The Meeker herald., 1906-11-17


sized the situation with the lighs,ina
rapidity which always came to HIM In
a crisis.
At the same moment the girl In the
carriage caught sight of the maslerful
face above the plain. ill-fitting clothes
and under the unkempt hair-AAw 1t
and noticed the decisive aleitness
which made him look like . tigs,
about to spring.
She arose In the carriage and
stretched her hands toward him with
an expression of confidence on her
face. Her eyes met his fully for an
instant--and the next instant he
sprang full at the brides of the mad.
dened horses. He had been WATCHING
for an opening. and his heart had al
most failed him as he realized the
hopelesness of the situation. but when
he saw the light of hope and conf.
dence in the girls eyes as they met
his all thought vanished except to
meet her trust. AS he leaped directly
in front Of the foaming steeds = Sigh
which was nearly groan went up
from the crowds pushing franticAlly
to get out Of the way.
He was carried of his feet and
dragged between the horses. but with
the skill born Of much experience he
had secured grip Of iron on the bri
dies. and he gave each of his hands
swift turn even while the horses were
trampling on his mangled legs-a twist
that brought the team to their knees
There was a mighty struggle for q
moment. when one of the horses fell
heavily. dragging the other after it.
Both fell partly upon Mark.
The fleeing crowd who had watched
the daring deed paused in their flight
and In an instant hundred willing
hands pulled the farmer boy from IN.
der the horses. while other hands a.
sisted the girl from the carriage.
OF all this. however. Mark knew
nothing. nor did he recover conscious.
ness until he had lain for many hours
in the hospital. When he opened his
eyes he gaxed about At the simple
cleanliness and drew In = long breath
Of good wholesome air and looked uI
into the eyes of the kindly-eyed nurse
and wondered where he was. Sure.
ly there was no such clean. quiet.
wholesome. restful place in the great
city whose streets he had roamed dur
ing the past weeks. He stirred and
uttered a sharp cry. A thousand
needles seemed to have been inserted
into his anatomy.
a
must be very quiet. You are badly
injured. but We will pull you through
all right
Where am II" he asked. weakly.
In st. Marks hospital" she replied
You have been here three days. You
have been delirious and talking about
Henrietta and the orchard and the
cornfields and home-and-and q lot
Of things"
He smiled a wan SMILE YES" he
said. weakly. II live in the country
and am homesick for it-snd Henri
eta. well Henrietta. she lives in the
country, too-and she has brown hair
like yours"
You must be quiet now" she said.
a slight flush coming to her face.
Every day great box of the most
exquisite flowers lay on the chair near
the head of his bed-and as soon as
he could eat the choicest fruits were
brought to him.
Presently. one day a tall. white
haired man. with straight. thin lips
and gray side-whiskers, came in to
see him, and on his arm leaned q radi
antly beautiful girl.
You saved my daughters life"
said the man, in a voice he vainly
tried to keep steady. And did 1t, sir,
at the risk of your own. am a man
of some means, and have a great deal
Of influence in the business world
All have-my influence and my mon
ey-are at your command. You are
young man. Choose your career and
will see that every obstacle is re-
moved from your path. What do you
desire most earnestly, my SOM
Mark gazed into the earnest eyes Of
the man bending over the bed. and .
peculiar whimsical smile. habitual to
him. played about his mouth.
MY most earnest desire is to sse
the cornfields and to smell the apple
blossoms in the orchard, and to sleep
In my own bed in the little back .'oom
ana to eat some Of Aunt Maria's corn
bread-and to see Henrietta-m,st OF
all, to gee Henrietta. and to marry
her.
All Of which came to pass. and the
bridesmaid was the daughter Of mil
lionaire banker-which filled Henriet
ia with unspeakable Joy. and all her
friends with corresponding envy.
Where America 10 Ahead.
Only 10 per cent. of English cities