Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 255, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1914 — SUBURBAN SALLY [ARTICLE]

SUBURBAN SALLY

By DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

Sally was never quite sure whether the idea occurred to her through the channel of mercenary thought or simply because she wanted to break the monotony of life. . : V" She had been left a*most delightful little home, an excellent garden and ample stabling for horses and country vehicles. _ There was an excellent pair of gray mares in the stable, a small trap and her grandfather’s old’ family omnibus. The latter was thick with. dust of years, yet it was the hinge upon which Sally’s business venture swung. “I could drive perhaps twelve commnters to their train each morning and take them home in the evening,” she mused. “If I charged a dollar a week and had even ten passengers I would not have to sell off the horses. Ten dollars a week means considerable to me. ‘.“Besides,” she reflected when she had all but determined on the idea, “the horses would have a little exercise and I a trifle of amusement. I feel sure that the gentlemen whooccupy .those charming houses on the Elm road will rather drive in my omnibus than a crowded street car.” Sally’s mental prophecy proved correct. The gentlemen who commuted to the city from Elm lane were weary of crowded cars and leaped at the idea suggested on the tiny cards that Sally had sent out. During July and August, when suburbanites brought out guests and relatives for a breath of country air and fresh vegetables from their gardens, Sally’s ten dollars a week swelled to "twenty. Commuters seemed willing to crowd into her omnibus rather than into street cars and Sally was obliged to permit an occasional passenger on to her box seat. This she strongly objected to, since she had determined tq remain, as far as possible, a stranger toher patrons. It was not until the advent of Dick Halstead into her omnibus that Sally found her* dignity slipping from her. It was impossible for any one to remain very far above the . human throng when Dicky was near. He seemed born merely for the purpose of etching smiles on the faces of those with whom he came in contact. “I say, Halstead,” yelled Roger Evans from the inside of the coach, “no one is allowed on the box seat unless it is crowded to capacity inside! Come down off your perch!” “I am sitting here in the interest of humanity,” returned Halstead. “The off mare has a wicked look in her eyes this morning. She may want to bolt when she passes the steam roller." He glanced swiftly at Sally’s amazed expression. “My manly strength is required—here on the box seat.” To those inside the wagonette it seemed as if Halstead had made the statement in a spirit of fun. In reality he had feared the off mare for some days past. Since the advent of the great steam roller on the quiet country roads Sally had had as much as She could do to handle the horseV. They were approaching the corner of thq road where they were wont to meet the snorting, powerful roller with its deafening noise. Halstead turned to'Sally. Her face had gone white. He looked ahead for the cause and saw a second roller, more gigantic than the first. The mare might pass one road-fiend, but assuredly Sally’s hands could not make her pass a second. It meant a frightful spill at least on the precarious road. Halstead for a second feared to take the reins suddenly from the girl. She might fight to retain them and the horses would bolt with some twenty men in the wagonette. Halstead drew a heavy, “swift breath and again glanced at Sally. She felt his’giance and realized the strain he was under. "Here,” she said, swiftly thrusting the reins in his ready hands; “I haven't the strength.” "Angel." muttered Halstead under his breath and then the fight began. Never could Sally have controlled the maddened beasts, for beasts they were in that desperate moment when they reared in one awful plunge as they dashed past the second roller. The wagonette swerved from side to side, one minute toppling the next erect, but the Situation Was saved. Tragedy had been averted. Sally closed her eyes, her face, whiter than the lace at her throat. The horses were running steadily now and straight. Dick put one hand over Sally’s as it lay on the seat beside him. She looked at him but did not speak. In the wagonette twenty men were suddenly bereft rtf speech. Perhaps the realization that life was a wonderful thing hit them forcibly after the narrow escape with that other phantom. ,“You saved them all,” Bally said finally and her voice trembled. Difck only laughed. "We might all have had a house party in the village hospital,” he said and tried to cover the emotion in his voice. Sally’s sudden weakness had * so unnerved him that he was tempted then and there to take her in his arms, but again reason prevented him. "No,” he muttered only half to himself. "Tonight I will storm her heart with (pSes and poetry and perhaps with a moon in the heavens for me to speak under. I love her very, very dearly,” he added and a soft color crept into Sally’s cheeks. (Copyright, 1914, by the McClure, Newspa- _ per Syndicate.)