The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-11-15


sinking Of the heart tcok possession
Of her when che discovered Blown
Bess and her rider were nowhere to
be seen.
oh, what II my foolish dare has
brought them to grief!'' She was
scarcely able to stand as she scanned
the horizon line. .Ah!'' q sigh of re-
lief escaped her. They were thera.
far In the rear. like speck Of black
against the blue, hut dashing toward
the inlet for dear life.
Nearer and nearer the three men
came. Inch BY inch the birdman
drew ahead He was just over the
waters edge! The motorist dashed
70 the bridge and good old Brown
Boss leaped on at the same momenti
Blossom. no longer having control
Of herself. beat the ground with her
foot and cried excitedly first TO one
and then the other.
Suddenly her blood seemed to stop
In its course There was a deAfening
crash. a splintering Of wood and q,
fearful splash. The girl. terror
stricken. was afraid to look. But she
summoned her courage.
The unexpected had happened. The
old bridge. unable to stand the strain
of motor courtship, had given way
and thin limo of water separated it
from the shore Al terrific Jerk Of the
brake threw Dick and his aged mem
Der Of the clergy spraying on the
bridge. Brown Bess. her master and
young curate. were thrown into
panic. Suddenly dull roar rent the
air. Blossom screamed.
In the topmost branches Of the old
elm tree the airship had come to grief
and Harry. minister and the huge
machine were struggling with Fate.
She stole a glance into the elm
tree. The reverend gentleman was
safely wedged in supporting branch
while Harry was trying franticaily to
aid that dignified person into speedy
descent from the tree. It looked to
the girl as If she would one day be a
birdman's wife. She sighed.
Hastily her glance swept in the
scene on the bridge. Dick was storm
ing violently both at his machine,
which was half In and half out OF the
water. and in milder but none the
less urgent manner at the old curate.
who was slowly collecting himself.
Cant You swim2" Blossom blushed
at Dicks tone toward the white
haired minister.
Above the beating of her heart it
was not possible to hear Toms voice.
but his words had been effective. She
saw the why young curate fling off
his clerical coat and hat and make
neat dive into the water After that
Tom commanded drown Bess, and
she, too, with tremendous splash
went into the water. Tom followed
suit
Out on the bridge Dick ragged In
wardly and outwardly.
Up In the tree top Harry TUNED at
the impOtent moment.
Yet In the heart Of each defeated
man was something that clamored
for expression
And as Brown Bess reached the
shore and with steady muscles drew
herself on to a level beach a cheer
went out from each heart
The mare stood for a moment drip
ping; then, as the slim figure in the
pink sunbonnet made an involuntary
movement toward her, she whinnied a.
glad welcome. It seemed almost as If
the animals intelligence had told her
that she had won a very dear prize
for her master,
Blossom found. when she reached
the mares side, that she was trem-
bling. The girl did not realize until
her arms were about Brown Bess'
neck that she could not have faced
any other outcome from the race.
Tom and the young curate splashed
onto the beach then. and in the new
shyness that had come over Blossom
she could only hide her flushed cheek
on dripping Bess.
The parson went hastily to Bios
SON. ALLOW me to congratulate you."
he said. smiling broadly and giving
her wet but genial handshake. This
Is another case Of the best man to
win despite all odds against him."
Il consider my victory good OBJ
ject lesson. parson." put in Tom,
bringing himself alongside his sweet
heart. You see my desire was SO
strong and my object SO desirable
he sent swift. tender glance into
blossoms eyes. that no new inven-
tions of mankind could cope with the
God-given power Of good old Bess:
nothing could take you from me-" he
added. as he handed Blossom soaked
license.
Copyright. 1912. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
A Enund Tohaccns prr,,l..