Middletown transcript., 1905-08-26

| Whitney joined him in shont that had
however, far more Elizabeth in its spiri
than kite
Before we make the final test will
the rudder. Mr.. Starlamb,' Christopher
said, Il will 60 over there about hal
mile and watch the kite through glass
| always learn more about kites sailin.
qualities from such a distance. Will you
please take charge of the cord while | an
gomez"
Whitney accepted the responsibility
and the little kiteman, walking briskly
away, was soon lost to view. Left alone
with the kite, Whitney began to think O
the deceitfulness Of his position as hi
had not thought before. He felt silly
and the kite, high above, seemed to be {
living thing looking down at him with {
consciousness Of his incapacity. Now thai
the test would soon be over he saw that
he, must abandon his pretense, but how
he was to do so in good form, he coulo
not see. How he would then stand with
a young woman who disliked shams, he
could see even less.
| While he was trying to devise the best
course to pursue, he heard rapid footsteps
behind him, and presently boy came t.
his side with slip Of paper, upon which
these lines were hastily scrubbed in pen
Gil:
MR.. STARLAMB:
/ Elizabeth and Mr.. Latshaw have Just
started down the road in your auto
mobile. From the excited way they
acted, | am afraid they are clipping.
Please come i'll at once and follow them.
Don't let Uncle Christopher know this,
if you can possibly keep it from him, IN
til after he has tested the kite. 1t would
be dreadful blow just now. Please come
in at once. DOROTHY"
He looked wildly around for the boy,
bur he had scampered away. Not per-
son was in sight. He stood in the mid
die Of the big field alone with the kite
upon which Christopher had worked for
months and upon which he had set his
strongest hopes. As result Of his talk
with Latshaw the day before, the young
couple had decided to take their happi-
ness into their own hands, and they had
chosen time when no one could follow
them. If Elizabeth was willing to elope
with Latshaw, Whitney saw, of course,
that there was no hope for him. But
ought he to let her do thing she would
regret all her life? Ought he to let
kite stand in the way Of doing 50 palpable
a duty? But Christopher had trusted him,
and he was in responsible charge of the
ground end Of the cord.
As panicky sense Of his predicament
swept over him, he heard familiar
"Chud, chud, !" and, looking wildly across
the field, he saw his auto speeding along
the country road. Just as it came abreast
Of him, it stopped. Then Latshaw and
Elizabeth rose and waved their handker-
chiefs to him in friendly farewell. The
"Chud. chud," was waited to him again
on the same summer breeze that was
keeping "The Gull' in position to hold
him just where he was and III moment
the two had disappeared on their foolish
way.
He fumed impotently at the end Of the
cord. But why should he stay? Why
should he care for the, kite, when he
could gain nothing from his pretense?
He determinedto leave it to its fate and
do all in his power to Illustrate Latshaw,
if for no other reason than his imperti-
nence in appropriating his automobile.
He turned and hurried toward the house,
at great risk Of swapping the cord, for the
kite resented the rush through tile air.
Coming at last to fence, lie quickly
tied the cord to post SO that THE Gull''
might fall or fly as it>would, and, leaping
over, he rushed into the grounds where
Dorothy was running to and fro in dis
tress.
"Oh, hurry, hurry, Mr.. Staramb, she
urged. "They have such a start on you.
You will find team at the front Of the
house. Uncle Christopher always has
one there to 60 after kite if the cord
should break. Take it, and, oh, do your
best to save Elizabeth from her folly"
II certainly WILL he answered, as he
ran to the team, sprang into the runabout
and dashed forward in the direction
marked by the broad tracks Of his own
automobile tires.
If not spurred by his disappointment
over the loss OF Elizabeth and his anger
at Latshaw's impudence the pretty Doro-
thy's distress would have urged him to
beat the horse up to its utmost speed. A
light rain had fallen during the night,
erasing all former tracks, SO that the
broad lines were clearly marked before
him. They led down the wide road, then
turned abruptly into lane, along this to
another and another. He feared that the
chase was hopeless, but lie wished to have
the satisfaction of having done his best,
and kept on pounding the horse with the
whip, and hoping, as he never hoped be-
fore, that, at this opportune time, his
auto would break down as badly as it had
on very inopportune occasions. But on
the tracks went, marking singularly cir
cuitous route along the country roads and
lanes, through woodlands and over hill
tops. He pressed steadily on, taking
little note of where the clippers were
headed, for he was entirely unfamiliar
with the region and its highways and by
ways, but simply following the two broad
tracks, his only hope being that he was
not too far behind to come up with the
pair before they could find minister.
At last the way led through dense
wood, and as lie emerged from it he
caught sight OF the rear OF a large house
set among tall trees, and was reioiced to
see that the auto tracks ran up to and