The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-10-18

drove against them as the horses SCTalh
bled slowly up the slope. In a minute
| they were wet to the skin. AS they
neared the top they plunged into forest
of trees, and the path WAS hidden by II c
| darkness The noise of the wind i'll II e
trees and the roar of the driven rain put
an end to all conversation. At last a
faint glmmer of light in the distance
showed that the promised coolie was at
his post with the lantern, and In obedi-
ence to a shouted command from Brad
shaw, the girl gave her horse his head,
and let him pick his own way after the
| other. Gradually the noise Increased and
the pelting sheets of rain became heavier,
till the Pickering light proved unable to
withstand their onslaught, and went
| out suddenly. Bradshaw shouted some
thing to the coolie, but the man with the
stupidity of his race, jumped to the con-
clusion that the mishap was about to be
visited on him, and bolted. Bradshaw'S
| shouts produced no answer, and they
"cIS ielI Oil lHC SluS oi luc NH Ill llle
middle of the first burst of the northeast
m )nsoon, unable to see foot in front of
them.
owe must go on as best we can"
shouted Bradshaw. Leave everything
to the horses We are safer on than off
them"
The horses seemed to understand, and
picked their way slowly down the pre-
cipitous slope. All went we'll for a time,
and Bradshaw was beginning to con-
graduate himself that the worst was
over, when they came to an Irish drain
crossing the path. 1t had been trickle
of water in the morning but the roar O.!
the torrent rushing over it warned him
that it was probably impossible. After
a moments hesitation he resolved to
leave 1t to his horse and trust to it's
instinct if it refused.
"I'll go through first" he shouted.
"Ill call to you fits all right" ~ , 80.
| &The horse faced it without baking,
and with splash and clatter of hoofs
| on stones he was through, greatly re-
lieved to find that it was much less
| formidable than had appeared from the
noise. The girls horse, resenting the
feel on its mouth which prevented Its
following. grew FESTIVE, fidgeted, and
slipped foot over the side of the narrow
path. Bradshaw pulled up on the other
side and heard the clatter There was a
scream, followed by the noise of heavy
body falling down the slope. and the
squeal of frightened horse. Hesprang
from his horse, LETT it to its own devices,
and wadedsinto the water, shoutingi,.as
| he went.
Miss Moore, where are you?" he call
ed, his voice trembling with.emotion. A
cry came from below him. -
"Grace, are you hurt?" he said. "Call
to me again and l will find my way to
you"
I'm all right, think" said voice in
| tremulous accents. 81 am trying to
climb up, but l don't know where my
poor horse is" Bradshaw, his feelings
suddenly released from the strain, was
| guilty of remark with reference to the
unfortunate horse which scarcely convey.
ed sympathy. Following the sound of his
voice, the girl climbed slo WHY to the path
and waded into the stream. Midway
| across her outstretched hands touched
him, and the next moment she was held
close in strong embrace.
II love YOU" he said simply. 81 have
always loved you"
They stood knee deep in the water, and
the darkness hid their faces from each
other She did not speak but gently
| pressed his arm and sighed softly She
was his once more, and all else was as
nothing to her.
81 shall never let you go again." hi
said.
She laughed quietly, but there were
tears in her voice when she spoke.
Il do not want to go again-ever,'
she said.
A few minutes later a very wet bu
ridiculously happy couple reached Gang
oya bungalow. Harry Deare met then
on the veranda, and was not little sur
prised at the calm indifference with which
they treated the probable fate of thei
horses; but his wife, who was hastil,
summoned to Miss Moore's assistance
solved the mystery at glance.