The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-10-05
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 5. 1906
A HASTY MARRIAGE.


A HASTY MARRIAGE.
He held his arm about her in the sad
die for moment, trying to say something,
but he did not say it. He turned and
untethered his own horse, vaulted up, and
the two rode quietly away over the grass.
Suddenly Bird drew rein. Her dog was
following.
$50 back-oh, go back, dear Jack p
she said sorrowfully.
The animal lay down on the ground,
whining. The girls lip quivered in the
darkness; the old dog was all she had to
leave. The gate was open They passed
out and rode swiftly down the road.
"Fasterr' said CHILDBIRTH suddenly
She heard it, too, that faint stroke of
horses hoof. In her fear she was mad
enough to touch Don with her wrip. He
plunged and kicked in passion of anger
and then stood still in stately defiance.
'Don, for Gods sake!' she pleaded.
In that fearful moment she heard a fall.
She turned her head. Childreths saddle
was empty. She heard him moan upon
the ground.
In an instant she was on her feet down
among the wet grass.
sMy LEG is broken. Your horse kicked
me-" he said. ~ am helpless, and you
must 90 alone"
"Where?'
.''To log house on the banks Of the
Stranger. An old man lives there who
will take care of you. Send me help.
Oh, my God!' in agony.
ooh, Childreth!' she sobbed.
"You can find it, for the road is straight
until you come to the river" he went on,
commanding himself 'Then show Don
the rein. He has been there hundred
times with me, Oh, my child, be quick
This is dreadful
She sprang up and vaulted into the sad
die. They sped forth like an arrow.
When the wretched girl heard once again
that pursuing footstep, she sat silent,
knowing that her only helper was doing
all that could be done. The great cotton
wood trees flew by them. Don's breath
grew labored Never once had he faltered,
and, though growing sick in the saddle,
Bird dared not detain him. From behind
she heard measured lope. AS it drew
nearer it came close to cutting her off from
every happiness in life.
They thundered over bridge 1t was
but moment before the horse in the rear
struck the bridge also. Looking back,
Bird could see her pursuer.
She knew then what was almost inev-
liable. Gordon Churchill was mounted on
a white horse which was the pride of his
stable. His pace and endurance were
indeed wonderful.
Good help mer' said Bird in despair.
At the sound of her voice Don broke
his pace and returned TO her horror, he
rushed straight toward her foe. He raised
himself and lowered above the great,
cleaning white horse who threw himself
upon his launches. Don seized the rider.
He grasped him by the shoulder, tore him
from the saddle and, throwing himself
back, literally shook the life out of him.
The man dropped from his mounth to the
ground, senseless forever.
And Bird looked down on the black
heap in the road, knowing that the man
was dead. He was her half brother. AS
a child he had struck her bare shoulders
with his riding whip. He had knocked
her down. And yet, as her guardian, he
would have forced her to marry him. She
loathed the very air he breathed, so she
looked down at him and said from her
heart, II am glad you are dead!'
Two miles more and she reached house.
Old Allen came out.
els it you, honey, all alone?'
cit is Miss Donaldson. Mr.. CHILDBIRTH
is hurt and is lying in the woods on the
turnpike. You must go to him instantly"
He put up his arms to her. She dropped
into them in swoon.
In the gray light of morning she raised
her head from the bed of hunter blankets
where she lay and saw from the window
old Allen leading two horses up to the
door, One of them was Churchill white
horse, and he helped bear the litter on
which CHILDBIRTH lay all but dead. They
brought him in, CHASTITY and senseless.
''Shake up good bed, wife," whis-
pered the old man to the crnne of wife
"He'll lie by for weeks. :
Bird heard. She stood sileat, looking
down on the unconscious, deaAlike face.
''Who is going for dector?'' she asked
ct am - said old Allen -
"When?'
Gas soon as | can put good horse over
five miles of billy road
Bring also "A clergyman.
GOOD gracious, child! What for?''
''To marry us. -
''The young lady is crazy" exclaimed
Mother Allen. "Why, yer foolish young
thing, yer may be wilder in an hour p
"Do as l tell YOU with quiet deter
mlnation to Allen. 'I must be his wife
and take care of him, whether he lives or
dies. We were to have been married here
today anyway. Now he needs me more
tn an ever. Bring clergyman I must
have my way"
AT sunrise three horsemen rode up to
the door. One was the master of the
house, who introduced the others. Another
was a good physician. The third was the
clergyman of the nearest parish. All
were rather bewildered by the calls made
upon them, Of course, but each was pre-
vailed upon to do what was required of
him. A wedding was nearly followed by
funeral, but not quite. A good consti-
tuition and untiring nursing brought Chill
dreth up from death door. In four weeks
both left the country and never knew the