River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-04-29
PAGE SEVEN


After the greetings were over Vivian
began enthusiastically: 'Oh, Mr.. Mel
son, a number of the members of the
Tourist club are going on a real trip
tomorrow night My father and moth
er want me to bring out a sleigh load
to our home, and we will have a sup
per there. Can you Gomez"
"a sleigh rider said Reginald, per-
picked. What do you meanY
"Oh forgot you never had a sleigh
ride before said the girl, laughing
1--WE get 4 big hayrack and put a lot
of hay in it and then fill it up with
robes and furs, and we pile in and
have the jolliest time. You will come,
won't you?"
II will surely be glad to 60" said
Reginald. Il have been wanting to
visit your home and meet your father
and mother"
and they are just dying to see you"
said the girl Il have been telling
them about my Englishman."
The next evening a gay party left
Bronson in a large hayrack on a sleigh
ride to Vivian Derwent's country
home. 1t was a rare winter night,
with clear moon shining in silvery
splendor and the twinkling stars glow
Ing like patines of pure gold in the
azure vault Of heaven. In seating
themselves it had happened that Vivian
md Reginald sat opposite Roland and
Joy, Reginald being next the driver.
What a glorious night for our ride
Said Joy, looking UP at the radiant
moon.
Just then a shrill whistle sounded
through the night air. In the distance
could be heard the thunder Of the linn
tied express from New York TO Chi
cago. For several miles at the point
where the sleighing party was jinglinS
along the wagon road paralleled the
rails, and Reginald noticed that the
driver took n fresh grip on the lines
with which he controlled his double
team.
''There it comesr' shouted Vivian
Look, Mr.. Nelson, look!' exclaimed
Joy Graham eXcitedly. docs not that
make great sight?"
Reginald had been watching the
horses closely, anxious to assist the
driver if possible in case assistance
were necessary, but at joys exclkma-
ton he turned to see the oncoming
train.
Roaring like Niagara, the electric
headlight binding them with its
CLEANS, the great mogul engine, with
its long train Of Pullmans, was just
behind them as Reginald turned.
whoa! WhOaI' the driver of the
hayrack was shouting in excited tones
10 his startled team.
The only words heard were the cries
Of the driver. The whole company sat
still, looking forward at the plunging
horses, while beyond the red lights at
the rear Of the limited express were
fading from view.
The four horses were now running at
full speed. AS far as the eye could see
the road stretched, straight and broad,
but the driver knew there was sharp
curve couple of miles ahead where
the road crossed the railroad track,
and he struggled to regain his control.
Reginald Nelson arose to his feet and
climbed up on the drivers seat.
'Giye me the reins to the front team"
said Reginald, getting a firm hold with
his feet on the fOotboard of the dri-
ver's seat. He reached over and grasp
ed the lines controlling the two front
horses, leaving the driver free to man
age the second team.
The frightened horses seemed to-
know that q strong hand had taken the
reins as soon as Reginald grasped
them. STEADY he shouted, pulling
stronger and stronger on the heavy
leather lines. "We'll soon quiet them
now" he said to the driver as the
horses slackened a little in their mad
pace. Half a mile farther on the two
men were able to bring the teams to
full stop, and Reginald climbed down
to his place under the robes beside
Vivian Derwent.
"Where did you learn to drive wild
horses?" asked Joy Graham, drawing
a long breath.
THAT was jolly" responded the Eng
lishman. "It makes me think of my
boyhood days"
The visit to Vivian's home proved
decided success, and but one discordant
note was sounded. That occurred
when Roland Gregory in general con-
versaton about Bronson affairs said:
'"This fellow Allan Rutledge Is going
too far in stirring things up. Now
he's going to bring that mountebank
Billy Sunday here. He'll regret doing
that"
The closing words were spoken with
a frown and threat.
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