Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-20

NX =
stopped In the deepest shade !
could ind, and clambered out. Lady,
face was at the door almost before
could open, 1t.
"Are you all right?" she painted. !
could see only her eyes and the out
line OF her face like q white shadow.
Eyes; are you?"
She laughed nervously. I'm as
we'll az when we started, and Sheila
is better. She has come to herself
now. Can you find some water?
have flask here"
There are fountains all along these
drives. Well run ahead until we
come to one Of them.
AS I spoke, there was thud behind
me, and q quick patter OF running
feet. The excellent Thomas had tax
en- advantage Of my forgetfulness 10
break for liberty. He was out OF sight
almost before turned; and he mad
been thoughtful enough to throw the
revolver away as he jumped.
"I'm clever idiot" said ruefully,
your chauffeur has been trying to
desert all along, and now he's done
It,"
"But you we're driving, yourself.
What difference does 1t maker
Il was thinking Of what he might
say" said l. "But for that matter. !
suppose have got you into news
paper scrape anyhow, II nothing
worse. Every policeman on the East
Side must have our number"
Il was Just going to ask you about
that" said~Lady, with a queer little
crow in her voice. Perhaps we mad
better carry this outside now" She
felt about her feet and handed me 9
muddy strip OF metal. Il took this on
while you were starting the car And
| put out that red lantern thing, too.
For an instant I forgot Doctor Reid
and all the mountain Of impossibiity
that lay between us. She had always
been more than other women. Ana
now she was that rarest thing OF all,
a comrade ready in moment OF need.
reached out my hand, as II she had
been man.
You're a miracle" said, "and I'm
not half good enough to be your lieu
tenant. Good work"
There was broken whisper from
the darkness within.
1.-THE water" said Lady, we're Tor,
getting Sheila."
replaced our number, lighted the
tail-lamp, and a little farther on found
drinking fountain and got the wa
ter, Mrs. Carucci was able to speak
only a few words Of unsteady thanks;
but that was enough to make me fall
in love with the grooming voice OF her.
We pushed on out of town without any
further adventure; and on the open
roads of to the northward were free
to make the most of our speed.
The night slowly faded, not as IL any
light were coming, but as II the dark.
ness itself were growing faint ana
weak. The roadside trees were still
mysterious bulks against remover
gloom, but their blackness now gave
dull hint OF green and the yellow
glare of our lamps grew washed out
and Nfeless. The Growing Of COCKS,
reiterated from place to place. sound
ed fictitious and unnatural. The air
chilled little and here and there
we ran through a momentary Dnno-
ness of mist, as If small cloud nad
fallen to drift along the surface OF the
earth. sat back half droWsily. with
relaxed nerves; and although had no
desire for sleep, although never loos-
ened my hands upon the wheel, nor
took my eyes for second from the
wavering end of the ribbon OF light
that unwound itself continually toward
me. vet I felt somehow unreal and
very peaceful, without will or mem
Dry like person in dream. The
car obeyed. me without my being con-
scious of any movement, as II guided
1t by mere volition Slowly the pallor
around me changed from green to
gray; the air freshened as the stars
went out; and the twitter of birds
and the scattered barking Of dogs I'M
derran the unvarying, inevitable drum.
ming of the engine. That sound itself
dried and hardened In the keener at
mosphere. And in the pleasure OF the
perfect power under me, let the car
out nearly to the limit Of it's speed,
until the sidelong sway OF the BODY
warned me that was driving too fast
for the road. We passed milk Wag-
on or two and an occasional early
trolley. Then came the dawn, 80
swiftly that it was full day OF sunlight
and shadow before l thought to look
for color in the east Somehow 1t did
not seem like morning, but like COM
ing out of a curtained house into the
midst OF afternoon.
1t was part Of this same strange
ness that only felt the exhilaration
OF the present without any thought OF
trouble that lay before me and be-
hind. l was conquering hero, carry
ing my princess home In triumph out
of the castle of the enchanter. had
overcome desperate accidents and
won my spurs; this page Of the fairy
tale bore a picture in shining colors,
and knew of neither the last page
nor the next. 1t was in this mood that
passed, unheeding. through the gath
ering familiarity of nearer landmarks,
past the inn and up the winding hill,
and drew up at last before the Tabors,
door with some vague fancy that |
should hear trumpet blown. sup
pose that l was unconsciously very
tired and in part asleep. so that 1t
came upon me with the shock OF a
violent awakening when the front
door swung open and Mr.. Tabor hur-
ried out to meet us, followed by Doctor
Reid
The fairy-tale burst like bubble,
and the actuality of all that those two
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