Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-10-22
Her
Auto Ride
The Best Laid Plans so
Z Awry.
By CLARISSA MACkIE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

dicated the sea. In the foreground
were green clad slopes running down
to snowy beaches. The roofs OF the
village pointed up among the trees,
and a church spire cleaned like IRE.
There were white sails beyond and
the black drift of smoke from a pass
ing steamer.
"This is lots better than going to
Aunt Edith's poky musicale" sighed
Annabelle mutinously. "Just fancy
spending this glorious afternoon In
lighted drawing room listening to the
great Alvan Eldred, master OF the
VIOLIN and being disillusic-ed by long
hair, greasy coat collar and pervad-
ing presence Of garlicw Annabelles
dainty nose shifted scornfully at her
imaginary portrait Of the great violin
ist of whom her aunt had rayed for
weeks.
"Pm going down. down to the very
edge of the sea-"
AS the machine sped downward An
nabelle was suddenly conscious that
something was wrong. The brakes did
not respond to her frantic pressure,
the levers grated harshly without ef'
feet, and there was an unfamiliar.
grunting sound from beneath her feet.
She had been down this same hill
many times before, slowly. cautiously
She knew that from the foot OF the
hill the street ran down to the waters
edge. ending at the broad dock where
the boats landed.
Nothing could stop her speed unless
the color left her cheeks as she real
lied the almost certain death that con-
fronted her. Her lips set In a straight
line, and her eyes shone steadily. II
one had to meet death at the close OF
a lovely August day when-why, one
might rs well meet 1t brayely.
Faster she went, her eyes. dark with
dread, fixed on a wide opening on the
right. Flanked by stone pillars, Il
seemed to mark the entrance to some
estate. The few pedestrians turned
and watched her flight with disap
proval: constable held up warning
hand: a wagon scuttled into the side
walk to avoid her coming.
\ A9nabelle turned the steering whee
l'and a sigh OF relief fiuttered from he
lips as the machine responded, bu
there was no lessening Of the mac
speed. Wildly 1t tore through tn
open gateway, ground into the har'
packed earth of the drive, skidde'
along a muddy spot under the trees
left the drive and pounded along sof
green turf, miraculously avoiding tire
trunks, making straight for the larg
brown house set in the midst OF In
grounds.
/. Another twist of the wheel and tn
house seemed to glide past. Befor
her was q distant blur Of gorgeou
colors-a flower garden in the mids
!. Of which was a summer house. To IN
left was a turfy bank. Her hea
dropped on her hands that clutche
the wheel. and she closed her eyes an
prayed.
There was a low shout beside ne
the machine jolted under additions
weight: a pair Of strong hands grippe
the wheel from hers; there was u
pressure of brakes; the motor slowe
suddenly, bumped into some obstru
ton and then bounded back to stan
still.
"Its all over now," said kind
voice.
Annabelle opened her eyes oil
looked fearfully forth on the SUNNI
house still creaking from the force
encounter, on the crushed flowers s.
had moved down and lastly into I
countenance of a man who sat besi
her IL the car.
II was then that Annabelle realiz
that she was holding the stranger
frantic embrace, her hands hgh'
clasped about his neck, her fair he
perilously near his broad shoulder.
4 81 beg your pardon" Annabeli
face turned to deepest rose as $
hastily withdrew from him. but
hair had caught In a button OF
coat, holding it firmly by one 10
golden strand.
"Just a moment. There-I don't WI
to hurt you. It's of now" He spc
in n matter of fact tone as IL ne "
>, In the habit of ensnaring lovely ma
IL ems with coat buttons every day
or his life. "Tm afraid you are pre-
~ well shaken up with your ride. !
~ had a narrow escape" He had alis
ed and helped Annabelle to the grou
6. She leaned weakly against the su
* mer house. "You must have saved
~ life. Did you-did you really leap
the step as I passedT She was
mol ginning to realize what had happen
AZ he nodded carelessly. ut was e
,A enough. You see. one gets practice
ne that sort of thing chasing the str
ed cars" Then. observing her Win c
ao Germ in his gray eyes, he went
"Come and sit down in the sunni
au house; you must be pretty well kno
ed under with the strain. After
ho have had a cordial perhaps you .
feel able to tell how 1t happened
81 you invaded my flower garden"
He smiled pleasantly down on hel
at he led the way into the rose cove
Il arbor and drew forward a deep VIE
III chair for this unexpected guest
hJ sank into It with little sigh OF rel
az will send my housekeeper, MIS-.
lat rup, to you; she may be OF assistan'
Annabelle had time to rearrange
tumbled hair, blushing at the re
lection Of its episode with the c
button. before her host returned
In hand.
Mrs. Larrup has disappeared an
seems to be the maids half holi'
so you must be satisfied with my b
BILE services. Here are current v
llo...tt. and a h0fflp OF