The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-02
The Proving.
By GRANT OWEN.
Copyrighted, 1905. by Associated
Literary Press.
By GRANT OWEN.

thoughtfully at Graham, who, perched
on the rail of the boathouse, was alb
sently pulling at the fingers of the
gauntlets in his hands.
The young man stiffened, and a slow
smile, In which there was a hint of
grimness, curved the corners of his
mouth.
Il rather think l understand" he
said quietly. You are disappointed in
me. Isn't that TT"
She was silent Cor a moment.
Yes, that Is It," she said at length,
and at something In her voice his face
hardened.
Then you wanted me TO enter that
road race ThursdsyT' he asked.
Yes" she said simply.
"And because I WON'T
She turned to him quickly.
1T Isn't that I'm tremendously In
terested In that race," she interrupted
him, nor that care a snap whether
or not you win II. The point is-the
point is'-
She paused: her brows drew together
In little frown; her fingers toyed
nervously with a bit of wistcria she
had broken from the vine that COW
cred the porch.
Il wanted you to be In ito 20 over
the course. That would be sufficient"
she finished.
Il see," he said. You wanted me to
disprove these stories that are going
the rounds about my lack Of nerve. Is
that it?"
"Yes," she said again.
He drew himself up. His shoulders
were squared. His attitude was that
Of man summonin- to his'aid all his
moral courage.
The stories they have told you are
quite correct" he said. somewhat
huskily.
"Oh"' she said. and in her voice
there was something Of pain and some
thing, too, of weariness, as IL she had
been expecting this very thing and
yet was unwilling, even in her pre-
paredness, 10 hear 1t.
''They are perfectly right in what
they say of me-" he went on calmly.
II have lost my nerve. There's moth
ing would tempt me to take up road
racing again"
"Nothing?" she questioned.
Nothing" he repeated ineXorably
'I am not in the habit of Offering an
explanation nor any excuses for my
position in the matter. But l would
like Won to know the circumstances.
Would you care to listen to them?"
"If you choose to tell me-" she said
duly.
you remember that race three years
ago over the Meadow island course?'
said he. "Well, 1t was then 1t hap.
pened. Stanley was with me- He and
hSd good lead. We were tearing
past the curve at then old church, let
ting out the car for all there was in
her. AS we swung that turn l saw a
child Just in front of us not twenty
feet away, it seemed.
How she got past the ro0eS that
held the crowd back l can't say, but
there she was right in the course and
not a ghost Of show apparently of
escaping us. l don't know 10 this day
what saved her only know there
was a great gasping sigh from Stanley
and q groan f"~'l 49, ""oWd. ! tried tC
swing out for ner, out there was So
little time. Anyway, it was some sort
OF a special Providence that saved her
We shot past her, so close that shut
my eyes"
The girl saw nervous tremor shake
the big shoulders. Her eyes narrowed
but the child wasn't hurt, you say?'
she asked.
Not in the least. But those few sec
onds were enough for me. l couldn't
stand them again. That is why l am
out Of the gamc-a Quitter, if you
choose to put it that way"
The girl said nothing She sat look
ing out Mt the sparkling lake with trou
blcd eyes.
At length Graham arose.
II don't blame you in the least fol
thinking Of me rs you do" said he
NOR for being disappointed. Goodby.'
He slid from the rail and went dowr
the steps to the big road car standing
in the driveway. He had pulled on hii
gauntlets and was just climbing int
the car when around the corner of the
boathouse came n wild eyed, dishev
elcd gardener from one of the houses
down the street
"Mr. Graham, SIR" he painted. "wil
you be gettln' the doctor, quick! Tin
Comley's fell from the stagin' on the
stables where they're paintin' an he'i
hurted bad, sir. 'Tls dead he'll be IL
ten minutes If the doctors not fetched
before that. Hurry! For Gods sake
hurry"
"Tll have him here in FIVE" Graham
called, and opened up the big car.
1t sprang forward like thing aliv,
and went tearing down the drivewa!
in a great cloud of dust.
Margaret, who had run to the edg,
of the veranda, saw him swing int
the roadway beyond, and the drifting
dust which rose high above the poplar
told Of the terrific pace he was setting
1t was four minutes later after
nervous pacing OF the veranda, tina
she heard the whir Of the approaching
car aRain, She ran down the step