The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-04-30
FRANKLIN, La, SATURDAY. APRIL 80. 1904

arm could have checked the team c.
that down grade. y
They had just swept past the fence
st the lower level of the two grail
fields. On the right the growing corr
stood waist-high over Al area OF thir
ty acres. while a field of similar siz
at the left was in stubble, heav,
growth of clover having been cut from
it the week before.
The entrance to the meadow wa
about midway between her and thu
child, but two of the bars we're up
They were long and slender bass woot
boards, however. and could not offc1
serious resistance to the horses.
Without an instant's hesitation
Louise swung Prince and Pomp to th'
right hand fence, which they grazet
for a rod or two. and then turned then
squarely against the bars. The black4
were tender-mouthed and could be
guided, but wn....ss their insane terrol
lasted nothing could have checked
them. They did not seem Is see ths
bars. but crashed through them with
out slackening speed in the least.
Louise had made as wide a turn a.
was possible, hut she saw that she
could not hope to clear both posts al
such an angle. So. purposely. she
threw the heavy drive-wheel above
which she sat directly against the up
per post. The wood snapped like q
pipe-stem. leaving a clear road into
the meadow. For a second the girl
boupded UP and down like feather
out almost by a miracle was rot
thrown off.
The horses again turned down the
hill. parallel with the lane. and the
girl had moments respite in which
she could take stock Of her condition.
Rose was saved, at all events, and
the runaways were in an open field.
They had shown themselves amenable
to guidance, and now an inspiration
came to the driver. Despite its rough
usage, she did not believe that the
binder was greatly injured, for the
knives still hummod as freely as ever,
although the binding attachments
were disabled through the loss of the
driving chain.
Hitherto Louise had thought only Of
keeping her seat and avoiding fences,
trees and stoneheaps Now, after al
lowing the horses 10 run straight
down to the foot of the slope, she
suddenly threw all her strength upon
the left-hand reins, and turned them
sharply toward the south end of the
meadow. When that boundary was
nearly reached, she again turned the
leaders in the same direction; but
now they were forced to mount the
long hill in it's steepest part, and the
heat and strain quickly overcame
them.
Seeing that the time was ripe,
Louise pulled as hard as she could,
just where the slope was steepest, and
Pomp and Prince slowed to a walk
almost instantly. The older horses
needed no restraint, for they had been
tagging for some time. The hornets
had been left behind soon after they
entered the meadow.
Reeking and trembling, the four
were ready to halt when they reached
the crest: but determined not to give
them a chance to start again, Louise
headed them into a fence corner be.
fore permitting them to stop.
Charlie was still following in the
track of the runaway, but Bob had
hurried across the upper part of the
meadow, and was at their heads al.
most as soon as the horses had halted.
His services were not needed, how
ever, for Louise felt herself mistress
Of the situation. After resting a few
minutes, she drove back to the wheat
1eld, Pomp and Prince almost needing
\ whip to urge them into a walk.
Then, as she slipped to the ground,
Louise clasped little Rose in her arms
and allowed herself the luxury OF
ears.
No more work could be performed
hat day, for not only did the binder
need certain repairs, but the horses
lad been severely stung. They were
condition to resume the cutting of
he wheat by the following after
noon. however. and Louise completed
he task without difficulty; and later
she also cut the oats.
Her brothers were as good as their
word. buying the handsomest mater
ais that could be found in Lisbon;
l1d with their Aunt Caroline they
.lso Joined in the purchase for Louise
II a gold watch-Youths Companion