Rock Island Argus., 1906-02-21
DAILY SHORT STORY
AN AUTOMOBILE RIDE.

coats, the women wraps. NoisiIy they
descended the steps and. climbing into
the automobile, covered themselves
with fur robes; thentone of the men
took the chauffeur'sa seat, and they
whirled away.
They were a party Of artists, stu
dents, models and others from the Lat
in quarter IN Paris who had been at
tending the Mabillei Garden and, as the
dance was about to break up, preferred
TO continue their revelry in an automo-
bile ride. The men We're Felix Chabu-
laiX, Antoine de Ware and Victor Ger
maine; the women, or, rather, the girls.
Julie Ernst, Madeline lie CroiX and
Marie de Tour. Chabulaix was acting
as chauffeur. with Julie Ernst beside
him; then came De Ware and Made
line le Croix, while the hindmost
seat was occupied by Victor Germaine
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
EIysees After passing the Are de
Triomphe they turned into the Bois de
Boulogne 1t was 3,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,
young girl from the provinces. Her
family had sunk from comparative ar
fiuence 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 Glanced 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
lug in the automobile and their shouts
and songs We're discOrdant TO her. She
did not drink wine join i'll the shout
ing and singing Gr;dually 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 laugh.
"Ah. we'll, 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 III Il
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
was casting frightened glances to the
rear.
~ nl1il
coming more rapidly than ours will run
into us?' Then he shouted to the chauf-
feur that Mile de Tour feared COLI
sion from the rear and could only be re-
assured by going faster.
These sallies of her chevalier were
much enjoyed by the rest of the party.
who shouted and laughed ut them and
urged the chauffeur to drive the ma
chine faster. Marie kept casting her
frightened glances behind, and every
time she did so chill passed over her.
"What are you looking at?' asked |
Germaine.
These lights of the city are so
strange, so fantastic. Every time we
pass one of them it seems to light up |
behind us. Sometimes it |
looks like fiuttering white sheet; then |
there is a glittering as of polished |
steel"
Felix" called Germaine, Mile. |
lie Tour is frightened at the street |
lamps. Go where it is dark
There was more laughter at this, and |
Chabulaix turned into dark |
street. Still Marie kept looking aack.
do YOU see your White sheet now?"
lsked Germaine.
Marie gave another look to the rear |
before answering and when she turn
I'll again covered her face with her
lauds. her body shaking convulsively.
Her companion looked back and, see /
ng nothing unusual, exclaimed:
"You silly mouse! What are you
,bivering about? First you are afraid
If the lights, then Of the dark Mel
her seems to please you"
"Now it is blackr' she gasped.
what is black"
"And its eyes-oh, it's eyes! They are
'Tut, tut, little girl! You need q
,racer. Felix" he shouted, "mademoi-
'elle wishes you to stop at the next
.afe, She needs some absinth."
uOL I&E Il 1
,reat deal and was getting stupid. He
urned a bend in the street, intending
o cross a viaduct a hundred yards
head He saw D red light and turned
IF the power, but before the speed
ould be reduced perceptibly he had
,assed the light, and some timber that
lad been placed across the way few
ID in the air. Then there was an un-
esisted whirring of wheels, a sinking
through space, crash, and the party
# pleasure was in a twinkling turned ;
nto one of death.
Weeks afterward Marie de Tour .
woke from unconsciousness in her |.
ome in the provinces. Her mother
vas standing beside her bed and well .
omed the opening of her daughters
yes with a kiss.