The midland journal., 1904-06-17
Miss Blithe-Mr. Reynolds"

niece.
$50 glad to make your acquaintance,
Mr.. Reynolds, though l must say the
circumstances are not those would
generally like to meet people under.
Such an embarrassing position!
wouldn't have had it happen for the
world l never thought of Eliza be-
having this way on railway, or I
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, Britannia and she
never will get up until she hears it."
Lady" cried the guard, elbowing
up, "we are ten minutes late now"
"Ten minutes late? How sorry /
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
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 I shall be afraid to let Bar
bara return alone, and Amelia leaves
r T OF T
would give the world to see her, as
may never see her again for years.
Il am only going around the curve
to the station" Reynolds suggested;
81 am en- route for the Potters'. 1t
would give me great pleasure to see
your nice safely home"
There is no need in the world Of
any one accompanying mel" said the
young lady with great decision. ELIZA
would not hurt fly. l really prefer
driving alone"
"That is like you, Barbara. You
are always so brave" cried Miss Mil
ly. But remember, love, that l am
older and more nervous, and since Mr..
Reynolds so kindly offers, accept for
you. Barbara aad | insist on you
availing yourself of his Kindness"
You are perfectly right, Miss
B.ithe. 1t would not be safe, to say
the least, for Miss Perry to attempt TO
return home alone. And, far from in
conveniencing me, it would be 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 por-
ton of the landscape where it was
impossible for them to encounter the
eyes of Miss Milly's niece.
A moment later particularly viva
cious Rule, Britannia" entered the
somnolent country atmosphere. Some
thing in the exu;tant strains of the
melody caused Miss Barbara to
gather her pretty brows.
|. Eliza, however, was unfeignedly
pleased At the first notes her ears
twitched. assuming an upright atti-
tude, suggestive of earnest attention.
At "Britons never, never" she turned
her head and regarded the player
Will WAdI dPpCdlC gu " w uh4oAiAAASN
approval. Slowly gathering her forces
together, she rose in dignified man.
ner at the first chorus and drew the
phaeton from the line.
The spectators che cred. The guard
shouted warning. general scramble
for seats ensued, and Miss Milly had
just time enough to ensconce the new
protector in 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 fiut-
tering like a 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"
Il promised Miss Blithe to take you
home in safety, and, of course, / mean
to fulfill my promise"
But my aunt Is gone now with a
perfectly easy mind. A child of two
could drive Eliza, and l really prefer
going alone"
Il couldn't reconcile it with my con-
science. You might meet with some
accident, and then how could | face
Miss Blithe? One never knows what
will happen-es especially in driving ex-
circus horses"
IF you are determined ito be so
horrid, the best thing Lean do is to
get home as soon as possible" re-
marked the young lady.
For some moments they drove on
in silence. When the voice came
again from the left-hand of the phae-
ton it had undergone change. 1t
was positively humble.
"Please don't be SO hard on me- it
pleaded. "The temptation was really
too much-a whole ride with you when
I'd. been trying for weeks to see you