enough to ensconce the new
protector Ia the phaeton, while she
took the vacant place in the train.
When the last carriage had rounded
the curve and became lost to view,
with Miss Milly's handkerchief Hut
ter1ng like white moth from one OF
the rear windows, Miss Perry gath
cred up the reins.
do you mean," she said. address
ing the empty air directly in front OF
the phaeton, that you will continue
to force yourself upon me the entire
distance homer"
II promised Miss Blithe to take you
home in safety, and, Of course, mean
to fulfill my promise"
But my aunt is gone now with
perfectly easy mind. A child of two
could drive Eliza, and really prefer
going alone"
Il couldn't reconcile 1t with my con-
science. You might meet with some
accident, and then how could face
,I<A