The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-18

undlgnifed end as she giggled at the
recollection of her admirers plight.
She tried to smother the giggle in the
sleeve of Joel's great rough coat and
then continued.
"There hasn't been a soul along until
you came. / was scarf to death. Ev-
eTything was 80 white an still, an in
the woods the moon was lookin' at me
through the da rk branches of the trees
for all the world like a queer face. L
! don't believe / could have stood It
much longer"
BY this time Joel was chuckllng over
his rival's predlcament, and Susannah
sat up in sudden dismay.
"But you won't tell anybody, will
you, Joel2 The whole town II be laugh
in at me-"
Joel turned serious on the instant.
"No, they won't laugh at you. If
they do they'll have to answer to me.
Besides, the Joke amt on you. It's on
Ed"
But just at this time Ed was having
fresh troubles Of his own. Careening,
swaying, he drew near Huflesburg at
a racing gait, utterly unconscious that
Susannah was no longer clinging to
the seat before which he still stood,
tugging at the reins. Occasionally he
threw an encouraging word over his
shoulder or told her how brave she
was not to scream and add to their
danger. The horses would soon run
themselves out, and the road before
them was clear.
But, alas, Just as he turned into the
town a sudden obstacle appeared In
their track--Farmer Schneider's big
sleigh, laden with the rosy checked
Mrs. Schneider and three equally rosy
daughters! At Eds warning shout
Schneider drew his placid white mare
TO one side, but the flying team caught
the rear of Schneider's sleigh, and a
chorus Of feminine shrleks was watt
ed to the fleeing Ed. The drift was
deep, and the FIVE Schneiders, when
disentangled, found themselves unin-
jured, but nevertheless wrathful at the
reckless driver.
In the meantime Ed had reached the
center of the town, and his horses, ex-
hausted and steaming, finally respond
ed TO the rein. With feeling Of In
tense relief Ed turned TO his compan-
ion. CONSERVATION seized him. Where
was Susannah? Caught in the mael-
strom Of schneiders? No. His cutter
had not been injured in the collision.
He remembered with horror that she
had not spoken since the horses first
began their mad run. What II she had
been back there in the woods all this
time, frozen, perhaps attacked by
tramps? Ed was too frightened to be
logical. With n curse he turned his
tagged horses back into the road and
whipped them on at a mad gait. Again
he passed the Schneider family, and
as the farmer once more pulled out Of
his way, this time more successfully,
his good wife murmured:
II did not think Marcy Johnson's
| wine was so strong as that"
Half n mile farther he met Joel and
stopped at the latter's vigorous hail.
Good evenin', Ed" said Joel, with
a cheerful smile for his discounted
rival. "Are you goin' to look fSr Su-
sannah7 She's here, safe In my sleigh,
an you can just bet she amt goin' to
make such n mistake again"
Ed ignored the complacent Joel and,
making his best bow-that Is, the best
! he could make while trying to hold the
two astonlshed and trembling horses
| said:
I'm awful sorry had such an acci-
! dent Miss Peters, but If you aren't
hurt It don't matter so much, and |
hope you'll let me see you safe home"
Susannah choSed back a persistent
! giggle and chung to Joers arm.
"You see, Mr.. Sparks-Mr. Herrick-
I mean Joel-an' I-we-T'm just MS
much obliged
Joel took up her faltering explana-
ton and made it clear.
81 don't mind tellin' you, Mr.. Sparks,
| that hereafter Susannah an I'll do our
sleighin' together for all time, but II
you want recommendation to any
other girl Susannah she'll give 1t, an
we won't mention this here little af-
fair"
And Mr.. Sparks, with a dignified up
lifting Of his fur cap and few unln-
telligible words, whipped up his horses,
swung around In the road and raced
back to town.