Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-06-22
II Phineas hesitated it was for only

Course he promised. "Er-there's
a man, he's comm with it, an he's
goin' ter stay a little, jest ter-ter
make sure everything's all right. After
he goes I'll come. An We want to be
ready-Tll show ye a thing or two"
he finished with swagger that was
meant to hide the shake in his voice.
In due time the man and the auto
mobile arrived, but Diantha did not
have her ride at once. 1t must have
taken some time to make sure that
everything was all right" for the
man stayed many days, and while he
was there, Of course. Phineas was Oc-
cupied with him. Colonel Smith was
unkind enough to observe that he
hoped it was taking Phineas Hopkins
long enough to learn to run the thing
but his remark did not reach Diantha'S
ears. She knew only that Phineas,
together with the man and the auto
mobile, started off early every morn
ing for some unfrequented, road, and
did not return until night. -
LhClc Cdlle IL udS, uOWeNcI, "lleL
the man left town, and not "a hours
later, Phineas, with a cleaning thing
of paint and polish, stood at Dianthas
door.
Now, amt that pretty" quavered
Diantha eXcitedly. "Ain't that awfully
pretty"
Phineas beamed
"Purty slick, think myself" ne &C.
knOwledged.
An green is so much nicer than
red" cooed Diantha.
Phineas quite glowed with joy
Colonel Smiths car was red "Oh
green's the thing" he retorted airily !;
AN see." he added; and forthwith he
tires, horns, lamps, pumps, baskets,
brakes and mud guards were the domi-
nant notes. 1t almost seemed, in
deed, that he had bought the gorgeous
thing before him to look at and talk
about, rather than to use, so loath was
he to stop talking and set the wheels
to moving. Not until Diantha had
twice reminded him that she was long
ing to ride in it did he help her into
the car and make ready to start
1t was not an entire success-that
start. There were several false moves
on Phine0s' part, and Diantha could
not repress q slight scream and a ner-
vouS jump ut sundry unexpected puhfs
and snorts and snaps from the tbrob-
bing thing beneath her. She gave a
louder scream when Phineas, in his
nervousness sounded the siren, and a
wall like cry from the spirit world
shrieked in her ears.
"Phineas, what was that?" she shiv-
cred, when the voice had mOaned into
silence.
Phineas' lips were dry, and his
hands and knees We're shaking; bat
his pride marched boldly to the front
"Why, that's the siren whistle,
course" he chartered. "Ain't it
great? l thought you'd like it !" And
to hear him one would suppose that
to sound the siren was always a neces-
sary preliminary to starting the
| wheels.
They We're off at last. There was
slight indecision, to be sure, whether
| they would go backward or forward,
| and there was some hesitation as to
whether Diantha's geranum bed or
the driveway would make the best
thoroughfare But these little mat
tiers having been settled to the ap-
parent satisfaction of all concerned
the automobile rolled down the drive
"Oh' amt this grand" murmurod
Diantha, drawing a long but somewhat
tremulous breath.
Phineas did not answer. His lips
were tense, and his eyes were fixed on
the road ahead. For days now he had
run the car himself and he had been
given official assurance that he WSs
quite capable Of handling it; yet here
he was on his first ride with Diantha
almost making failure of the whole
thing, at the start Was he to he
beaten-beaten by a senseless motor
car and Colonel Smith? At the thought
Phineas lifted his chin and put or
more power.
"Oh, my How f-fast we're goin' =
cried Diantha, close to his ear.
Phineas nodded.
"WhO wants ter crawl?" he shouted
and the car leaped again at the touch
of his hand.
They were out of town now, on {
wide road that had few turns. Occa
sionally they met Il carriage or 8
wagon but the frightened horses anC
the no less frightened drivers gave
the automobile wide berth-whicf
was well; for the parallel tracks be
hind Phineas showed that the cal
still had it's moments of indecision a.
to the course to pursue.
The town was four miles behinC
them when Diantha, who had beer
for some time vainly clutching at the
flying ends of her veil, called t.
Phineas to stop.
The request took Phineas by sur
prise. For one awful moment his minC
was Il blank-he had forgotten how t.