The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-09-03

ashes In his mouth. and he betook
himself again to his Devon solitudes
10 await his guests. He was gloomy
and absorbed when the car carried
him to meet them, and his man more
than once caught his breath in terror
at narrowly escaped collisions. But
presently the party arrived, Mrs. Man
sci coquettish. the duke agreeable.
John genial. Victoria decidedly sui
ky and-to Grifith's wonderment-
defiant.
| So this is the wonderful motor?
| Delightful" exclaimed Mrs. Manssl
as they left the station behind them.
Doesn't go as smoothly as It did.
eh?" queried John. aside.
Its my fault" answered Griffith;
and. going to the front of the car.
remained there until It stopped.
His face was drawn and tense as he
sat at dinner with his guests. Vic
toria was struck by his expression.
He glanced up and met her eyes. but
the girl turned away with an air of
contemptuouS Indifference
Griffith was fussing about the car
next morning. when, with a swish of
silken Innings, Victoria stood before
him.
Il want to speak to you" she be-
gan abruptly. regarding him with
wrathful eyes. She was hatless, and
the wind ruffling her pretty brown
hair mad1 distracting little curls on
her forehead. Grifith's admiring ex-
preston was. however. entirely lost
upon it's object
I've always been nice and
friendly-to you" she went on, an
grily, "and 1 think it is abominabIe
of you to serve me such a horrid,
mean, shabby trick"
Griffith gasped as the adjectives
fell headlong over each other.
L always thought you my friend"
"a suggestion of sobs in her voice
but now,-I just hate-and dislike
-and-despise you'll"
My dear child" from the dazed
Griffith; what do you mean?'
"Why?"- she began. when John
appeared, and she vanished.
picnic was arranged for that day.
and the car was at the door betimes.
John noticed that it's course was err
ratio, and that it stopped with less
precision than usual. Griffith looked
worried, and replied abstractedly TO
Mrs. Mansels apologies, when she
suddenly remembered things she
wanted, and dispatched John in one
direction and Victoria in another for
them. The girl was hurrying through
the hall. when Griffith barred the
way
Miss Mansel!"
His tone was urgent. She looked
up into his anxious face.
What did you mean this morn
ing?" he asked earnestly.
oh, you know very welli" she an
swered. resentfully; please let me
pass. They are waiting"
Not till you answer me-" he an
swered, masterfully. Hang the car!
Let it go without us An answer I
mean to have!"
"Well-as you insist ex-
claimed Victoria; why did you in
vite the Duke, when you know how
miserable I am because mo,ner is try
ing to make me marry him! didn't
think you would help to make me
marry a man old enough to be my
grandfather"
Before the astonished Griff1th could |
reply. there was a shout, and John |
dashed into the hall
Grin! My mother The carl"
And they reached the door to see !
that masterpiece vanishing in the dis |
tance
"Merciful powers! Griffith sat
down helplessly on the doorstep.
What's to be done, MANI" cried |
John, shaking him franctically: does |
Exton know the workings of the ac-
cursed thing?"
There are no workings!" an
swered Griffith. his head in his hands.
And Victoria burst into tears.
Get up, Griff." said John, sternly.
and act like man. Is there no con-
troll over the thing that they can find
out?"
None whatever" answered the un-
happy owner of the car.
And If it meets a1ything?"
Its lonely road over the hills"
answered Griffith, recovering himself
at the sight of Victoria's distress.
ION / cry, MISS Mansel. I'll have
the trap out and follow them"
The car was a well known object
to the moor dwellers, but never had
they seen it as on that eventful day.
when at full speed 1t plunged hither
and thither like an unmanageable
horse, Mrs. Mansel's screams and the
Dukes shouts for help being barely
heard before the vehicle vanished in
the distance.
Within, chaos reigned Maddened
by Mrs. Mansel's appeals. the Duke.
in his search for hiddeI levers, tore
down curtains wrenched of seats and
execrated his fate. Flung from side
to side, the unfortunate couple at
length clung helplessly to each other,
till suddenly, with a jerk, The car
dead on the top of hill be-
low which roared a little river, and
no two rrocinffafad |