The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-08-18

his head with such stuff. l only want
the place to mold him us it helped to
mold his father and grandfather. If l
thought it could make prig Of him
like-well, somebody | might n0me-he
should leave tomorrow.
II see you are an obstinate person
likewise opinionated, my dear Mrs.
Lee" Sunshine Knocked In Nine Ire
vor'S own manner.
The two were laughing SO heartily
they did not hear Wilton Roy ride up
to the open hall door and kept chat
ting madly of things they would not
have had him hear for kingdom.
Whether or no he heard, he gave 10
sign when he came in ten minutes
later. But on the way home and all
through that evening he beset Sun
shine to marry him, pressing her until
she was almost driven in sheer weari-
| ness to accept
Wilton was a good strategist; he did
not fall into the two elderly women's
| mistake of running down all possible
riyals. Indeed. he ignored rivalry and
talked Of his love and long devotion
| He had never talked so well, and there
was a ring in his voice that impressed
| her
| AS If Fate were on his side, the
morning was rainy. The day 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 let that happen l 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 a 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
err 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
CIcSlSu Will Dul pCdull
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, think
so. But witchcraft and witches can't
cross running water. I'm SO happy!
Happy as freed bird"
She heard above the tumbling water
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
She sat quivcring 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 gravel bottom, and the
| treacherous current had swept out
| great holes III it, 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 truth
| holding sand AS she tloundered her
| self free Sunshine became suddenly
| cold Wilton, she knew, could not
| swim Il 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
| uuicksand would hold her. Quickly
| the girl slipped out of her numbering
rain cloak, flung away hat and gloves
| and resolved to try hoe 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 sycamore!'
"Stay where you are" Wilton shout
| ed behind her IL AIN 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 1t and hung, head
down, to grasp Sunshine and raise her
high enough to grip the big bough.
Hold tight. I'll have-you-up-in
"a minuteT he painted, writhing 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
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. | have all want just
now" Dicky said masterfully, helping
her toward the tree trunk.
An American Learns English.
There is an American in London who
is rapidly learning English. He used
to ring the bell and call CURLY for
"mucllage" Assduous and willing at
tendants brought him everything you
| c,u +binI- of from thp "napraYp" to