The Press., 1917-12-13

 l,les in, the grove, and I: inferred that luncheon would be obtaInable, so turn cd my machine into the place. A wo- man with white cap and apron came out. arml I asked her to produce the hest she had in her larder.
 That luncheon tastes delicious when ever | think of it to the present day. There was an omelet fit for the gods. biscuits such as were never made be fore north of Mason and Dixon's line, so light that 1 almost feared they would fly up among the branches of the trees above us before could get them to my mouth. As for the butter, | doubt if 1t had been churned an hour. \ heartier course was spring chicken served with cucumbers, so that the heat ,of one was nulllfied by the coolness of the other while both heat and coolness were enjoyable A cup of tea smoothed ' by the richest cream was what We drank; for dessert great dish Of stra WberEies as large as walnuts. And all the while was looking into pair of brown eyes opposite me and listen iEg to a musical voice.
 One thing moro of different kind was needed for our history making. It was not important except in a small way: there was nothing heroic, scenic, lurid, romantic about 1t. Indeed, it was very commonplace. \ punctured tire. Nothing more, nothing less. Who would suppose that so unromantic a happening should have been the cap stone of incidents shaping the lives of two human beings? Nevertheless it was.
 Never before had driven without an extra tire. ! would not have been without one thls time had there not been delay In filling an order. l had expected one to be delivered to me that morning. 1t had not arrived, and was obliged to set out without it. Thank heaven that 1t was not forth coming!
 I had hSrely started from the Wild wood inn when one of my forward wheels was let down on the road. For tunately we were so near the inn that my companion could go back there to wait while tried to extricate myself
 
 down the road was a house, where found a telephone, but spent a long while before could get man to come from a garage with implements to re- pair the break. And it would not be safe to use the tire for an hour or two after he had done so. It was 5 o'clock before the patch was put on and half past before dared start again. Then l drove back to the inn and informed Miss MacDownell that we were twenty miles from Medbury, and since dare not strain the newly patched tire We should have to proceed slowly over such portions of the road that were in ferior. It might be o'clock before we reached the place.
 How long will it take to go hOme?' she asked.
 "I can get you back to where over took you in an hOur," said.
 Take me home. I dinna care to go to AIedbury noo."
 ''WiIl you be too late to find your brother:"
 II dinna care to go there noo," was all could get out of her.
 We were fortunate in reaching her home without further mlShap. When we came near the house my companion left mo and went on alone. Before parting l arranged for a call and an other ride. The call made at an early date, and after that we had many rides together,
 One matter turned up a mystery, It soon came out that Edith had no broth CT. Upon my accusing her of having deceived me she confessed that on the morning I took her into my auto she was going to meet a lover for an. elopc- ment.
 It was then that understood her words, Il dinna care to go there moo" And this is why have said that was making history more for her than for myself. She changed her intended hus- hand during our ride.
 It turned out we'll for her that in vited her to ride and that the bursting of the tire delayed our reaching Med bury as 1t did. Had she arrived there at the time appointed she would not have found the man she had expected to meet, for he had no intention of keeping the appointment. Some years after our marriage I learned through friends of my wife that the man with whom she had expected to elope had at that time already more wives than the law allowed. He had been born gentleman, but was the black sheep of the family. The reason why she X wouldn't have found him at the ap- pointed place was that wife No. 2 had got wind oe his intention and had had him jailed. l never allowed my wife to know how serious q fate she es- capped.