The Yale expositor., 1904-02-26

Franklin Wheeies the team sharply
about toward thu house. which was
indeed becoming indistinct I'm the falL
Ing twilight As the vehicle turned
about. the crunching O; the wheels
started n great gray prairie owl. which
rose almost beneath the horses noses
and Tapped slowly on. The apparl.
tion set the Wild black horse into a
sudden stimulation of terror. as though
he had never before seen an owl upon
the prairies. Rearing and plunging,
he tore loose the hook OF one OF the
singletrees. and in a fash stood half
free. at right angles now 20 the We
k!cle INSTEAD OF nj it's front. and strug.
Cling To- break loose from the neck.
yoke. In a fash Franklin saw that
h5 was confronted with an ugly acct.
dent lie chose the only possible
course. but handled tho situation In
the best possible way. With a sharp
cut OF the whip he drove the attached
horse down upon the one that was
half free. and started the two OF at
a wild race down the steep cOuloe.
into what seemed sheer blackness and
immediate disaster. In some way,
stumbling and bounding and lurching,
both horses and vehicle kept upright
oil the way down the steep descent. "A
thing which To- Franklin later seemed
fairly miraculous. At the very foot
OF the pitch the black horse fell. the
buggy running full over him as he lay
lashing out. From this confusion. In
some way never quite plain 20 him
self. Franklin caught the girl out In
his arms. and the next moment was
at the head Of the struggling horses.
And so good had been his training
az such matters that Il was not with.
out method that he proceeded to quiet
the team and To- set again In partial
order the wreck that had been Gre
ated In the gear. In time he had the
team again In harness, and at the
bottom of the coulec, whore the
ground sloped easily down into the
open valley whence they might
emerge at the lower level OF tho
prairie round about. He led the team
for distance down this floor OF the
coulee. until he could see the better
going in the improving light which
greeted them as they came out from
the gullylikc deflc. lie did not like
10 admit 10 his companion how great
had been the actual danger just in
Cured. though fortunately escaped.
Franklin was Inundated and ashamed,
as a man always IS over an accident.
"Oh. it's no good saying I'm sorry"
he broke ont at last. 1t was my
fault. letting you ride behind that
brute. Thank God. you're not hurt
I'm always doing some unfortunate.
ignoble thing"
1t wasn't ignoble." said tho girl.
and again he felt her hand upon HIS
arm. 1t was grand. You went
straight. and you brought US through.
I'm not hurt. | was frightened. but
am not hurt"
You've pluck" said Franklin. Then.
scorning 20 urge anything further o.
his suit at this time OF her disadvau.
tagc. though feeling strange new
sense OF ncarncss 10 her. now that
they had seen this distress in com
mon. he drove home rapidly as he
might through the gathering dGsk.
anxious now only for her comfort. At
the house hc lifted her from the bug.
~. and as he did so kissed her
check. Dear little woman" nc whls-
pcrcd. goodbye" Again ne doubted
whether he had heard or not the soft
whisper OF a faint Goodbye"
But YOU must come In" she said.
no. must 90. Make my excuses"
be said. Good bye" The horses
sprang sharply forward lie was
gone.
In her own little room Mary Ellen
sat. her face whore II might have been
seen i'm profile had there been light
or had the distant driver looked round
10 sec. Mary Ellen listoned-listened
until she could hear hoof and wheel
no more. Then she cast herself upon
the bed. face downward, and lay mo-
uonless and silent Upon the little
dresser lay n faded photograph. fallen
forward also upon its face. lying uu.
noticed and apparently forgot.
CTo bc cuntiluedD