Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-09-11


river was setting a cap for him."
Emmeline WINGED, and her double
chin quivered.
There amt many of 'em gone to bed
sick over it," she said hatefully, and
without waiting for a reply she trem-
bled to her feet and walked to the
door. Come, Hester; we got to be
going"
Il wondered what brought Emmeline
here" murmured Calliope, taking up
her work again. "Of course after she'd
visited in MillertOn she had to come
around and see how | took news OF
Carol FentOn. What fiends women
can be- She bit off her thread with
her strong white teeth and looked
dreamily out of the window and shifted
the spicy fragrance of the cinnamon
roses.
Happened right here by the CHINA
mon roses" she whispered to herself.
II was so happy, and he said he was
! afraid he had made mistake, and l
gave him back the ring. Seems like
all the strength went out of my legs
that very minute. l s'pose, coming so
soon after mothers long sickness and
death, it upset me. If they all knew
how l wanted to stand and walk
around and be like other folks, only
somehow there's no spring back of it
all. DR.. Brown says he can't do a
thing, and he talks about will power.
I'm a useless mortal. But, there; Isabel
says | amt and if it wasn't for me
she wouldn't have homer Calliope
smiled through sudden tears. Looks
like she'd soon have handsome home
If she marries Newton. He's a fine
fellow; but, Lord forgive me, it does
rankle to think my girl should marry
Carrots nephew
She leaned back in the chair and
closed her eyes. Her helpless feet rest
ed on a hassOck, and across her lap
there rippled streams of bright colored
carpet rags. From the rosebushes
came the deep hum of bees, and the
tall tops of the locust trees rustled
pleasant monotone.
Suddenly there broke into the sweet
harmony of the summer afternoon 9th
er sounds-the sharp raps of a horses
hoOfs on the hard oyster shell road,
mans voice shouting, then just the
pounding hoofs and the rattle of car
riage wheels.
Calliope leaned forward and looked
out of the window. A sorrel horse
with four white feet was plunging
madly past the house. Behind him
swung low phaeton containing a
man. Just beyond Calliopes front
gate the phaeton swayed and caught
upon large rock. The horse tore him
self loose from the shafts and disap-
peared beyond the turn of the road.
The phaeton toppled and overturned
and pinned the man underneath
1t was very silent after that. 1t was
a lonely road, and from her window on
the hill Calliope Delmore could see be-
yond the turn of the road, and she no.
ticed that the runaway horse had stop
ped and turned into an open field to
Craze.
She felt very strange. Her heart was
beating tumutuously, and her blood
seemed to flow through her veins in
a sustaining food that gave strength
to her weak body.
White Tipped, she stared down at
the wrecked phaeton and the still form
beneath it. That was Carol Fenton.
She knew the minister's little carriage.
but the horse was a strange one to her.
Perhaps Carol was dying down there
alone in the road. Who would go for
help? If only Isabel was there! The
horse might return and trample him.
Calliope was afraid of horses.
She closed her eyes and prayed for
help. When she opened them she
smiled oddly and placed her hands on
the arms of her chair. She kicked aside
the hassock and stood upon her feet.
She put out one foot, and it support
ed her weight. She stood upon the
other Then with sudden energy she
picked up the untouched glass of root
beer that Hester had poured for her,
staggered across the room to the door
and stumbled to the porch and down
the steps.
Then Calliope Delmore, who had sat
in chair for fifteen years with help
less limbs, ran down the inclined path
to the front gate and gained the road.
With the action came renewed life
and sense of buoyancy and youth.
Newton Deane and Isabel Delmore.
driving slowly home through the gold
Ell afternoon, saw Calliope run down
the path, and Isabel was so frightened
that she hid her face on Newton's
shoulder. 1t was easier to do it be-
cause his arm was already around her.
The horse stopped stock still. and they
watched Calliope as they might have
witnessed the ghost scene ina play.
She darted out Of the gate and down
the sloping path to the shattered phae-
ton. Carol Fenton's eyes were wide
open. and his face was white and
drawn. The body of the vehicle rested
on one of his legs
"Calliope!' he gasped when she knelt
beside him and held the root beer to
his lips. II was just coming to see
you, dear" he whispered-"coming to
ask your forgiveness, and you know
the rest" he murmured.