The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-11
1zz Mz
 New York. v
HOW ST. ALBE HELPED
New York.
BY INA WRIGHT HANSON.

nad replaced my racer Gt. AlDe, Tn my affections. l loved him for his swift ness, his beauty, his gentleness. More than loved woman did I regard I my horse but that was before I had met Elsie Hyler at my hostess country home.
 I had always believed that I should recognize my mate as soon as saw her; or at least when | heard her speak. Miss HyIer's pure, Madonna-lilSe face held my eyes, her voice set my heart strings atune: and in the evening, when waltzed with her, knew her for my very own. l almost told her so; aftert ward l was glad had not. It was ai month-long house party. so I should have plenty of time to woo my darling; but from the first matters went not to my liking. A ghost seem ed to stalk in our midst, and from my dear lady's lambent eyes looked often haunting fear. Her voice, face, and sweet disposition seemed a perfect trinity to compel any mans admira- tion, and at times she had the whole crowd literally at her feet. Then pres to- The intangible something which made her woman apart from her sis ters.
 I exercised St. Abe every day. usual ly preferring to drive him hitched to my easy going phaeton. I never went out that didn't try to get Miss Hyler to accompany me, but she never ac- 1 cepted. The seventh time her excuse was too fiimsy to bear investigation, and she ran form the room was puzzled. She wasn't cold to me except in connection with my horse. As stood drowning, Mrs. Ath- erton patted my shoulder ip her moth l erly way. Better not waste time on what can't be helped" she counseled. Another day I overheard Mrs. Jerome and Miss Cecilia laughing about the poor little Gumpie," as they called Elsie.
 Doubtless if I had asked a direct | question should have found out soon- CT, but couldn't bring myself to dis cuss her, and they, supposing under stood, talked in metaphors and left me l ignorant lone golden morning l left her hufiiIy | and went after St. Abe, Miss Cecel- ias mocking laughter trailing after me. I drove away-miles away. Com ing back, was still pondering on the situation. What had Jerome meant with his epigrammatic better chuck 1t. Den?' As one joins mosaic work, l. put together Mrs. Atherton's advice, Miss Cecilia's laughter, Jerome's words and various hints from the oth- CTS; but when I had my pieces fitted I failed to read the design. As St. Abe turned eastward saw | the girl of my thoughts sitting by the roadside. Her white face, her little | shoe in her lap, her swollen foot, told | the taie oA sptdlhou anhAe. Jump ed out.
 Let me lift you in," said q won't hurt the poor foot"
 70 no" she exclaimed. her blue eyes black with some strong feeling. T shall be able to walk pretty soon Please go away"
 T shall do nothing of the kind" I replied. promptly growing angry. I'm sorry to be so distastefuI, but guess you can endure me till get you home; or you can drive the horse your self"
 That ride was a memorable one. If St. Abe started into gentle trot Elsie | shrieked with fright; if l slowed him down Elsie knew he was going to kick. The toot of an auto horn in the | far distance nearly threw her into spasms, though St. Albe knew an auto
 mobile better than he knew his moth | CT.
 I tried to reason with .her, but she | bade me keep my mind on my driving. At last she put her elbows on her | knees and her face into her hands,
 the while she shook as with an ague chill
 q can't help itr she moaned T was born with it, as some are born with crooked feet. I cant help 1t. I can't!
 With her in this undignified posi- tion, and myself grim, silent, but furi- ous I drove up to the house into a perfect cloud of laughter. from which I escaped as soon as possible. l. I understood my mosaic now, and I began weighing my desire for her against my pleasure in St. Abe The latter it was evident, she could never share with me. I avoided her for sev- eral days, while my anger cooled. and my love increased. Then one morning as drove out on the pleasant country road I overlook her. She was walking | very slowly, aided by a cane.
 As she turned startled eyes on my | glossy horse, a blind rage suddenly possessed me. In less time than 1t l takes to tell it l was out of the buggy had Elsie, in my arms into the buggy, and we were off"
 Her face went white, and the fear in her blue eyes, was mixed with un- mitigated scorn and anger. You are a brute!" she said trem- blngly.
 T know it." I agreed. T can't reason about 1t! l can't help | it! Oh. please put me out! The piteous voice appealed to what little manhood I had left. l stopped the horse and jumped out As I held up my arms a paper careened across | the road. St. Abe, noted for his quiet l nerves, snorted and ran. Elsie scream | ed and shouted whoa" but he ran the faster, while l scurried after in the l cloud of dust, my heart fairly burst | ing with fear and remorse. It seemed to me that I ran for hours. l The road had many turns so they were immediately lost to sight At every corner I expected to come upon the tragedy At last I fell breathless by the roadside, and while I waited, sick at heart I heard the toot of the tally ho horn.
 Thank Godw I cried. for l knew it was the other guests who had early in the morning, gone for a tally-ho ride. Thank God!" l cried and staggering
 up I ran dizzily on.
 As the road &werved sharply to the west a most surprising sight met my eyes. St. Abe was trotting swiftly toward me-swiftly but under perfect control-and Elsie was his driver! Behind them came the tallyho crowd shouting itself hoarse.
 Elsie drew proudly up beside me The tally-ho folks spilled out, all talk l ing at once.
 "Oh. you brave creature"
 How did you dareT'
 "Shan't l help you out?' why, you don't look a bit search
 why. I am not scared, and l am SC claimed when she could get hearing 'Tts wonderful! The minute I felt the l reins in my hand that horrible fear lef'
 me. I slowed him down and turned him around, and now 1 am going tC drive him home. Oh, I'm so happy! Every one--at least every man ir the house. barring Jerome--entcrtain
 ed me that evening. They seemed tC take turne at It. At last I wrencheC
 myself away, and went into the gar
 den where I had last seen her. She