The Van Buren press., 1904-09-24
IN GREEN
FIELDS s &
BY BELLE MANIATES
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Coz


/ 1T is truism that the trend Of life
/ hangs on the turn of Il step, but in this
| case the fate of Elsie Clarke waited on
/ the turn OF an automobile. which was
whirliHg around the curves Of country
| road at breakneck speed.
| On the front seat were the owner of
| the automobile Walter Earle, and his
wife-a comfortably and contentedly
married couple who were doing all in
/ their power to bring about a match be-
| tween Elsie Clarke and Arthur Wynne.
/ the couple on the back seat In fact
all the friends Of these two young pco-
pie had decided it was perfect match
and were using all their endeayurs to
| further IT.
There was no trouble as far as Wynne
was concerned. He was in love with the
fair young woman to the full extent Of
| his placid, well-regulated nature. while
she was trying hard to reason herself
INTO reciprocity. She told herself over
|
OF eligibility He was Of good form
and feature, well endowed with worldly
| possessions; habits. moral manners ali
disposition, excellent After one Of
these mental enumeratiOns Of his re-
quisites, she would decide to accept him,
but the moment she was in his presence.
she felt antagonistic to the fate await
ing her. He clearly bored her, and she
sldllfully warded off his proposal The
simple solution OF the situation was that
she was not in love with him, and chat
love never would respond to reasoning
She knew better than to advance this
argument to his supporters. for she in
tuitiyey felt they would consider love
an obsolete emotion. Finally she had
come to believe that. since she had met
so many men, and none had awakened
the grand passion, the fault must lie in
her, and that she was not capable of fall
ing in love.
She felt that this day and ride was to
be the consummation of the affair and
that it was purposely planned by the
Earles and Wynnes. They were now, at
the close Of an early summer afternoon,
en- route to country inn several miles
distant where they were to dine. after
which she knew the Earles would dis
Creetly vanish for a stroll on the lake
shore, leaving her alone with Wynne and
her fate. The coming ordeal oppressed
her. She felt her opposition oo2ing, and
feared she would yield to his quiet well
mOdluated entre2ties.
"Oh, if somethinG-anything would
only happen" she thought
Was the wish father to the thought
Something did happen A whirlpool Of
sand, the deadly foe Of automobiles at
tackled the wheels The road was narrow
"a steep embankment on either side a
brook below Earle was an expert as
chaffeur, but no human power under
the conditions could have prevented the
quick swerye and the headlong pitch
over the embankment.
Elsie dimlydcit that strong arms were
carrying her over road and green fields.
She vaguely wondered If il was Arthur
who was carrying her thus, She opened
her eyes and looked into a strange face
that was bending aExiously and tender
ly over
John she murmured with a faint
smile, as she contentedly sank back into
uncoasciousness
The accident had occurred near the
wel-kept farm Of William Mofford His
son, John Mofford. was walking down
the road toward the automobile when II
took the awful plunge He rushed down
the bank expecting they were all killed
The automobile had upset. proyidental-
ly on the very edge Of the brook. Earle
was already helping his wife TO arise,
and they had only sustained a few
bruises Wynne appeared to be all right,
unless his wrist was sprained The doc
tors quick glance wandered from these
stunned, frightened people and fell upon
the motionless form OF the most beautt-
ful girl he had ever seen, She had been
thropn some little distance In mo.
ment he had her in his arms and calling
to the others to follow, he started for the
house,
As he came mp the old-fashloned gar
den In front Of the farm house, and her
beautiful long-lashcd eyes looked
vaguely into his he had new strange
sensation and fierce jealousy was born
within him towards John" whoever he
might be. Was It that pale-faced fellow
who was following hanging on to his
wrist?
The MoGords and the farm hands hai
all come 10 meet them, and his mother
instantly returned to the house to make
ready the west bedroom
Right In here. John, she said lead,
Ing the way TO the big cool room He laid
his patient down on the white, billowy
bed. and proceeded TO learn the extent
OF her injuries,
is she badly hurt, john" asked Mrs.
Motford, anyiously,
Her arm is broken, but she will come
out all right" he said, hopefully as he
cut away her sleeve,
Don't Jet the others come IN here,
he said, hearing excited voices in the al.
Joining room
His mother locked the door and re-.
turned 20 the bedside. lie deity set tho
broken arm and left his patient to his
npthsr'a aulmlni0tratiSnE
When he came out he was besIeged
with questions concerning Elsie, which
HUMILITY.
a llttlo hope to lln us up
70 heights sublime,