Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1904-03-02

step my bliss would be complete.
1t isn't permitted to mOrtals to be
perfectly happy, Priscala. You know
the ancients used to pray for some
moderate reverse when things went
too swimmingly. Let me 5e your mod
crate reverse little lady"
You are my immoderate perverse,
Dan. You always say Hadn't | better |
GO? when you know as well as l do |
that you should say Wouldn't better
COZ"
All of a sudden to their startled vi |
sion appeared around a turn of the |
narrow hill road a team tearing with |
breakneck speed down the steep way |
up which their horses We're climbing
and on which it was impossible to pass
them. The driver was thrown out as
they rounded the curve and could be
seen struggling up from pile of rocks
upon which he had been hurled far be-
low in the ravine which skirted the
road.
The carriage was bounding violently
from side to side. The two women and
child in the back seat were at the mer-
cy Of the terrified horses that were
madly running directly toward Priscil-
ia and Dan. Another moment and they
would be upon them. At the foot of
the hill was a rocky ford waiting to en-
gulf the fated occupants of the vehicle
if they should reach it alive.
Paralyzed by fear, Priscilla knew in
a maze of terror that Dan sprang from
I
Then she saw him through a fear
dimmed haze rush just in time for the
salvation of them all straight in front
of the maddened brutes with arms out
stretched to stop them. She heard his
masterful command, whoa, boys;
! whoaw as he made a dash for their
fOaming bits.
He sprang nimbly from side to side
to avoid being trampled under their
hoofs. Again and again it seemed that
their brute strength would Overwhelm
him as they plunged forward straining
to get free.
The man and the beasts strove, it
seemed to Priscilla eternal ages, until
at last, at last, he was cOnQuering
them. With mouths dripping bloody
foam, eyes starting from their sockets,
they finally stood trembling, but still,
save for an occasional trampling and
champing of their bits. This, too,
ceased at Dams command:
''Whoa, boys! Steady, boys"
Their brute instinct responded to the
master without fear. He stood at
length strOking their names
Even then Priscilla realized in a dim,
unworded way a thing that was better
than the subsection of signs and sym
bOls to rule and law.
She emerged from her crucible of
agony with an aching relief that her
husband was alive, while her own soul,
shriveled by the refining fire, saw him
with larger vision, a deeper under
standing
Proudly she marked his chivalrOus
bearing toward the unnerved, fright
ened women, who lauded his exploit in
words of intensest gratitude.
She noted with a swelling heart his
bluff kindness toward the bruised and
distressed driver, who came limping
up to see the extent of the calamity
bloody and battered from his terrible
fall.
He made light Of what he had done
calling it nothing"
When the trembling animals were
quite pacified, greatly to Priscilla's ap
prehensiOn, her husband turned the We
hicle around abOut-a thing not done
without much ado on the narrow shell
of a road-got into the carriage an(
took the reins with a firm hand to driv,
the ladies to their home, which wal
''but mile or so back" they had told
him. Priscilla led his horse for hin
until he could deposit his charges a
their own door.
Your man is too knocked up t,
drive" he tactfully explained as b.
saw the ladies tremulous at the though
! of being trusted again to their unluck.
jehu.
Dan, you are simply greatr' Priscil
la told him as they rode down the hill
again toward home. I'm proud O
you through and through. But prom
Use me never, never, never again t
!. take so dreadful a risk. 1t makes m
: faint but to think of it. What if thos
awful runaway horses had killed you!
: And she shuddered.
: "Then you could, should and woul
have been a widow, PRISCILLA"
, II neither will nor shall nor could
should or would be a widow! I'll di
when you do, DAM! sobbed Priscill
" Historically.
. "Never say die, little girl. We wi
: be happy. Nothing shall prevent i
" my Priscillap'
: you are a hero, Dan!' The gil
} reached out her hand to him, and
;, their clasp thrilled between husban
: and wife the love that is above and bt
= yond all speech and language.