Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1906-03-16
An Automobile
Eide


front Of the house, and presently the
door opened, letting out half dozen
revelers, the men drawing on over
coats, the women wraps. Noislly they
descended the steps and. climbing into
the automobile, covered themselves
with fur robes; then one OF the men
took the chauffeur's seat, and they
whirled away.
They were party Of artists, stu
dents, models and others from the Lat.
In quarter In Paris who had been at.
tending the Mabille Garden and, as the
dance was about to break up, preferred
to continue their revelry in an automo-
bile ride. The men were Felix Chabu.
laix, Antoine de Ware and Victor Ger.
maine; the women, or, rather, the girls.
Julie Ernst, Madeline le Croix and
Marie de Tour. Chabulaix was acting
as chauffeur. with Julie Ernst beside
him; then came De Ware and Made
line lie Croix, while the bindmost
seat was occupied by Victor Germalnc
and Marie de Tour. Leaving the gar.
den, they crossed the Seine and, enter.
ing the Place de Ia Concorde, went up
the broad avenue OF the Champs
Elysees. After passing the Arc dc
Triomphe they turned into the Bois de
Boulogne. II was o'clock in the morn
ing and still some hours before day.
light. The weather was cold. and they
made frequent stops to refresh them
selves.
One Of the party was out of her ele-
ment. This was Marie de Tour, a
young girl from the provinces. Her
family had sunk from comparative af-
iuence to poverty. and she had recent
ly come to Paris to study art. She had
no knowledge of Paris or Paris Gus
toms and had taken up with these com
panions simply because she chanced to
be thrown with them. She did not real
ize that they were not safe associates
for pure young girl. The ball she had
attended was something very strange
to her, and the mad pace they were go
ing in the automobile and their shouts
and songs were discordant to her. She
did not drink wine or Join In the shout
ing and singing. Gradually she began
to feel an inexpressible dread.
ASK him not TO go so fast" she said
to her companion.
Mile. de Tour wishes you to go fast
err shouted Germaine, with a laugh.
"Ah, well. she shall have her way"
And the speed was increased.
Marie clung to the back Of the seat
before her In terror She had never
ridden so fast in her life, not even in
railway train, for she had but seldom
been on the rails and then only in the
slow country way trains.
Then her companion noticed that she
wee casting frightened glances to the
rear.
do you fear that another automobile
coming more rapidly than ours will run
into usY Then he shouted to the chauf-
feur that Mile de Tour feared COLI,
sion from the rear and could only be re-
by going faster.
These sallies OF her chevalier were
much enjoyed by the rest Of the party.
who shouted and laughed at them and
urged the chauffeur to drive the ma
chine faater. Marie kept casting her
frightened glances behind, and every
lime she did 80 a chill passed over her.
what are you looking atr' asked
These lights OF the city are so
strange. SO fantastic. Every time we
pass one of them 1t seems to light up |
something behind us. Sometimes 1t
ooks like a nuttering white sheet; then
here is a siittering as Of polished
Iteel."
"Felix," callNi Germaine, Mile.
lie Tour is frightened at the street
amps. Go where It Is. dark"
There was moe laughter at this, and
presently Chabi,laix turned into dark
'treet. Still Merle kept looking back.
do you nee your white sheet now?"
Isked Ger. zine.
Marie gave another look to the rear
)efore answering and when she turn
d again covered her face with her
Iands, her body shaking convulsively.
Her companion looked back and, see
ng nothing unusual, exclaimed:
you silly mouse! What are you
hivering about7 First you are afraid
4 the lights, then of the dark Mel
her seems to please you"
Now 1t is blackp she gasped.
What is blackT
And Its eyes-oh, its eyesl They are
avernsv
Tint, tut, little girl You need n
racer. Felix" he shouted, ''mademoi-
ellie wishes you to stop at the next
afe! She needs some absinth.'
Felix did not hear. He had drunk a
reat deal and was getting stupid. He
lrned bend in the street, intending
, cross viaduct a hundred yards
head. He saw a red light and turned
n the power. but before the speed
Ould be reduced perceptibly he had
assed the light. and some timber that
ad been placed across the way few
p In tho air, Then there was an un
SISTED whirring Of wheels, sinking
trough space, crash, and the party