The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-04-24

question I should have found out soon
er, but | couldn't bring myself to dis
cuss her, and they, supposing under
stood, talked in metaphors and left me
ignorant.
E One golden morning left her hufily
i and went after st. Abe. Miss Cecilia's
knocking laughter trailing after me.
1 drove away miles away. Coming |
s back. | was still bordering on the sit
j uation. What had Jerome meant with
his epigrammatic better chuck it.
i Den?' AS one joins mosaic work,
/ put together Mrs. Atherton's advice,
Miss Cecilia's laughter, Jerome's words
and various hints from the others, but
when had my pieces fitted 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 tale of a sprained ankle. jumped
out.
Let me lift you in" said. Il won't
hurt the poor foot
"Oh, no." she exclaimed, her blue
eyes black with some strong feeling.
Il shall be able to walk pretty soon.
Please go away.'
II shall do nothing of the kind.'
replied, promptly growing angry. I'm
sorry to be so distasteful, but guess
Il you can endure me till get you home
or you can drive the horse yourself"
That ride was memorable one. II
St Abe started into gentle trot FL
sic shrieked with fright. If slowed
him down Elsie knew he was going to
kick. The foot of an auto horn in the
far distance nearly threw her into
spasms, though ST. Abe knew an auto
mobile better than he knew his mother.
tried to reason with her, but she
babe me keep my mind on my driving.
At last she put her elbows on her
knees aud her face into her hands, the
while she shook as with an ague chill.
81 can't help it,'' she moaned. Il was
born with it. as some are born with
crooked feet | can't help it. / can'tv'
With her in this undignified position
and myself grim, silent, but furious, l
|. drove up to the house into a perfect
cloud of laughter, from which I es-
capped as soon as possible.
| understood my mosaic now, and |
began weighing my desire for her
against my pleasure in ST. Abe. The
latter it was evident she could never
share with me. avoided her for sew
eral days, while my anger cooled and
my love increased. Then one morning
as | drove out on the pleasant country
road overlook her. She was walking
very slowly. aided by cane.
As she turned her startled eyes on
my glossy horse a blind rage suddenly
possessed her. IL less time than it
takes to tell it l was out of the buggy,
had Elsie in my arms, into the buggy
and we We're Off
Her face went white, and the fear in
her blue eyes was mixed with unmiti-
gated scorn and anger.
You are brute.' she said trem-
4 blingly.
Il know it." agreed.
Il can't reason about 1t! I can't
help it! oh, please put me QUIT"
The piteous voice appealed to what
little manhood had left. l stopped
the horse and jumped out AS l held
up my arms a paper careened across
the road. ST. Able, noted for his quiet
nerves, snorted and ran. Elsie screamed
and shouted "Whoav' But he ran the
faster, while l scurried after in the
} cloud of dust, my heart fairly bursting
with fear and rpmOrSe
1t seemed to me that ran for hours
The road had many turns, so they were
Immediately lost to sight. At every
corner l expected to come upon the
tragedy At last l fell breathless by
the roadside. and while l waited, sick
at heart, l heard the toot of the tally
no horn.
THANK Godv' / cried, for / knew 1t
was the other guests who had early in
the morning gone for tallyho ride.
"Thank Godv' i cried, and, staggering
up, l ran dizzily on.
As the road swerved sharply to the
west most surprising sight met my
4 eyes. ST. Abe was trotting swiftly to-
ward me-swiftly, but under perfect
control-and Elsie was his driver. Be-
hind them came the tallyho crowd
shouting itself hoarse.
E Elsie drew proudly up beside me.
The tallyho folks spilled out, all talk
ing at once.
"Oh, you brave creature"
"How did you dare?"
"Shan't / help you QUIT"
"Why, you don't look bit scared"
why, am not scared, and am so
4 happy | think / shall der Elsie ex-
claimed when she could get hearing.
TITS wonderful! The minute felt
the reins in my hands that horrible
fear left me. / slowed him down.
turned him around, and now l am
going to drive him home Oh. I'm sc
happy!''