The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-30

Suddenly I am reused ny ra,r~.- 'r,.
on IL" outside. Numrn's voices t.,
helplgsa ,esUor blending WIKI uca. q
child's scream rising above line c,a.cpr
of iron hoofs on the pavement.
Rushing to the window l see a tiny
child Ucrched on a gray steed that is
rearing and plUuging beyond all con
troll. The childs mother rushes for
ward, but is struck by one Of the
brute's forefeet as he plunges. The
crowd rescues and carries her away
with a dark red stain dripping upon
the pavement
1t all happens so Quickly-not in
one-tenth the time it takes to write
il, The horse has broken loose and is
tearing away toward the Fork, which,
muddy and swollen with the late rains,
rolls rapidly out of sight
1t is death certain-either tramplcd
beneath iron hoofs or drowned in that
muddy current, | am not the only one
that turns away with a groan from the
sickening sight But instead OF the
death cry I am expecting to hear,
there rises a shout of rejoicing. Am
| mad? ! look again. The crazgd
brute has disappeared, While canteTing
over the sunny slopes toward us, is a
rider mounted on a splendid black
horse-both of which / have surely
seen before.
It all comes back to me in flash.
The close-ftting jacket with the
sparkle of brilliants in the golden
clasp at the throat, the black-plumed
nat, the spray Of white passion flow
ers against the bodice, only that now
crushed against them is the child so
late rescued from deadly peril. A mo
ment only / see her, then the crowd
close about and she is hidden from
view
And the first thing she asked when
handing the baby down was why we
did not shoot the horse, this from
Barnes. the grocery man, as he leans
over his counter awhile later where a
dozen or more of us are assembled,
discussing the late incident She is
just like the colonel. that quick to
thinks" he continues; nov, any of
us could have done it and maybe
would have thought of it when it was
too late. Never saw anything run
like that horse of hers did-straight
against the gray and staggered him
so that she barely got the child off be-
fore the brute plunged in the river!
The little fellow was still clinging like
mad, they say. Might as well have
shot the horse. for he's drowned by
now, ! reckon.
will you find doctor for me,
please? | think have hurt my arm,
says a low distinct voice from the
doorway
Straight and slender, with one hand
resting against the counter stands
MaTise Shelby her level eyes look
ing miles away, her face white as the
flowers on her breast.
hasten forward and place a chair
for her.
Il am practiciug physician" l say,
as quietly and naturally as ! can, will
YOU let me examine your arm?'
Her eyes look straight into mine
wonder that | ever fancicd them blue
or black, They resemble nothing so
much as Jewels under running water
the same brilliant rays flashing
through limpid brown water
Thank YOU she answers, quietly,
taking the chair and indicating which
arm was injured
Her facets still white as the crushed
flowers she is wearing. 1t is the reac-
ton from the terrible excitement she
has just undergone, and but for her in
domitable will, | think she must faint,
for | can see that she is suffering ter
ribly yet by neither word nor gesture
does she make it known
Cut the sleeve, she directs. for
cannot move my arm.
As in dream | apply the linimcnt,
arrange the bandages, and listen u
the continued talk around me while
all the while the odOr from those
deadly white passion flowers per-
meates my brain, and Miss Shelby sits
silent and motionless
Thank YOU she says quietly, when
my task is ended Then rising she re-
quests Barnes to bring up her horse.
The man looks douhtfully at her white
fare. then at me-
BY no means, say, hastily. 1T
would be riskinG your life. If you
rust go, my horse is yet in harness
shall drive you
Once more | feel an echo OF that
hrill of joy with which | hand Maui
Use Shelby into the carriage and take
my place at her side
We arrive at our destination all too
soon, and a sweet-faced lady, whom
Miss Shelby introduces to me as her
aunt, Mrs. Thomson, meets Us at the
door and welcomes me with a sweet
southern accent
Il shall call tomorrow and see YOU"
| sag, authoritatively, after / have
stayed in that quantity picturesque
room as long as politeness admits.
On my return to the hotel find let.
ters awaiting me from my father de-
manding my immediate presence at
home
With a sigh over the turn Of fortune
| promise myself a speedy return to