Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-01
Her
Auto Ride
The Best Laid Plans Go
Awry.
BY cLARISsA rfAcKIE.
Copyright, Ino. by American Press
Association

Annabeile Dayton In her smart little
motorcar paused at the summit of the
hill and drew a sharp breath OF APP
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 a 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
AnnabeIle mutinously. "Just fancy
spending this glorious afternoon in a
lighted drawing room listening to the
great Alvan Eldred. master of the
VIOLIN and being disillusioned by long
hair. greasy coat collar and a pervad-
ing presence of garIicF Annabelle's
dainty nose smiled scornfully at her
imaginary portrait OF the great violin
list OF whom her aunt had raved for
weeks
"Tm going down, down to the very
edge of the sea-"
AS the machine sped downward An
nabelle was suddenly conscious that
something was wrong. The brakes did
not respond to her frantic pressure,
the levers grated harshly without eff
feet, and there was an unfamiliar
grunting 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
a lovely August day when-why, one
might az well meet 1t bravely.
Faster she went, her eyes, dark with
dread. fixed on a wide opening on the
right Thanked by stone pillars. 1t
seemed to mark the entrance to some
estate. The few pedestrians turned
and watched her flight with disap-
proval; a constable held up n warning
hand; a wagon scuttied 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 II 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 a distant blur OF gorgeous
colors-a flower garden in the midst
OF which was n summer house. To the
left was a turfy bank Her head
dropped on her hands that ciutched
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 obstruc-
tion and then bounded back to stand
still
Its an over now" said kindly
voice.
AnnabeIle 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.
It was then that Annabelle realized
that she was holding the stranger in
a frantic embrace, her hands tightly
clasped about his neck, her fair head
perilously near his broad shoulder.
II 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 It firmly by one long
golden strand.
"Just moment. THERE don't want
to hurt you It's or 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 narrow escape" He had alight-
ed and helped Annabelle 10 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 ] passedY She was be-
ginning to realize what had happened
He nodded carelessly. TT was easy
enough. You see, one gets practice In
that sort of thing chasing the street
cars" Then. observing her with con
cern In his gray eyes. be 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 n cordial perhaps you may
feel able to tell how II happened that
you invaded my flower garden"
He smiled pleasantly down on her as
be led the way into the rose covered |
arbor and drew forward deep wicker |
chair for this unexpected guest. who !
DIR. Frederick A. Cook, the van
ahad avx,lorar hos baap ..,.xb4aJ