Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-08-20


turin parts He jes' looked gran
honey. an his eyes blazed. ole NJ
huydendalIs shoutin' couldn't drow
him But | must sit on Reckin
Inow'd Floridy Higgins war hon
agin? Jes' pink-faced doll. hone
But men air needy creeturs. an pow
erful easy fooled. low now, ridir
about so much with her in her new
buggy, an the settlement lows-Law
money, We look tuckered QUIT A oil.
woman tibet talks too much II ies b
a-hobblin' on"
Margaret had solitude at last Sh,
ate a strawberry and found it insipid
1t had rained too much. 1t always
rains too much in big, desolate rattle.
Snaky mountains
A half hour later she turned in the
direction of the village. She was go.
ing to send the kilograms One oil
them, ii didn't much matter which
would hold but one word, a word pho
phetic of JOY or sorrow.
AT the foot of the hill she stopped
on the bridge: but she wasn't think
ing of kilograms. She was praying
that a mountain peak Nigh topple
over on him and save him from Flori
da Higgins.
The whirl of reckless wheels fell or
her ears. A horse came round the hills
curve, running. The holding back
strap had broken and crazed him with
terror. He ran in short. affrighted
leaps that rocked the buggy omi-
nously
AS Margaret dashed across the
bridge to safety she saw that the bug
Sy's one occupant, Florida Higgins
was crouched in the bottom of the
vehicle in a terrified little heap. her
hands clinging to the dashboard. She
saw, too, the tree that divided the road
narrowly above the bridge. If the
horse swerved too much trying to es-
cape the tree. he would plunge down
The bank and into the water. cleaning
20 feet below the roadbed
For one sickening moment the girl
hesitated, the next her strong young
| fingers caught the bit just under the
toaming mouth and she was jerked by
| she rearing horse into amending space.
| Jerhed and lifted and let down. lifted
| and let down and ierl,ed, and shaken
and whirled in what seemed to her
| failing senses TO be a monster churn
/ that meant to crush the life out of
her. And then she slipped down. down.
with the gurgle of running waters in
her ears, down-and into utter dark
ness.
The house into which Margaret was
| carried was little and low and old. like
its owner who had looked over her
II trs,r "a
| In an incredibly short time the
! house was filled with moving, useless
| people,
1t was the preacher who tumbled
| them out unceremoniously, and tower
| ed, big and powerful. over the doctor
who thought it might end in coma
The preacher bent over the notion
less figure and called softly.
/ Its no use" the doctor said
"She's going to live" he said. dog
gedly. And he forced bxndy through
her lips.
| A half hour passed. The room was
still. except for the mans calling, Just
over his breath.
IT'S no use" the doctor said again.
she's gong to live" the preacher
shouted An again he called, called
and called and called. loud and loud
and louder, until the clarion ring OF his
voice pierced through the mists that
held her quiet figure in the border
land that divides.
I For one deliciously irresponsible mo-
ment of consciousness Margaret lay
Listening, so still was the room. TO the
little clicking catch in the preacher
watch as il hurried the seconds away
Then she opened her eyes full on the
lean. powerful young figure that bent
over her.
"Florida?" she asked family.
"Ain't scratched" said the doctor
gruffly
I'm glad, she whispered and
turned her eyes to where the sun. rec
and glorious. was dropping down the
sky. The hills were faint and far off
: the valleys brimmed with mist
AS fast as the hitch in her ware
crossed the room. She dropped beside
the girls bed and cried the tears run.
ming down her cheeks;
Hit war a lie, He amt never rio
in her buggy ter my knowledge. Hi
twar tole tibet good might come o hit
the the Lords whopped me. He dom
want lies"
Margaret's hand went out TO rest OIL
the bowed head. her eyes sought the
: preachers a sudden light in them.
81 thought We war dead" the ole
voice walled. Il know'd ye'd not res
easylike an them kilograms not sent
SOnt 'em with butter money | re
membered the fellars' names I sed
; She war too good fer We, an the Lore
TUX her Maybe now" gulping AM
swallowing and sobbing, I'D better g,
> back an say hits the Lords sarvant
The sun went down in a gulf o
, 4! glory. Margaret watched II out o
sight behind the far. far hills, he
cheek Graded in the minister's BIZ
brown palm.