Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-01-28
A Gasoline
Romance
BY FREDERICK HART

1t had been bright sunlight when
Elsie set out for town, but before she
had gone Il half-mile down the road
heavy clouds had rolled up from the
west and to the accompaniment of
ominous rumblings and grumblinss
from the darkened heavens the rain
had begun to fall. Not that Elsie mind
ed wetting; she had lived too long in
the country to let damp shoes and wet
clothes bother her; but under her arm,
carefully wrapped in brown paper. was
her new dress which she simply had to
have for the party that Saturday; and
while brown paper is an excellent pro-
tective against dust, it. has never been
famous for it's water-turning qualities.
SO Elsie fled prccipitatcly to the shell
ter Of an ovcrhanging bush by the
fence ut the side of the read and wait
cd for the shower to pass.
But the shower showed no intentions
Of passing. The rain continued to
come down, not with it's first violence,
but with Sullen, steady intentness
that presaged n long-continued drip.
Elsie was wondering what she could
do. She could go home, but in that
case the dress would probably get wet
and 1t was n good three-quarters Of
mile farther to the village. She
wished that she had hitched up Dob
bin and taken the Concord buggy; hut
1t was too late for wishing. There
seemed nothing to do but to try and
walt the rain out.
>She had spent nearly half an hour
in her damp retreat, and was feeling
rather cramped and decidedly at odds
with the weather man, when she heard
a monstrous chugging from down the
road, interspersed with the grinding
Of gears on gears. In q moment lum-
perched high In the air on the seat and
evidently having a certain amount Of
trouble in steering his ungainly charge
In the slippery mud. But what Elsie
noticed first was that while the driv.
er's seat was high 1t was also dry-a
snug cab, confined by curtains and
protected by glass. She raised her
self to ask for a lift when the truck
suddenly slowed, Slid sidewise to the
edge Of the road. and stopped a scant
yard from where she was sitting. The
curtains parted and curly shock Of
red hair was thrust out, while O CHEEKY
voice cried:
Hello! Coin anywhere? I'll give
you liftl:'
handed up her precious parcel, which
disappeared into the nav Of the seat,
hand then, aided by q strong tug from
the drivers stout arm, she found her
self seated beside him. The little In
closure Of the seat seemed coy after
the cherries shelter Of the bush. The
panes of the windshield, steaming with
rnin, made the view Of the road ahead
blurred and indlstinct; the gray light
of day let in sort Of twilight In which
she could make out queer levers and
buttons and all sorts Of funny clock
faces on the dashboard. The driver
made mysterious gestures with lever
that projected from the floor, and in
moment they were rumbling down
the road. Not until then did Elsie
take the opportunity to look ut him.
Her look bore out the favorable i'm
preston she had had when he rescued
her. He had nice face. she thought,
with some very attractive freckles, a
nose that fitted ever so slightly, and
a chin that bespoke firmness as well
rs unbounded good humor. He was
muftled In a raincoat. and his hands
were. encascd in gloves; and he han
died the great truck rs easily rs Elsie
herself handled Dobbln. She was
moved to admiration.
you're mn awfully good driver,
aren't your" she said.
He grinncd. but he did not take his
eyes of the road ahead.
"Oh. ! can drive little" he said
modestIy. AT qlat moment the truck
skidded wildly "a the right. and with a
quick, skilled twist Of the wheel and
jrdlcious application of power he
brought Il back to the road again.
"Oh!' cried Elsie. The young mans
grin widened. "Tlnt's nothing" he
encouraged her. 'Bound to skid a
little on day like this. ! reckon I
can handle her-you going to town."
"Yes--to the dressmaker's."
SWELL you just tell me where to
drop you and I'll do it. I'm new to
these parts--just got this Job yester-
day-driving for Simpson & Co. I
make regular trips between their
branch store out at Bogg's Corners
and the village. Go past here about
the same time every day. Say-do
you go up TO town oftenT
Elsie blusbed at the direct question,
but answered shyiy, "Why, yes--al-
most every day"
That's flne" The young man said
no more. and Elsie did not inquire
why he should nppear 80 pleased at
her statement. She was silent, appar-