Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-08-17
He had never talked so well, and there
was ring in his voice that impressed

morning WAS rainy. Inc Gay wearing
on brought deluge that shut in Ways
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
Ali through the last day Sunshine
felt a numb fear of herself She
seemed to be losing volition, to move
ard speak automatically 1t was only
by q 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
u,
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
n /.hY a N in In hor 1oP%
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 it, 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, 1 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! Conner 4
She sat quivering all through for thsgS
space Of breath, then turned herg
horse half about, moving little up
stream. Beauty was contrary. She
plunged willfully forward, lost her foot n
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 Quicksand
in between.
They came up together ten feet of,
the mare snorting and swimming gal
lantly. She had struck what should
have been bottom, but was in truth
holding sand. AS she foundered her
self free Sunshine became suddenly
cold. Wilton, she knew, could not
swim stroke, and before he could
fetch help the water, still rising, would
have made an end Of Beauty and her
rider. The mare could swim until she
struck shoal water, but there the
quicksand would hold her. Quickly
the girl slipped out of her numbering
rain cloak, flung away hat and gloves
and resolved to try her slight strength
against the raging stream. Just as she
was slipping down from the saddle
Dicky cried to her from the other bank:
"Down! Go down! I'll meet you
on the big bending sycamorew NJ
"Stay where you arev' Wilton shout
ed behind her. "I-I am going for
help" But before his cry had fairly
died away Beauty's head was down
stream, with Sunshine holding 1t easily
yet strongly above the racing waves.
1t was hundred yards to the big syca-
more, leaning far over the water, with
a great horny branch almost parallel
with its face.
Dicky scrambled out on the branch.
locked his legs about it and hung, head
down, to grasp Sunshine and raise her
high enough to grip the big Dough.
Hold Tight I'll have-you-up-i :
"a minute" he painted, writing up
himself.
Once she was safe he kissed her
over and over saying: Sunshine!
Sunshine! Suppose Granny had not
sent for me! l never should have
known real sunshine again."
Suppose, rather, you had not been a
strong man." Sunshine said, hiding
her eyes in his breast Then, with a
quick revulsion: Did you bring Dicky
the collar? If you did you can have
anything YOU please in return for it."
THANK YOU. I have all want Just
now" DicEV said ,l1astnrf,,]ly hoIp;po