Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-24

are the rose for me. sure. Ted Yot
must say you will marry me this
time" he ended, with an air of des-
peration, ''or PIP
The threat was not completed. In
the earnestness of his plea Percivale
had forgotten that he was running an
automobile for the first time In his
life. They were now going at tire
mendous speed and every instant gath
ering momentum. Edmonia gripped
his arm as they lurched around a
curve and bounced over a culvert
"Hang on!'' yelled Perclvale as they
approached a slight descent. In his
, clumsy efforts to control the machine
he inadvertently put on more speed
"What are you doing" screamed
Edmonia. stop! Why. you are run
ming away with mev she laughed
TREMENDOUSLY.
"Why notY he shouted wildly, as
she thought. recklessly. The idea of
stopping was delectable one now 20
Percivale, but one which he felt that
he must abandon.
The roadsides of fireweed and gold
enrol few by like track of flame.
Hens tapped from under his wheels
as they passed farmhouses at rate
Of speed that made the occupants rush
out of doors to stare after them. Out
ragged cries followed them when a
barking dog was not quick enough to
eludc those blurring wheels and with
yelp OF pain rolled over and over
into the ditch. Three horses batting
by the roadside in front Of another
house stampeded as they whizzed by
and raced them out of sight
Edmonia now tried to expostuate
with her mad cavalier. But Percivale
said nothing to her almost fearful APP
peals. His whole attention was con
centratGd on keeping the thing within
the limits of the road
Beats Lochinvarr' he yelled breath
lessly as they grazed a watering tub.
Edmonia moaned. You are crazy
she cried. Lets go home! Oh, take
me homel" she commanded him.
"Homei" Percivale ground the word
passionately between his teeth. "You
will be lucky If you ever see home
again. We shall never Stop But
even as he spoke he felt something re-
spond to his cropping fingers. The ma
chine was obeying his controlling hand.
| Joy and relief that rolled over him
like wave made him shout aloud.
Edmonia received this new demon
stration as the exultation of a captor
and commanded and implored by turn.
But he did not at once diminish his
speed. He knew now that Edmonia
had not realized his impotence. He
put the machine at hill and plunged
down the other side. Edmonia was
clinging to him with wild promises.
He brought the car carefully to n
standstill ard climbed painfully to the
ground Edmonia was sobbfng into
her handkerchief. He hoped he was
accepting the role of victorious knight
modestly, but the iron was hot!
Ted" he cried, you've got to keep
your promise, you know. I'm not much
of a knight, and / don't know how to
rum
| LIS uuSuSltCltu tohlcSSiOii WAS III
terrupted for the second time as she
suddenly, TO his establishment, smiled
up at him through her tears.
81 never was driven like that in my
life" she remarked, with pride. But
but let's go home in a buggyp'
mot until we're married." said Per
civale firmly.
Edmonia refused TO continue In the
car, however, so they walked on to the
nearest town. where the minister's fee
was the first of series of more muI,-
dane charges which punctuated their
homeward journey in the buggy.
But in his new joy, which was only
enhanced 10y pecuniary interludes with
the wrathful owners of slaughtered
hens, the fearful mistress Of an injured
dog and damages due to the recovery
of Grant horses Percivale made ii a
triumphal journey.