Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-05-27
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/ What do you mean to do?" she
cried, surprised.
See what's the trouble" he called
back. Il know bit about motors.
Perhaps"
| 'Then-but why"
She stopped; and Maitland forbore
! to encourage her to round out her
question. 1t was no difficult matter to
supply the missing words. Why had
he not thought of investigating the
motor before insisting that he must
carry her ashore?
The humiliating conviction forced
| itself upon him that he was not figur-
ing to great advantage in this adven-
ture. Distinctly a humiliating sensa-
| ton to one who ordinarily was by way
| OF having a fine conceit Of himself
| 1t requires a certain amount of ego
| tism to enable one to play the ex-
| qlisite to ones personal satisfaction;
| Maitland had enjoyed the possession
| of that certain amount; heretofore his
| approval CT self had been passably en-
| tire. Now--he could not deny-the
! boor had shown up through the polish
| of the beau.
Intolerablc thought. "Cad!" ex-
claimed Maitland, bitterly. This all
was due to hasty jumping at conclu-
| siOns; if he had not chosen to believe
| a young and charming girl identical
| with an--an adventures, this thing
had not happened and he had still re-
| tanned his own good will For one lit
tie moment he despised himself hearth
| ly-One little moment of clear insight
| into self was his. And forthwith he
| began to mediate apologies, formu-
| lating phrases designed to prove ade-
quate without sounding exaggerated
| and insincere.
BY this time he had reached the
| car, and-through sheer laundering
| luck-at once stumbled upon the seat
of trOuble-a clogged valve in the car
burcter. No serious matter; with the
assistance OF a repair kit more than
commonly complete, he had the valve
clear in jiffy.
News of this triumph he shouted to
the girl, receiving in reply an "Oh,
thank you!" so fervently grateful that
he felt more guilty than ever.
Illuminating unhappily on the end of
contemplated abasement, he waded
round the car, satisfying himself that
there was nothing else out of gear;
and apprehensively cranked up.
Whereupon the motor began to hum
contentedly; all was well. Flushed
with this success, Maitland climbed
aboard and opened the throttle a trifie.
The car moved. And then, with a
swish, gurgle, and watery whoosh!
it surged forward, up. out of the river,
gsllantly up the slope.
At the top the amateur chauffeur
SMUT down the throttle and jumped
out, turning to face the girl. She was
by the step almost before he could
offer hand to help her in, and as she
paused to render him his due need of
thanks, it became evident that she har-
bored little if any resentment; eyes
shining, face aglOw with gratitude,
she dropped him a droll but graceful
| courtesy.
You are too good" she declared
with spirit How can thank you?"
You might" he suggested, looking
| down into her face from his superior
height, give me a bit of lift-just
| couple of miles up the road. Though"
he supplemented eagerly, IF you'd
really prefer. | should be only too
happy to drive the car home for you?"
Two miles, did you say"
| He fancied something odd in her
tone; besides, the question was super
! huous. His eyes informed with puz-
element, he replied: why, yes-that
much, more or less. | live ..
"Of course" she put in quickly, I'll
! give you the lift-only too glad. But
as for your taking me home at this
hour, l can't hear of that"
But" ...
Besides, what would people say?"
! she countered, obstinately. "Oh. no."
| she decided; and he felt that from this
decision there would be no appeal;
Il couldn't think of interfering with
! your arrangements.
Her eyes held his for single in
| slant, instinct with mischief, cleaning
with bewildering light from out face
schooled to gravity Maitland eXpe-
rienced a sensation of having grasped
after and missed subtlety of al
lusion his wits, keen as they were, re-
coiled, baffled by her finesse. And the
more he OWNED that she was playing
with him, as an experienced swords
man might play with an impertinent
novice, the denser his confusion grew.
But ! have no arrangements" he
stammered.
(TO BE CONTINUEDD