The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-10

hoped to be something very mucn
better than a h~orse-couper like his
father; and how to-day all his ambi-
ton had come back. Swept along
30 lightly, 80 smoothly, with such
ease, with such warmth and comfort,
almost leaning against Charlie Black
more's strong shoulder, with his voice
in her ear, and the sweetness Of the
wind in her face, Janet felt herself
held in. a delightful trance almost
like sleep, yet which was not sleep
or how could she have felt the pleay-
ure that was in it? 1t was only when
the drive was almost over, and the
mare made a whirl into the avenue,
scarcely to be held in until the gates
we're opened, and flying, after that
m~omentary, enforced pause, like an
arrow under the dark waving Of the
trees, that her heart suddenly sprang
up with a sickening throb of what
mother would say. Janet had been
in a sort of paradise. She came down
now in a moment to all the anguishes
of earth. She broke in upon some
thing Charlie Blackmore was saying,
with the utmost ~inattention and in
consequence. "Can you hear TONI"
she said. ooh, where is her? Tom,
Toni"
HE is just behind us. Don't be
frightened; he is all SAFE" said Char
lie, casting a glance behind.
The mare made a start at this mo-
ment, and, straining at the curb,
bounded on again. Some one had
come out upon the road almost under
her nose-a dark figure, which just
eluded the wheel, and from which
came a voice almost echoing Janet's-
us that Tom?"
ooh, it's me, Beau" cried Janet,
wildly, "and Toms behind" She was
carried on so quickly that half the
words were lost.
WAS that your s%tepfather? They
will be anxious about ye. I would
say"-Charlie made a little pause to
secure her attention-"I would say
you were passing near our place,
never thinking we had come so far,
and that my mother came out to ye,
seeing We so tired, and bid me to
bring ye home in the cairt-that's
what I would say"
"Sayi" cried Janet, fully reused
up. Dou you mean that I should say
that? But it would be a lie."
Deed, and so it would" said the
young man with a shamefaced laugh.
But to make an excuse for yourself
is aye pardonable, do we no think?
And then it would save Mr.. Tom. Be
you sure now my father knows he has
given his word against it, he shall
never be asked into our house more"
"Oh," said Janet, II could not say
anything I had made up. When the
moment comes and mother looks at
me, I can only say-what has hap
pened."
But nothing has happened" said
Charlie. Except" he added, lone
thing, that I'll maybe tell you about
some day. But that has happened to
me, and not to you. Miss Janet,
you'll not forget me clean alto
g%ether?"i
"Oh, how should I forget you"
cried Janet, with a sob, when l know
I shall get into such dreadful trouble
as 1 never was in before in all my
life! Oh, mother!!"
The girl had thrown off her wraps
and tumbled down from the dogcart,
almost before it had stopped, into the
middle of the group on the steps,
which consisted of Lady Car herself,
wrapped in a great shawl, her sister,
and half the servants in the house.
Janet! Oh, where have you been?
And where is Tom? What has hap
pened?-teli mel" cried Lady Car,
taking her daughter by the arms and
gazing into her eyes with an agonized
question. The arrival of the cart at
such headlong speed seemed to give
sort of certainty to all the fears that
had been taking shape among the
watchers.
"Oh, Moyer!" Janet cried, her
childish cry coming back in the ex-
tremity of her apprehension and
consciousness. But Charlie Black
more, with his wits about him, called
out from the cart, There's nothing
wrong. Mr.. Torn he's just behind.
They've ridden owre fer and wearind
themselves. Mr.. Tom he's just be-
hind. But my mares fresh-she'l
no stand. Let go her head, dash YET
Do We hear? She'll no stand"
The little incident of the mare
whirling round, the gravel flying un-
der her feet, the groom recoiling
backward, turning an un%intentional
somersault upon the grass, made a
pause in which everybody took
breath.
Thank Cod" cried Lady Car, IF
that's all. Is that all? You are not
c%orcealing anything, dear?"