The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1922-06-24

IT'S the long way round, We know.
amt goin' ter give we no snippy little
two-mile run, Dianthy, like Colonel
Smith did" he finished gleefully.
NO, of course not" murmured Di-
Gntha, smothering a sigh as the auto
mobile started with a jerk.
An hour later, tired, frightened, a
little GREATNESS, but valiantly declar-
ing that she had had a beautiful
time" Diantha was set down at her
own door.
That was but the first Of many such
trips. Ever sounding in Phineas Hop
kins' ears and squirting him to fresh
endeavor We're Diantha'S words: Il
could "a rode on an on furever"; and
deep in his heart was the determine
ton that If it was automobile rides
that she wanted, 1t was automobile
rides that she would have! His small
farm on the edge of the town-once
the pride Of his heart-began to look
forlorn and deserted; for Phineas,
when not actually driving his auto
mobile, was usually to be found hang
ing over it with wrench and polishing
cloth. He bought little food and less
clothing, but always gasoline. And
he talked to any one who would listen
about automobiles in general and his
own in particular, learnedly dropping
IN frequent references to cylinders,
speed, horse power, vibrators, carbu
retors and spark plugs.
AS to Diantha-she went to bed
every night with thankfulness that she
possessed her complement Of limbs
and senses, and she rose every morn
ing with fear that the coming night
would find some of them missing. To
Phineas and the town in general she
appeared to be devoted to this breath
less whizzing over the country roads;
and wild horses could not have
dragged from her the truth; that she
was longing with an overwhelming
longing for the old days Of Dolly,
dawdling, and peace.
Just where it all would have ended
it is difficult to say. had not the au-
tomobile itself taken a hand in the
game-as automobiles will sometimes
and played trumps.
1t was the first day of the country
fair again, and Phineas and Diantha
were on their way home. Straight
ahead the road ran between clumps
of green, then unwound in white rib
bon of dust across wide fields and open
meadows.
"'Tain't much like last year, is it,
Dianthy?" crowed Phineas, shrilly, in
her ear-then something went wrong,
Phineas knew it instantly. The
quivering thing beneath them leaped
into new life-but life Of it's own.
1t was no longer slave, but a mas
ter. Phineas' face grew white. Thus |
far he had been able to keep to the |
road, but just ahead there was a
sharp curve, and he knew he could not |
make the turn-something was the
matter with the steering gear.
"LOOk out-she's got the bit in her
teeth" he shouted. "She's bolted!"
Then came a scream, sharp report,
and grinding crash-then silence.
From away off in the dim distance
Phineas heard voice.
"Phineas! Phineas!"
Something snapped, and he seemed
to be floating up, up, up, out Of the
black oblivion of nothingness. He
tried to speak, but he knew that he
made no sound.
"Phineas! Phineas!''
The voice was nearer now, so near
that it seemed just above him. 1t
sounded like-With mighty effort he
opened his eyes; then full conscious
ness came. He was on the ground,
his head in Dianthas lap. Diantha,
bonnet crushed, neck-bow askew, and
coat torn, was bending over him, call
ing him frantically by name. Ten
feet away the wrecked automobile,
tip-tilted against large maple tree,
the picture.
With groan Phineas closed his eyes
and turned away his head.
"She's all stove up-an' now you
won't ever say yes" he mOaned. "YOu
ter ride on an on furever"
But l WILL DON'T didn't mean
It," sobbed Diantha incoherently. "Td
rather have Dolly twice over. I like
ter crawl. Oh, 'Phineas, I hate that
always hated it! I'll say
yes next week-tomOrrow-tO II
you'll only open your eyes and tell me
you amt a-dyin'!"
Phineas was not dying, and he proved
It promptly and effectually, even to
the doubling Diantha's blushing con-
tent. And there their rescuers found
them long half-hour later-a blissful
old man and a happy old woman sit
ting hand in hand by the wrecked au-
tOmobile.
Il callated somebody'd be along
purity soon," said Phineas, rising
stif1y. I'VE see, we've each got foot
that don't 60, so we couldn't git help;
but we amt minded the wait-nOt
q mite!"