Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-02-03

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Warburton could occasionally hear
the faint strain Of music From time
20 time the carriaee-caller bawled ont
a number. and the carriage would roll
up under the porte-cochere Warbur-
ton concluded that IL would be a good
plan to hunt mp his rig. His search
did not last long. The bay and the
gray stood only a lille way from the
gate. The box was vacant and he
climbed mp and gathered the reins.
He sat there for some time. longing
intensely for a cigar. "A good cigar. such
as gentlemen smoked.
Seventeen came hoarsoly along
on the wings OF the night. Number
II, and lively tnere,"
Warburton's pulse doubled its beat
His number.
'Skt,' the bay and the gray started
forward, took the half-circIe and
stopped under the porte-cochere. War
burton recOllected that q fashionable
groom never turned his head unless
spoken 10; so he leveled his gaze at
his horses ears and waited
But from the very corner OF his eve
he caught a glimpse OF two women.
one Of whom was enveioped i'm a Grim
son cloak. He thrilled with exultation.
What joke 60 was, He felt the car
rage list as The women stepped in
The door slammed 60 and the rare
good joke was on the way.
"On with you," cried the pompous
footman. with an imperious wave OF
the hand. Number 99,"
''Ninety-nine, Ninety-nine," bawled
the carriage man.
Our jehu turned into the avenue.
holding a tolerable rein re cluckcd
and lightly touched the horses with
the lash. This was true sport: this
was humor. genuine. initiative. un-
forced. He could imagine the girls
and their frieht when ne finally slowed
down. opened The door. and kissed
them both Wouldn't they let out "A
|yell. though His plan was TO drive
turiously for half a dozen blocks.
zigzag from one side of the street 10
the other. taking the corners sharply.
and then make for Scott Circle.
Now. a lad of six can tell the differ
.encc betv-eeu II and a. But this as
.tonishing jehu of mine had been con-
.spicuous as the worst mathematician
and tho best soldier IN his class az
West Point. no more did he remem-
Der that ne was uot in the wild west
and that here lu the east there were
laws prohibiting reckless driving.
lie drove decenuy un he struck
Dupont Circle. From here he turned
into New Hampshire. thinking II TO DE
Rhode Island Mistake number two.
He had studied tho city map. but he
was conscious OF not knowing il as well
as he should have known &c. but. true
90 his nature, he trusted Co luck.
Aside from all this. he forgot that
a woman might appreciate this joke
only when she heard IL recounted. To
live through it was altogether a differ
ent matter To an episode like this.
woman's imagination. ciyen the
darkness such as usually fills a car
riage at night, becomes a round OF
terrors Every moment is freighted
with death or disagreement Her
nerves are like the taut strings OF Ii
harp i'm a wirtry wind, ready to snap
at any moment; and then. hysteria.
With man The play. and only the play,
is the thing.
Snap-cracki Tho surprised horses.
sensitive and Quick-tempered as all
highly organized beings are. nearly
leaped out Of the harness. Never be-
fore had their tanks received a more
unwarranted stroke of the lash. They
reared and plunged and broke into a
mad gallop, which was exactly what
the rascal on the box desired. Anexpert
horseman, he gagged the strength Of
the animals the moment they bolted
and he knew that they were his. once
the +ubber-tired vehicle slid sidewise
on the wet asphalt, anu he heard a
stifled scream.
He laughed. and let forth a sounding
"whoOp." which nowise allayed the
fright OF the women inside the car
riage. He wheeled into s street. scrap
ing the curb as he did so. Pedestrians
stopped and stared at him A police
man waved his club helplessly. even
hopelessly. On, on: 10 Warburton' s
which the Bishop of Vannes took from
Belle-Isle TO Paris In the useless effort
70 save Fouquet from the wrath OF
Louis XIV, and 70 anticipate the preg-
nant discoveries of one D'Artagnan.
The screams were renewed A hand
beat against the forward window and
mufiied but wrathful voice called
forth command TO stop. This voice
was Immediately drowned by anOther's
prolonged scream. Our tehu began TO
find all this very interesting, very ex-
citing
IN wager a dollar that Nan isn't
doing that screaming. The Warbur-
tons never cry olt when they are
frightened. Hang iti"-suddenly;
this street doesn't look familiar. I
ought TO have reached Scott Circle
by this time. All. here's a broader
street, going ickety-clip into Yer
mont
A glass went ffnoIino ~ fba D.va