River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-11-13

"Good Heavens!"
all over you, and"
mo, no." she cried you'll catch
cold; you mustn't catch cold!' And
she continued to brush him.
Anderson had brought Lucy's hat
Miss Fanny acted as lady's maid and
both victims of the accident were
presently restored to about their usual
appearance and condition Of apparel
In fact, encouraged by the two older
gentlemen, the entire party, with one
exception, decided that the episode
was after all merry one, and began
to laugh about it. But George was
GUNNER than the December twilight
now swiftly closing in.
THAT darned horse!" he said.
II wouldn't bother about Pendennis,
George" said his uncle. "You can
send man out for what's left of the
cutter tomorrow, and Pendennis will
gallop home to his stable: he'll be
there long while before we will, be-
cause all we've got to depend on to
get us home is Gene Morgan's broken.
down chatting dish yonder.''
They were approaching the machine
as he spoke, and his friend, again I'M
derneath it, heard him. He emerged,
smiling. "She'll CO." he said.
"What I"
Cali aboard!"
10 off 4;
was smiling but still pale, and her
eyes, in spite of the smile, kept upon
George in q shocked anxiety. Miss
Fanny had already mounted to the
rear seat, and George, after helping
Lucy Morgan to climb up beside his
aunt, was following. Isabel saw that
his shoes were light things Of patent
leather, and that snow was clinging
to. them. She made a little rush
toward him, and, as one of his feet
rested on the iron step Of the machine,
in mounting, she began to clean the
snow from his shoe with her almost
aerial lace handkerchief. ssYou mustn't
catch cold!'' she cried.
IL,
furiously withdrew his foot. For
heavens sake get in! You're stand
ing in the snow yourself. Get in!''
Isabel consented, turning tosMorgan,
whose habitual expression of appre-
hensiveness was somewhat accentu-
ated. He climbed up after her, George
Anderson having gone to the other
side. you're the same Isabel I used
to knoWY' he said in a low voice.
you're divinely ridiculous woman
IAN I, Eugene?" she said, not dis
pleased. ".Divinely' and ridiculous
just counterbalance each other, don't
they? Plus one and minus one equal
nothing; SO you mean I'm nothing in
particuiar?"
mo- he answered, tugging at a
lever. 'That doesn't seem to be pre-
cisely what / meant. There;'' This
exclamation referred to the subterra-
mean machinery, for dismaying sounds
came from beneath the floor, and the
vehicle plunged, then rolled noislly
forward
"Behold" George Anderson ex-
claimed. "She does move! It must
be another accident
"'AccidentY Morgan shouted over
the din. No. She breathes, she
stirs; she seems to feel a thrill of life
along her keeli" And he began to
sing 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner
ANDERSON joined him Justify, and
sang on when Morgan stopped. His
nephew, behind, was gloomy. He had
overheard his mothers conversation
with the inventor: it seemed curious
to him that this Morgan, of whom he
had never heard until last night,
should be using the name isabel" so
easily; and George felt that it was not
just the thing for his mother to call
Morgan Eugene :" the resentment Of
the previous night came upon George
again. Meanwhile his mother and
Morgan continued their talk; but he
could no longer hear what they said !;
the noise Of the car and his uncle's
songful mood prevented. He marked
how animated Isabel seemed; 1t was
not strange to see his mother so gay,
but it was strange that a man not of
the family should be the cause of
her gayety. And George sat frowning.
Lucy turned to him. you tried to
swing underneath me and break the
fall for me when we went over" she
said. II knew you were doing that,
and-it was nice of you.
"Wasn't any fall TO speak Of he
returned brusquely. Couldn't have
hurt either Of US"
"Still it was friendly of you-and
awfully quick, too. I'll not-Tii not
forget it,"
Her voice had sound of genuine
ness, very pleasant, and George be-
gan to forget his annoyance with her
father. This annoyance of his had not
been alleyiated by the circumstance