LOVES VICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 9 November 1907, Page 4

LOVES VICTORY.

Franklyn purchased his motor car before he l'ell in love with Jliss Koyston. Franklyn was a small man, and having always been a bachelor, considered the ear from his own standpoint. It was a small car, advertised at five horse-power, and carried Franklin beautifully. It seems to be the fate of slender, slight men that they should fall in love with ample ladies. Franklin was no exception. Miss Royston was not only beautiful, but there was a good deal of her. Arrayed in a lliinsy white dress, she seemed to fill up the landscape. To Franklin, however, she was an ideal woman. Franklin's motor has feelings a.iJ prejudices as well as he did. The way it took its owner up hills was line, but Franklin knew its limitations. He knew that one medium-sized cylinder, even though of the best quality, was not capable of sustaining a downward pressure of three hundred pounds. There had been times, however, when he hesitated. He had puffed up to within sight of Miss Eoyston's house and measured her with his eye in the I distance, and then turned round. He had longed to try the experiment, but at the critical moment his courage had failed him. Franklin thought his secret was safe. He had carefully avoided telling his love that he had a motor car, but one evening she looked at his reproachfully. "Why didn't you tell me you had a motor ear?" she said. "I heard about it yesterday." "It's only a trumpery little affair, darling," said Franklin. "It's hardly worth mentioning. To tell you the truth, I was ashamed of it." "Well, you needn't be," said Miss Royston. "I adore them. You must come round to-morrow and take me for a ride." Franklin spent the next morning in re-inforcing the springs with a newfangled arrangement said to strengthen them, and promptly at four, with a smile on his face and his heart in his throat, appeared on the scene. "I hope, darling, that you are not afraid to trust yourself with me?" said Franklin, hoping all the time that she would say she was. "Xo. indeed, dearest," replied Miss Rojston. "I luive the utmost confidence in you. Where shall I sit?" "Oh as near the centre as possible." "She moved in, and as she sank back on the cushion the vehicle settled down with a resigned air, as much as to say, "I'm in for it now." He started it, however, with a slow "chug, chug," it began to move. "Isn't this heavenly?" said Miss Royston. "Ai.d to think you were ashamed of it! I know I shall never get tired of it.'' Franklin had planned a ride that, after the first mile, was mostly downhill. | In order to do this, liowwer, there was | a [dace where they liad to go up. He shuddered when he thought of it. Thej bowled along until they came to a brook. Then they turned sharply to the left. Here was the hill—once over it, and all would be well. Slowly the machine started up the slope. Behind them was the stream. Suddenly Franklin became conscious thut the vehicle was stopping. Nay ,it had stopped. It was going back. He had failed. But he had not made the attempt without previous thought. "If" he had reasoned within himself, "I cannot get up that hill with my darling, the machine is of no use to me anyway, and I may as well know the truth once for all, even if it has to be sacrificed." 1 And so he was fully prepared. As I they gained headway backward, Miss Royston clutched her lover's arm. | "Is there any danger, darling?" she . cried. "Look at the water." ">ione whatever, dearest," replied Franklin. "Just rise up quickly about a foot, and then sit down as hard as you | can. Now!" ' Miss Royston, with an instinctive sense of self-preservation, obeyed him.' She rose up and came down hard. That. settled the motor. Everything seemed to give way at once. They stopped. And then, as Franklin and his sweeiheirt got out. and surveyed the wreck. :md lie put his arms ns far round her as he could get ihem, lie said: "Never mind, darling. The next machine T get will be eighty horse-power, capable of sustaining a pressure of five hundred pounds to the square inch."