The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-17


Wed him was balm to Gormley's sore
heart And II he could only plan 1t so
as to sit by Sylvia on the homeward
journey now his cup OF Joy would be
full. 1t was mighty bound from the
depths OF despair almost to the pima
Gle of bliss in one short half hour, but
Gormey was young, and youth has
hope for heritage.
Insensibly the young man WAS at
tracted by the beauty of the night
The FURNISHED moon glistened on mil
lions Of tiny tioating frost crystals un-
til they sparkled like diamond dust
To the westward the black roadway
ribbon Beaver creek crossed beneath
1r a hundred yards away. From the
lowland bordering the creek the road
had been graded to height of fifty
feet, and the embankment was mar.
row. steep and dangerous. A railing
on each side hedged In the roadway.
Tonight nothing was visible below
that railing A mist, white and soft
as cotton wool. rose from the swampy
low ground and rolled In noiseless bill.
lows to the height OF the road The
advance OF the gathering wagon and
its occupants into this heaving white
silence seemed almost uneanny. II
was as sea which might rise and
engulf them
The others were similarly impressed,
IL would seem. for the talk was some.
what queter. The team after three
miles of brisk movement was getting
warmed up and danced spiritedly. The
driver took fresh grip of the reins.
for careful work was needed. especial.
ly at night, In crossing Beaver creek
fats. He pulled strongly to bring the
horses TO walk, then lunged back.
ward suddenly The right rein had
broken near his hand.
What followed for the first paralyZed
moment was like n scene from a horrid
dream to Gormley There was con.
fusion of shouts and shrieks from the
wagon box behind. The horses were
crowded to the left of the road by the
pull of the one sound rein. to which
the driver still chung stupidity. They
plunged into the railing; it cracked,
then gave way beneath their weight.
The nigh horse was partially off the
road, scrambling desperately with its
hind foot on the treacherous side of the
embankment And still the relentless
rein dragging at the frenzied animals
bits, impelled them over the edge OF
the road
In flash Gormley saw the only
course that would save them, the girl
be loved and the others There was
no time to get down and reach the
bits. He might save himself by jump
Ing, but Sylvia, wedged in the box.
would be rolling over and over to pit
eous Disagreement or death. Drop
IT, he shouted hercely at the driver.
and the latter instinotlyely loosened
his grasp ON the line.
Gormley scrambled over the foot.
board and on to the tongue of the
wagon. He threw himself astride the
Off horse A well directed lunge with
his right hand secured the broken rein,
and the same movement wrenched the
animals head sharply to the right.
Leaning far out, he seized the other
struggling animal by the bits with his
left hand and pulled with all his
strength The hoofs of the frantic
horse struck fire from the embank-
ment edge For an instant the whole
outfit trembled toward destruction, but
the pull to the right never slackened.
the nigh horse secured foothold ut
last and the danger was over.
How did you ever think so quick
ly?" asked Bob Parker when the ex-
element had died down little and
the rein was being mended.
ut wasn't thought at all; just In.
stinct," replied Gormley. You see.
the trick of riding one horse bareback
and guiding another is part OF the cav
airy monkey drill | learned 1t years
ago when | was a boy"
Burgess holds Clement In bitter hat.
red since that night, for it was Clement
who insisted on changing seats with
Gormley, and that brought Gormley
into a place beside Miss Gerrlsh. The
engagement was announced next day,
all as a result of the ride home after
the dance.
The betrothal kiss, given when the
waning moon was smothered by Il
cloud, was doubly sweet to Gormley,
for Burgess was scarce yard way,