Smyrna times., 1905-09-13

w
End and utterly forbade stirring
abroad. The rain held three days-a
regular autumn freshet. How Anne
got through them she never under
stood. Wilton pleaded manfully and
Nine. Trevor deliberately left her
alone whenever she ventured into the
big parlor, the library, the long halls
or the inclosed back piazza. Anne did
not know it, but Wilton had said to
his aunt:
Il have got to clinch things at once.
Mrs. Lee is teaching Anne to laugh at
me. If l let that happen am lost. As
for the boy, he don't COUNT
All through the last day Sunshine
felt numb fear of herself She
seemed to be losing volition, to move
and speak automatically. 1t was only
by supreme effort of will she kept
to the shelter of her solitude. Wilton
did not call her audibly, but she felt
invisible, inaudible forces drawing her
to him. To escape them she hung out
Of the open window, needless of the
pouring rain. In the dash of it, the
cool splashing, she found strength to
resist the eerie influences. BY and by,
when the influences began to tug hard
er than ever, she ran away from them,
rushed downstairs caught up her hat
and macintosh and stole out to the
stables.
They were deserted; groom and
coachman were doing in the hayloft.
With trembling fingers she flung the
saddle upon Beauty, her pet mare,
loosed Dick from his kennel, then
clambered up and dashed away, the
puppy barking madly at Beauty's
heels. The rain still poured, but Sun
shine was bent upon seeking refuge
with Granny Bunch. She rode head
long, bending low over Beauty's neck
and singing. The wind was roaring,
but she had no fear of 1t, nor Of the
water when she came to the brook.
She saw it running bank full, turbid
and crested with drift. But Beauty
knew the ford by the landmark trees
on the other side. 1t should not be
more than breast deep anywhere, al
though the current was swift and
| strong
Beauty snorted and paved as they
went in, but after the third step made
way beautifully. Halfway across Sun
shine flung up her head, laughing
aloud, saying: I'm safe, safe! Maybe
I've been bewitched. Indeed, l think
so. But witchcraft and witches can't
cross running water. I'm so happy!
Happy as a freed bird"
She heard above the tumbling water
a hoarse shout. In spite of herself she
checked Beauty and listened intently.
1t came again. Wilton was crying to
her: "Come back! Back! Come! You
belong to me! Gomez
She sat quiverlng all through for the
| space of a breath, then turned her
horse half about, moving a little up
stream. Beauty was contrary. She
plunged willfully forward, lost her foot
ing, scrambled wildly, then went down
head over ears, in swimming water
The ford had q gravel bottom, and the
treacherous current had swept out
great holes in 1t, leaving a quicksand
In between.
They came up together ten feet off
the mare snOrting and swimming gal
lantly. She had struck what should
have been bottom, but was in trutf
holding sand. AS she foundered her
self free Sunshine became suddenly
cold Wilton, she knew, could no
swim a stroke, and before he coulC
fetch help the water, still rising, woulC
have made an end of Beauty and he
rider. The mare could swim until sh
struck shoal water, but there tn
uuicksand would hold her. Quickl,
the girl slipped out of her cumberin
rain cloak, flung away hat and glove
and resolved to try her slight strengt
against the raging stream. Just as sh
= was slipping down from the saddl
= Dicky cried to her from the other bank
"Down Go down! I'll meet you
ON the big bending sycamore!'
"Stay where you are! Wilton shou
ed behind her. "I-I am going fC
helpw But before his cry had fairl
died away Beauty's head was dow
stream, with Sunshine holding it easil
!, yet strongly above the racing wave
e 1t was hundred yards to the big syc
{ more, leaning far over the water, wit
V a great horny branch almost parall
with its face.
e Dicky scrambled out on the branc
- locked his legs about 1t and hung, hes
e down, to grasp Sunshine and raise b
5, high enough to grip the big bough.
"Hold tight! I'll have-you-up-
s "a minuter' he painted, writhing
k himself
y Once she was safe he kissed b
v over and over, saying: ''Sunshin
Sunshine! Suppose Granny had n
d sent for me! / never SHOULD ha
d known real sunshine again"
N Suppose, rather, you had not been
1T strong man." Sunshine said, hfdil
to her eyes in his breast. Then, with
1 quick revulsion: "Did you bring Die