Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-02-15
UNDER THE CAR
OF JUGGERNAUT


which shaded the piazza where Doro-
thy Bennett was embroidering impossi-
BILE stra wberries on a dolly. A small
brown sparrow perched on the rail
viewed the work critically for several
moments and then fiuttered noisily
away. AS her eyes followed its flight
to neighboring cherry tree she heard
the front gate bang and, turning, be-
held coming up the path Mr.. James
Dent, better known to the summer colo
ny, from the most staid matron to the
smallest urchin, ns Jimmy.
He came up to the veranda, stretched
himself comfortably in a steamer chair
and mopped a perspiring brow.
''Sorter warm like, isn't it?' he said
cheerfully.
Dorothy nodded.
what variety of vegetable are you
making now?' he inquired amiably,
bending over her work. strawberry
l thought it was a tomato"
Dorothy made feint at him with her
needle, which he discreetly lodged.
There's a polo game at the club to-
morrow" he went on. Want to conner"
Indeed l do. If you'll take me-" she
said.
Pm yours to command, as usual" he
answered.
He lighted a cigarette and smoked for
several moments in silence, his brows
puckered in thought. Presently he
Strengthened himself In his chair.
Dorothy" he said graveiy, what
have you been doing to young Ash
ford?"
so after all it was partly curiosity
that brought you here today" she said.
But despite the nonchalance of her
words she colored slightly. what have
l been doing to young Ashford2 Why,
I've been acting my prettiest for him,
of course"
''Um-m," Dent unused. $50 l feared"
he said laconically. doll, it's too bad.
Ashford is really a mighty nice kid,
and he's taken it very much to heart
too"
Dorothy laid down her work rather
abruptly.
Jimmy Dent" she exclaimed "what
is 1t young Ashford has taken so to
heart, and, for heavens sake, why is 1t
too bad?'
MY Lady Innocence" he said, 81
have seen all this many times before.
History repeats itself, as 1t were. When
L see young man monopolizing the
society of the most charming girl In
Cedarville and when suddenly said
young man quits her society, puts on a
face like craven image, stays much
at the bar>of the Country club and acts
generally as If he wished the world
would cave in on him, it's a pretty
good indication that said young man
has been proposing to said most charm
ing girl and that she has-has t'run
him down"
II can't marry every man who
proposes to me-" she protested.
"Of course not" he admitted, but
you might shut them of trifie sooner
1t seems to me a girl with your intui-
ton should be quick to discover matri-
monial intention in its incipient stage
and nip 1t in the bud. It's only when
the disease is advanced that 1t is trou-
blesome. Now, there's Ashford, poor
chap. AS ] say, he's a really nice kid.
He's running away with the idea that
the light of his soul is gone out forever
and ali that sort of thing. Doll, it's too
bad"
1T doesn't seem to me you're called
upon to fight his battles" she said.
"Oh, I'm not fighting his battle. He
did that himself and lost" he chuckled.
I'm merely urging a little clemency on
the part of his captOr. I'm really sorry
for Ashford-and the rest, for that
matter"
THE rest?' she inquired.
Eyes. The field, we might call 1t,
suppose" he said. There was-lets |
He went to Cuba"
And married Spanish girl" she |
supplemented.
And Crayton," he went on. What
became of him?'
''He married an actress" she said |
shortly.
And numerous Others" he said. ITS
a regular juggernaut every season,
Doll. The roadway is strewn with
dead and dying when the car has
passed"
IF they throw themselves beneath
the wheels l can't help it," she said
MY dear young woman" he expos
tulated, mot that. They try to climb
aboard the car and slip off Perhaps If
the goddess were not so smiling and
inviting many of the casualties might
be averted."
Indeed" she said mockingly. "Tbis
grows quite serious"
Il could give you quite a list of those
who have. fallen beneath the wheels
and yet whose doleful creams you have
never heard"
He sat twirling his cigarette thought
fully for a moment.
Suppose" he continued slowly, "that
should tell you I-even I-have been
more or less damaged"
II should say 1t was the choicest
)iece of fiction published this summer"
The laughed