The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-07


He had never talked 30 well. and tiiere
was a ring In his voice that impressed
her.
As 10 Fate were on his side, tho
morning wns 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 frcsbet. How Anne
got through them she ne,0 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 incloscd back pIazza. Anne did
not know II, but Wilton had said to
his aunt:
II have got to cllnch things at once.
Mrs. Lee Ia teaching Anne 10 laugh at
me. Tf let that happen am lost. A.
for the boy. be don't count"
All through the last day Sunshine
felt q numb fear Of herself. She
seemed 10 be losing volition, to move
and speak automatically. II was only
by a supreme effort Of will she kept
10 the shelter OF her solitude. Wilton
did not call her audibly. but she felt
invisible. inaudible forces dra wing her
10 him. To escape them she hung out
Of the open window. heedless OF the
pouring rain. In the dash OF II. the
cool spiashing. she found strength 10
resist the eerie Influences. BY and BY.
when the influences began 10 tug hard
Or 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. Der pet mare.
looscd Dick from his kennel. then
clambercd up and dashed away. the
puppy barking mndly 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. Tho wind was roaring.
hut she had no fear Of II, nor OF the
water when she came 10 the brook.
She saw II running bank full. turbid
and crested with drift. But Beauty
knew the ford by the landmark trees
on the other side. II 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
shlne flung up her head. laughing
aloud. saying: I'm safe, safel Maybe
rye been sewitched. Indeed. I think
%. But witchcraft and witches can't
cross running water. I'm 10 happy!
Happy as freed bird"
She heard above the tumbling water
boarse shout In spite Of herself she
checked Beauty and listened lntently.
II came again. Wilton was crying to
her: "Come bacsi Backi Comet You
belong TO me! Conner
She sat qulvering all through for the
space OF 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 oars, In swimming water.
The ford had a gravel bottom. and the
treacherous current had swept out
great holes IN It leaving a Quicksand
In between.
They came up together ten feet of,
the mare snortinH and swimming gal
lantly. She had struck what should
have been bottom. but was In truth
holding sand IA she fioundered 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 marc could swim until she
struck shoal water, but there the
qulcksand would hold her. Quickly
the girl slipped out OF her cumbering
rain cloak. dung away hat and gloves
and resolved TO try her slight strength
against the raging stream. Just as she
wus slipping down from the saddle
Dicky cried TO her from the other bank.
"Downl Go downi I'll meet you
on the big bending sycamore!
"Stay where you aser' 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 II easily |
yet strongly above the racing waves.
II was hundred yards to the big syca.
more. leaning far over the water, with
a great horny branch almost parallel
with It's face.
Dicky scrambled out on the branch,
locked his legs about II anu hung, head
iown, to grasp Sunshine and raise her
high enough TO grip the big bough.
"IIold Tight I'll hnve-you-up-in
"a minuter' he painted. writhing ur
himself.
Once she was safe he kissed her
'vsr and over, saying: Sunshine!
sunshine! Suppose Granny had not
tent for mel I never should have
Inown real Sunshine NgaIn."