Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-05-31

He tore page from his pocket diary
and wrote his courteous regrets that
circumstances rendered it inconvenient
for him to fetch Miss Register from
the station.
Il have little matter to settle with
Mr.. Stillman," he wrote, that may in
terfere with his snipe shooting. Sorry
to have spoiled your little plan for a
pleasant day. Your pardon for a
rather free Interpretation Of marital
rights"
AS old MunSon reappeared, f1urried
and heated, but punctual, his master
sprang from the drag and shook the
reins impatiently toward him.
"You delivered the note to Mr.. Still
man himself?"
Yes, sir"
Good Here, you are to drive the
beasts home. Let them cool off before
watering them. After you have stabbed
them and rubbed them down, take this
note up to the house and deliver it to
Mrs. Leveridge Not before you have
attended to the horses. You under
|>stand?"
The old man recoiled In terror.
ME drive thin devils home, sirY'
you" The answer dropped like a
stone, cold, hard, resolute.
Munson glanced nervously from the
foam-f1ecked bruteS to their master,
whose delicate features were distorted
with black rage. OF the two, the chest
obeyed the imperious order.
Something was wrong. He could not
puzzle it OUT Something had put Mr..
Horace into one Of his ways and he
would as soon be out Of range of his
fierce temper as not. But "if the good
Lord spared him to get home with
them four-footed DEVILS" he was go
ing right straight to his mistress and
| make a clean breast Of it.
On one Of her numerous trips to the
terrace, Mona, restlessly watchful for
| the coming of Rafe in time for her to
prepare him for Aline's advent, saw
| the old man driving at a rate that
bespoke something wrong. Every drop
Of blood had deserted her cheeks by
the time the old man was near enough
to be questioned.
"Where is Mr.. Leveridge, Munson
Why are you driving the chestnuts ?''
Il left him back yonder at the cross
roads, missus, and"
Doing what?"
"Just waitin', seemed like"
Waiting for what?'
81 don't know, missus. This Door
old head Of mine is all a-whirlins
with it. The Leveridge men-folks is
surely hard to keep up with. Mebbe
this will clear 1t up. I warn't to give
it to you till rubbed the horses down,
but they can wait. l seem to feel
danger in my bones"
Mona seized the envelope he extend.
ed. In another moment Horace's bit.
ing words had scorched themselves
upon her brain. She made a step for.
ward, stopped and pressed her hands
over her eyes in paroxysm of physical
terror. Could she do it? She must.
All bareheaded and ungloved as she
was, she sprang into the drag and
gathered the long reins in her slight,
unframed hands. Munson, who had
dismounted to deliver tie note, sprana
to the brutes' heads, and laid a detain.
ing grasp on their brides.
''Missus, missus, what are you think.
ing Of doing? They'll kill you, my
sweet mistress. They is all fretted out
with excitement now. Don't leave the
old man behind. missus."
''Stand aside-they Will trample you
DOWN.
She planted her little feet rigidly
| against the dashboard. Her dinner
gown Of shimmering silk glistened in
the sunshine. She swayed with the
swift onrushing Of the chestnuts, about
whose ears she had laid the whip with
ignorant energy.
Doubtless they would kill her. She
rather expected it, but she must reach
the crossroads first-before Rafe Still
| man got there.
Horace Leyeridge, standing face to
face with the man whom he had pitt
lessly insulted into an agreement to
settle the matters there and then, saw
a glittering spectacle advancing upon
them with the speed of well-aimed
arrow
Mona's hair had escaped all bounds
Like veil Of some yellow silken fab
ric it fell about her pallid face The
sun shone full upon the glittering har.
ness, upon the tawny names Of her
steeds, and upon the diamond pin she
had donned with her dinner costume
They were all a-glitter.. She stood UP
in the drag to cry aloud
"HOracQ my husband are vou maj