The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-11-26
The Proving.
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JIlt0S8SY x104o.
= don't just know how to explain
&" said Margaret West
ne turned hsr .eyas from tho cool,
blue stretches Of ths lake and looked
eAeughtfully At Graham, who. psrched
q the Sail Of ths boathouse. was alb
ssatiy pulling at the fingers Of the
nnntlsts IN his banda
Ths young man sti6snsd, and q slow
szn1ls, In which thsre was q hint Of
gEimness. curved the cornsrs Of his
mouth.
r rather think understand" be
sasd quietly. "You are disappointed In
u. Isn't that IT"
Hhs was silent Tor q moment.
"Yes, that d It." she said at length,
and at something In her voice his face
hardened.
Than You wanted me to enter that
mad race Thursday?' he asked.
"Yes," she said simply.
'"And because ] WON'T
She turned to him quickly.
TT isn't that I'm Tremendously in
tIrested In that race" she interrupted
him. nor that care q snap whether
q not you win It The point is-the
Doint is''-
She paused; her brows drew together
n q little frown; her fingers toyed
narvously with . bit Of wisteria she
had broken from the vine that COW
sred the porch.
II wanted you to be In ito 60 over
the course. That would b sufficient, -
shs finished.
Il sse," he said. "You wanted me to
disprove these stories that are going
the rounds about my lack Of nerve. Is
That ttr'
"Yes." she said again.
Hs drew himself up. His shoulders
were squared. Hi attitude was that
a man summoaing to his aid all his
moral courage.
The stories they have told you are
quite correct" b said. somewhat
huskily.
"ohr' che said, and In her voice
there was something Of pain and some
thing. too. Of wGaxiness, IL she had
bsen expecting this very thing and
yet was unwilling, even In her pre-
parsdness. to hear It.
'Thay are perfectly right in what
thav say Of me-" he went on calmly.
Z have lost my nsrvs. There's moth
ing would tempt me TO take up road
racing again."
'.Nothtng1' she questioned.
'sltoehtuI" he repeated inexorably.
r am not In the habit a Offering an
explanation nor any excuses for my
position In the matter. But would
IKE you to know the circumstances.
Woah you care % listen to thsmr'
II you choose b tsll me-" she said
dul1y.
sYou remember that race three years
ago over tho Meadow island course7"
sid ID. well. It was then It hap
psnsd Stanley was with me. He and
! had . good lead. We were tearing
past to curve at the old church, let
ting out the car for Ill there was in
her. AZ We swung that turn I saw a
child Just In front Of ~ not twenty
fost away, It seemed.
How she got past the ropes that
held the crowd back I can't say, but
thoro abe was right In the course and
not Q ghost Of show apparently Of
escaping rs. I don't know to this day
what saved her. I only know there
was . great gasping sigh from Stanley
and sroan from the crowd. I tried to
swing out for her, but there was 60
little time. Anyway. It was some sort
oesa special Providence that saved her.
We shot past her. % close that shut
ny Oy0o." e
The girl saw nervous tremor shake
the big shoulders. Her eyes narrowed.
But the child wasn't hurt, you sayT'
she asked.
Not In the least. But those few sec-
ends were enough for me. couldn't
stand them again. That Is why am
out q the game-a gutter, II you
choose to put itithat way"
The Sirl said nothing. She sat look
hg out at the sparkling lake with,trou-
hssd syss.
At length Graham arose.
II don't blame you in the least for
thinking Of me as you do" said he,
nor for being disappointed. Goodby."
He slid from the rail- and went down
the steps to the big road car standing
IN the driveway. He had pulled on his
eauntlsts and was Just climbing into
H. car when around the corner Of the
boathouse came wild eyed, dishev-
Esd gardener from ono Of the houses
down the street.
sAf. Graham, SIR" he painted, will
you b Gettin' the doctor, quickl Tim
Oomley's fell from the stagin' on the
stables whore they're paintin' an he's
hurtsd bad. Sir. IT'S dead he'll be in
TN minutes If the Doctors not fetched
beSore that: Hurry! For Gods sake.
hurry
sTu have him here in Ave." Graham
eallsd. and opened up the big car.
Il sprang forward like a thing alive
and went tearing down the driveway
n great cloud Of dust.
Nar6aret, who had run to the edge
e the veranda. saw him swing into
to roadway beyond, and the drifting
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