The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-09-20
Her
Auto Ride
The Best Laid Plans SO
AWry.
By CLARISSA MAcKIE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Annabelle Dayton in her smart little
motorcar paused at the summit Of the
hill and drew sharp breath Of ap
probation A line of distant blue In
dictated 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 church spire cleaned like FIRE
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. Gust fancy
spending this glorious afternoon In q
lighted drawing room listening to the
great Alvan Eldred, master of the
VIOLIN and being disillusioned by lone
hair, greasy coat collar and a pervad.
ing presence of garlicw Annabelle's
dainty nose shifted scornfully at her
imaginary portrait of the great violin.
list of whom her aunt had raved 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 vas wrong. The brakes did
not respond to her frantic pressure,
the levers grated harshly without eff
feet, and there was an unfamiliar
grunt1nS 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
lovely August day when-why, one
might as well meet 1t bravely.
Faster she went, her eyes, dark with
dread, fixed on wide opening on the
right Thanked by stone pillars, ii
seemed to mark the entrance to some
estate The few pedestrians turned
and watched her flight with disap-
proval; constable held up warning
hand; wagon scuttled into the side
walk to avoid her coming.
Annabelle turned the steering wheel
and sigh of relief fiuttered from her
lips as the machine responded, but
there was no lessening Of the mad
speed. Wildly 1t tore through the
open gateway. ground into the hard
packed earth of the drive, skidded
along a muddy spot under the trees,
left the drive and pounded along soft
green turf, miraculously avoiding tree
trunks. making straight for the large
brown house set in the midst of the
grounds.
Another twist of the wheel and the
house seemed to glide past. Before
her was distant blur Of gorgeous
colors-a flower garden In the midst
of which was a summer house. To the
left was a turfy bank Her head
dropped on her hands that clutched
the wheel. and she closed her eyes and
prayed.
There was a low shout beside her;
the machine jolted under additional
weight; pair of strong hands gripped
the wheel from hers; there was the
pressure of brakes; the motor slowed
suddenly, bumped into some obs1uc-
ton and then bounded back to stand
still.
IT'S all over now" said a kindly
voice.
Annabelle opened her eyes and
looked fearfully forth on the summer
house still creaking from the force Of
encounter. on the crushed flowers she
had moved down and lastly into the
countenance of a man who sat beside
her in the car.
1t was then that Annabelle realized
that she was holding the stranger in
frantic embrace, her hands tightly
clasped about his neck, her fair head
perilously near his broad shoulder.
81 beg your pardonr Annabelle's
face turned to deepest rose as she
hastily withdrew from him, but her
hair had caught in a button Of his
coat, holding 1t firmly by one long
! golden strand.
"Just moment. THERE don't want
to hurt you. It's Off now" He spoke
in matter Of fact tone as If he was
In the habit of ensnaring lovely maid
ems with coat buttons every day Of
| his life. "I'm afraid you are pretty
well shaken up with your ride. You
had a narrow escape" He had alight-
ed and helped Annabelle to the ground
She leaned weakly against the sum
mer house. You must have saved my
life. Did you-did you really leap on
the step as passed." She was be-
ginning to realize what had happened
He nodded carelessly. "It was easy
enough. You see, one gets practice in
that sort of thing chasing the street
cars" Then. observing her with con-
Germ in his gray eyes, he went on:
"Come and sit down in the summer
house; you must be pretty well knock
ed under with the strain. After you
have had cordial perhaps you may
feel able to tell how it happened that
you invaded my flower garden"
He smiled pleasantly down on her as
he led the way into the rose covered
arbor and drew forward deep wicker
chair for this unexpected guest. who
sank into it with little sigh Of relief.
81 will send my housekeeper. Mrs. Lar
rup, to you; she may be of assistance"
Annabe1le had time TO rearrange her
tumbled hair. blushing at the recol-
lection of its episode with the coat
button, before her host returned. tray
In hand.
Mrs. Larrup has disappeared. and 1t
seems to be the maids half holiday,
50 you must be satisfied with my hum
BILE services. Here are currant wine
and some biscuits and a bottle Of eau
de cologne Isn't that what ladies' use
when they are upsetT He placed the
tray handily at her elbow.
Thanks to you, wasn't upset." re-
turned Annabelle merrily. She shifted
at the cut glass bottle more in graft
tude for his thoughtfulness than be-
cause she needed its pungent aroma
THANK you. am afraid I've made
you lots of trouble and ruined your
garden. hope you will allow me to
have it put in order again." She slipped
the wine he poured for her and looked
up at him from her dark blue eyes.
frankly boyish in their direct glance.
Really. you've given old Jackson