Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-11-20

/ side, and he helps her on the box too.
The horses are fresh, and eager for
work, and for a time he drives, but
presently he puts the reins in her
hands.
According to promise" he says.
Hold 'em tight while 7" and he
, bends down and searches for some
thing under the seat box.
! ooh, how beautifully they go!" she
says, half to herself. What is it you
are looking for, your gra-Lord
Yorker"
Never you mind. You look after
the horses"
Leslie laughs, and laughs again, Us
| he comes up, red in the face, and
with Scotch wrap in his hand
"Are you so cold?" she asks.
Very" he responds. 'It's going to
snow, fancy"
why, it is quite close" she says,
removing her eyes for a moment from
the horses to glance at him with smil-
| ing surprise. ct seems hotter than it
has been all day.
And as she speaks, a low, rumblin9
rolls over their heads and a flash OF
| light cuts across the heavy sky.
THAT is Hghtning!" she exclaims.
"It is rather like it, he admits,
! dryly.
did you bring. any lamps?" asked
the duke.
mary one,' replies Yorke, grimly.
Slang away; / can beat it-and | de,
serve it," he mutters, glancing at the
girlish figure beside him.
Mr.. Lisle looks round absently.
''I'm afraid tit is going to rain,
he says.
In another moment it is raining.
Yorke takes the rug in both hands ana
deity wraps it round Leslie.
ooh, no, pleased" she says, and she
glances behind her. Give it to him
Mr.. Temple"
ut would be more than my life IS
WORTH" he says. 81 dare not offer L
| to him. Please let me fasten it-hoW
shall 1? Give me a hair-pin."
you must hold the horses, then,
she says.
Il can see one sticking out" he says.
well, take it, them" she responds,
innocently, and all unconsciously for
she is thinking Of her driving far more
than the rain or the rug Or anything
else.
He looks at her intent and absorbed
face and puts his hand and draws tne
hair-pin from it's soft and silken nest;
and she, unheeding, does not know
that his hand trembles, actually
trembles, as he fastens the rug
round her.
Now give me the reins." he says,
'and keep your head down; we are in
| for a regular storm
AS he speaks, the rain comes down
with a whiz, as if it meant to wash
them off the box.
after all, it is perfect picnic. .
she says.
But the next instant her laugh dies
away; for the heavens seem to open
before them, a peal of thunder roafs
like the discharge of park Of
artillery just above their heads, and
the horses startled and frightened
stop dead short, then rear UP on end.
The break sways, and for moment
it seems as if it were going over, and
Leslie is forced close up against
Yorke.
He holds the terrified horses with
one hand strong and slips the other
round the slim form tilted up against
him.
"All right" he says, in low voice,
Don't be afraid, Leslie!" His arm
holds her, supports her, presses her TO
him, perhaps mconsciously. 'You
I are quite safe. dearest-dearest!"
Low as his voice is, Leslie hears
him; or--she asks herself-sis it only
tancy:'.
For a moment, one brief moment,
she covers, nesting to him, her face
hidden against his shoulder, then with
start she draws away, and, her face
red and white by turns, looks straight
before her.
And through the roar of the thunder
and the Kissing of the rain she hears
those words re-echoing. Leslie
dearest, dearest!"
CHAPTER x,