Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-06-02

are the rose for me, sure, Ted. You
must say you win marry me this
time" he ended, with an air of des-
peration, ''or I'll'-
The threat was not completed. In
the earnestness Of his plea Percivale
had forgotten that he was running an
automobile for the first time in his
life. They were now going at a ire
mendous speed and every instant gath
erlng momentum. Edmonia gripped
his. arm as they lurched around a
curve and bounced over cuvert.
Hang on!' yelled Percivale as they
approached slight descent. In his
clumsy efforts to control the machine
he inadvertently put Oh more speed
What are you doing" screamed
Edmonia. stop! Why, you are run
ming away with mer she laughed
TREMENDOUSLY.
why notY" he shouted wildly, as
she thought, recklessly. The idea Of
stopping was a delectable one now to
Percivale, but one which he felt that
he must abandon.
The roadsides of fireweed and gold
enrod flew by like a track of flame.
Hens Tapped from under his wheels
as they passed farmhouses at a rate
or speed that made the occupants rush
out of doors to stare after them. Out
ragged cries followed them when a
! barking dog was not quick enough to
! elude those blurring wheels and with
vnln NJ no N
into the ditch. Three horses baiting
by the roadside In front of another
house stampeded as they whizzed by
and raced them out of sight.
Edmonia now tried to expostulate
with her mad cavalier. But Percivale
said nothing to her almost fearful ap-
peals. His whole attention was con-
centrated on keeping the thing within
the limits of the road
Beats Lochinvar," he yelled breath
lessly as they grazed a watering tub.
Edmonia moaned. You are crazy"
she cried. Lets go home. Oh, take
me home" she commanded him.
"Home!" Percivale ground the word
passionately between his teeth. "You
will be lucky II you ever see home
again. We shall never STOP" But
even as he spoke he felt something re-
| spond to his cropping fingers. The ma
chine was obeying his controlling hand.
Joy and relief that rolled over him
like a wave made him shout aloud.
Edmonia received this new demon.
stration a. the exultation of a captor
and commanded and implored by turn.
But he did not at once diminish his
speed. He knew now that Edmonia
had not realized his impotence. He
! put the machine at a hill and plunged
down the other side. Edmonla was
clinging to him with Wild promises.
He brought the car carefully to a
standstill and climbed painfully to the
ground. Edmonia was sobbing Into
her handkerchief. He hoped he was
accepting the role of victorious knight
modestly. but the iron was hot!
Ted" he cried. you've got to keep
your promise, you know. I'm not much
Of knight. and don't know how to
run
! His unsuspeeted confession was In
terrupted for the second time as she
suddenly. to his establishment, smiled
up at him through her tears.
Il never was driven like that In my
life" she remarked, with pride. But
but let's go home in buggyg.
Not until we're married" said Per.
civale firmly.
Edmonia refused to continue in the
car. however, so they walked on to the
nearest town. where the minister's fee
was the first of a series of more mun-
dane charges which punctuated their
homeward journey in the buggy.
But in his new JOY, which was only
enhanced by pecunlary interludes with
the wrathful owners of slaughtered
hens, the fearful mistress of an injured
dog and damages due to the recovery
of Grant horses. Percivale made it a
triumphal journey.