He felt as if he were choking,--
choking with the dust raised by Dolly's plodding hoofs.
"An' the trees an' the houses swept by like ghosts," continued Diantha.
"Why, Phineas, I could 'a' rode on an' on furever!"
Before the ecstatic rapture in Diantha's face Phineas went down in
defeat. Without one word he turned away--but in his heart he registered
a solemn vow: he, too, would have an automobile; he, too, would make
Diantha wish to ride on and on forever!
Arduous days came then to Phineas. Phineas was not a rich man. He had
enough for his modest wants, but until now those wants had not included
an automobile--until now he had not known that Diantha wished to fly.
All through the autumn and winter Phineas pinched and economized until
he had lopped off all of the luxuries and most of the pleasures of
living. Even then it is doubtful if he would have accomplished his
purpose had he not, in the spring, fallen heir to a modest legacy of a
few thousand dollars. The news of his good fortune was not two hours old
when he sought Diantha.
"I cal'late mebbe I'll be gettin' me one o' them 'ere autymobiles this
spring," he said, as if casually filling a pause in the conversation.
"
Phineas!"
At the awed joy in Diantha's voice the man's heart glowed within him.
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