Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-02-10

He pulled Sunbeam up short, backed
her six or eight feet, and giving her as
gentle jab as he could, and kind
Now, Sunny" man and horse darted
up the little slope and tried for the
ditch. Sunbeam's heels struck the
edge, they slipped, and for a second
things looked dangerous. Drake pull.
ed her practically over the crumbling
edge
Sunbeam made good as she clattered
down the hard road She passed the
team by IL feet then Drake wheeled
her about quickly, seized the rein of
the nigh horse and held on with an
iron grip. The quick turn had not left
time for Sunbeam to recover herself;
she veered about and struck the use
less board that, resting on two bar.
rels, served as a fence Carriage,
horse and man rested second on the
brink, and then the faithful Sunbeam
plunged into the ditch.
Drake held on like grim death as he
felt Sunbeam pulling from under him.
He did not release his hold, and when
his horse went over he was dragged
off. His head struck the stone-filled
barrel, and then, head-foremost, he
followed his horse into the ditch.
A pair of eyes opened slowly and
laboriously. and regarded a number Of
eager watchers, duly at first, and
then perplexedly. Drake Lattings
means of communication with the
world had been restored.
Please wait, Miss Varian," said a
voice that was at once gentle and firm
give him just minute. There now.
just "a minute. Now-noW I think you
may"-and Beatrice. unabashed before
her father, the doctor and the nurse,
bent over and kissed the motionless
figure on the bed.
You dear Drake, you dear, brave
boy" and again she kissed him. Even
jealous old Peter Varian, long accus-
toned to holding the center of the
stage-at least In his own house
looked on benignly.
Whats the batter, B.? What am
doing here?"
Now you must leave him to our
tender mercies for few minutes,
Miss Varian. Not another word to
him for Is minutes-doctor's orders,
you know" and DR.. Stone nodded,
with kindly, omniscient twinkle in
his eye.
At the end of the long Is minutes,
after DR.. Stone and the nurse had
completed their ministrations, Beatrice
came into the room again and seated
herself by the bedside.
Now, Drake, If you can listen, am
going to tell you what Is the matter.
You almost gave your life for Daddy
and me. Just think, the doctors did
not know at first whether you were
going live or not. Oh, Drake,
you were splendid"
You were In that carriage"
yes, Drake-Daddy and I. Daddy
had taken me out to have long talk
with me, and how l did feel! We had
new team, new brougham, and a
new coachman-green as could be.
had insisted on Daddy's changing
everything, even our livery, because,
somehow, all the old things reminded
me of you and the drives we had had
together. We can have the drives, but
we can never go out with Sunny again,
Drake. They had to shoot her."
"Oh, Drake, 1t would have killed me
II you had-if it had been as much
worse as we feared 1t might be. I
knew there must be lots of hope, al
| though those horrid doctors wouldn't
tell me so, for DR.. Stone advised me
not to cable your father, mother and
Katherine at Rome.
Drake, you must not attempt to
move that arm" She pillowed her
head next to brakes and told him the
whole story of the rescue
May l intrude for just moment?"
Peter Varian opened the door and
came In.
MY boy, If you can give me your
good hand, | should like to shake it.,
and thank you for your splendid con-
duct. Er-I wish to say that have
changed my opinion of you. may
have said some unkind things about
you after your experience in my office.
gave you responsible place there
to test your mettle and to give you the
opportunity to prove your fitness to be
the husband of my daughter
You might, think, have told us at
the office, even If did say that you
were to be treated as every other man
with us-treated, that you had not re-
covered from the blow of the mallet
that DR.. Stone tells me you received
in polo practice. I-well, have an
ether opinion of you now, and you
may be glad to hear that ! have with
drawn my objection to your marriage
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