The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-06-20

wanted me TO drive slow an safe
From the mass Of dusty.yeiled hu-
mainly in The car came low exclama-
tons and plaintive feminine walls.
Madeline stepped to the front Of the
porch. Then the deep voices Of men
and softer voices of wonen united ia
n glad outburst, as much a thanks
giving as a greeting, Majesty!
Helen Hammond was three years
younger than Madeline. and u slender.
pretty girl. Having recovered her
breath soon after Madeline took her to
her room, she began to talk.
Majesty. old girl, I'm here but you
can bet would have gotten here
II | had known about that ride from
the railroad. You never wrote that
you had a car. | thought this was out
West-stage-coach. and all that sort Of
thing. Such a tremendous c9%! And
the road What kind of a chauffeur
is he?9
Hes a cowboy. He was crippled
by falling under his horse, so l had
nm iAt7LA hfAFu " run iilE NdA. Lit tAAA
drive. don't you Think"
Drive? Good graciousl He scared
us to death, except Castleton. Nothing
could scare that co~ld-blooded little
Englishman. | am dizzy yet. Do you
know. Majesty, | was delighted when
l saw the car. Then your cowboy
driver met us at the platform. What
a queer-looking individual He had a
big pistol strapped to those leather
trousers. That made me nervous
When he piled us all in with our grips.
he put me in the seat beside him.
whether | liked it or not. | vas foo
enough to tell him | loved TO travel
fast. What do you think he said?
Well, he eyed me in a rather cool and
speculative way and said, with Il smile,
Miss. | reckon anything you love an
want bad will be coming to you out
heren | didn't know whether il was
delightful candor or impudence. Then
he said to all of us: Shore you had
better wrap up in the wells an busters.
It's IA long, slow. hot. dusty ride to the
ranch. an Miss Hammond's order was
to drive safe He got our baggage
checks and gave them to a man with
a huge wagon and a fOur-horse team.
Then he cranked the car, jumped In,
wrapped his arms round the wheel.
and sank down low in his seat. There
was a crack. a jerk, a kind of flash
ABOUND us. and that dirty little town
was somewhere on the map behind.
For about five minutes | had a lovely
time. Then the wind began TO tear
me to pieces. | couldn't hear my
thing but the rush of wind and roar of
the car. l could see only straight
ahead. What a road! | never saw q
road in my life till today. Miles and
miles and miles ahead. with lot even
a post or tree. That big car seemed
to leap at the miles. It hummed and
sang. l was fascinated. then terrified.
We went so fast l couldn't catch my
breath. The wind went through me,
and | expected to be disrobed by it
any minute. l was afraid | couldn't
hold any clothes on. Presently all [
could see was a flashing gray wall
with a white line in the middle. Then
my eyes blurred. My face burned. Ny
ears grew full of a hundred thousand
bowling devils. was about ready to
die when the car stopped. l looked
and looked. and when | could see,
there you stood"
Helen. I thought yOu were fond of
speeding" said Madeline. with a laugh.
Il was. But l assure you I never
before was in a fast car; | met
a driver"
perhaps | may have a few sur
prises for you out here in the wild and
woolly West"
Helen's dark eyes showed a sisters
memory of possibilities.
you've started WE'LL she said. II
am simply stunned. I expected to find
YOU old and dowdy. Majesty. you're
the handsomest thing l yer laid eyes
on. You're so splendid and strong.
and your skin is like white gold.
What's happened to you? What's
changed you? This beautiful room.
those glorious roses out there. the cool,
dark sweetness of this wonderful
housed | know you, Majesty. and.
though you never wrote it, I believe
Won have made a home oil here.
That's the most stunning surprise of
all. Come. confess. l know I've al
WAYS beer selfish and not much of Il
sister; but if you are happy out here
am glad. You were not happy at
home. Tell me about yourself and
abopt Alfred. Then / shall give you
all the messages and news from the
East"
If afforded Madeline exceeding pleas
ure TO have from n and all of her
guests varied eneomiums of her beau
tjful home. and a real and warm inter
est in what promised to be a delight
full and memorable visit.
of them all Castleton was the only
one who failed to show surprise. He
greeted her precisely as he had when
he had last seer her in London. Made
line. rather to her establishment. found
meeting him again pleasurable. She
discovered she liked this imperturbable
Fnrlfshman. ManifeStly her capacity
for liking any one had UNNECESSARILY
enlarged. Quite unexpectedly her old
eirliSh love for her younger sister
! sprang into life. and with it interest
in these haif-forgotten friends. and n
warm regard for Edith Wayne, a chum
of college days.
aTL-.AH- Ea~H q kaHdf~E IL