The Washington herald., 1907-02-17
A TURN OF THE WHEEL
Copyrighted 1907 by Constance darcy Mackay)

felt that she was looking her best. and
If she had any doubts on that score.
Jlni's fluent tongue would have treasured
her She answered his lOve-makiLg with
laughing banter. and ne was declaring
for the twentieth time that he would
make the kindest husband IA the world
when the jauntlng car gave an abrupt
/ lUrch. and ClOdah found herself sitting
on one side OF the road. while jim
scrambled up from the other. he did not
I even pause to ask her II she was hurt.
"Oh. be the powers" he calculated.
Took at my foine car. The wheels of,
ruined entOirely."
If it's the wheel that's troubling
ye--" But Clodah's scream was lost
on him.
My foine car" he cried over and over
again. From where they stood it was
five miles 10 Ballymoran, and FIVE 70
Gulmullet. The fields and boys stretched
away unbrokenly TO the sky line. There
was not cabin in sight.
wei, can't ye do something's" SAID
/ CIodah Her ankle was paining her and
/ the sun was very warm.
/ But Jim was better at repartee than
at meeting emergencies, and with his
/ head on one side he considered the sit
uation
I'm thinking well have 70 foot it," he
/ said. gloominiy.
There was d sob in Clodah's voice.
MY ankles wrenched, and tbs not a
I step further I'll CO." she avowed.
/ You sit here. thin. and I'll 90 for
help" said Jim, his face Frightening
| Yes, and il fair time. and the country
/ full Of vagabonds, That's a grand idea.
/ air Jim Hagan. to leave me alone en-
toiTely by myself
/ Jim wilted.
"Whatn we do thin?" he demanded.
/ Wen sit here till some one comes"
/ said ClOdah.
/ So they sat Birds sang in the long
meadow grass A hare fitted by Ike a
/ shadow. Nothing else stirred. The road
stretched away white and deserted. Tim
moodily scanned the horizon. and Clodah
wondered il the sunlight would fade her
ribbons. She wished devOutly that she
/ had never come. Who could have sup
posed that her pleasure jaunt would end
4 like this.
| She cast a quick glance at Jim. The
great uufeeling umathaum. Never once
/ had be asked her how she felt, OF II her
/ fall had shaken her, All. Terry was the
/ lad Terry always knew what 10 do. And
/ she had lost him-lost him through her
/ 10
I ing Of that now, and she blinked hard
/ 10 keep back the tears. It was near noon,
/ her throat was parched. and the pangs Of
hunger were astir. The sullen silence OF
/ Jim Wore on her.
I why don't We say something she
burst out instead o. sitting there staring
/ IKE bump on a log?"
whist. Clodah, here's some one coming
/ at last"
Through a cloud Of dust appeared a
rickety little cart, drawn by gray don
/ key Terry was on the front seat. The
I pig rode stolidly behind. At sight Of their
plight Terry halted. Clodah hung her
/ heaa and could not raise her eyes. il was
/ Jim who spoke first
+ We're in the divil OF a mess" said he.
/ The wheels broke, and Clodah's hurt
/ her ankle.
Has she now?" cried Terry. note OF
anxiety IN his voice.
IT'S not 50 painful whin ] sit still.
said Clodah. but It's ike the curse Of ali
/ the crows whin I try TO walk
IN tell ye the best way out" said
Terry. III take ClOdah with me TO the
fair. and thin I'll send some one 10 help
ye with your jauntinS car. How viii that
be suiting YEP
There seemed no other way, and Jim
muttered that Il would suit him very
well
And you. Cl0dah?'
Tiff ye will take me- she said,
humbly.
Here's a piece of bread for We, Jim"
said Terry. and a bit O. goats cheese.
/ Belize It viii stay your hunger till help
arrives. Don't ate it too fast he called
/ back" after ne had helped Clodah up 0E
I 10 the seat beside him. Don't ate IL too
/ fast. for tbs rich, and likely 10 give ye
/ the dyspepsia.
/ For a while Clodah and Terry rode in
/ silence. Then-"Clodah, girl said Terry.
/ tcnderIy. It's churl i am. at times. but
/ l meant nothing by il. VIII ye forgive me
/ for what I said last nlght2'
/ Forgive yer' cried Clodah- Forgive
We. on. Terry. I'd rather ride with you
and fifty pigs than with Jim Hagan and
/ q coach and four,'