The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-04-03

oeen away from home for two wears al
boarding school, and had acquired ;
ialr average education, while Aurora.
literary accomplishments amounted Il
nothing more than knowing how f.
/ read, and being able to keen her ac-
| counts. But at this sort of attainment
Aurora only laughed; she cared littl,
enough for what she called such non.
sense, and was quite content that julia
should Know more of history, or geopra.
/ phy, than she did, provided that She
could beat her at riding or rowing. and
/ al sharpshOOting.
Or course the two girls had each OF
them sultors enough. Aurora's frank
manner and merry laugh made despe.
/ rate work with the hearts of half-a-doZ-
! en- young men, and Julia's extraordin-
( AIRY beauty, Joined to her so-called
wealth., brought her some of the best
/ oilers that Rccktown or even some OF
! the nearest frc<ltier towns could boast
/ ihus far neither Young lady seemed ia
/ nave been in the east impressed bv any
/ OF her admirers. II is true that Aurora
/ gave some encouragement to the devo-
! ucns OF Hugh Wallace, the most daring
/ young hunter in Rocktown, but thus
lar he had been unable TO win from her
an assurance that his hopes would one
day be crowned with success. And vet
IL seemed strange that Aurora could re-
sist him. lie was a very handsome
young fellow, with fearless gray eyes.
and thick curling, dark hair and beard.
standing clear six feet three in his
stockings, stalwart and finely proper
toned in figure. But up to this time
Aurora had only laughed at him when
ne had urged her to promise to be his
wife, and told him that She liked her in
dependence 70 wei, 10 give it up for any
man.
And now, having introduced my dra-
niafis pcrsoaR, | viii procede to relate
my story, always promising that these
prairie girls are not to be judged by the
standard we should apply 10 our city la
dies.
One day Aurora aud Julia had a IA
nous race on the prairie. OF late the
dislike between them had grown so
great that they rarely met where they
could avoid each other, and this enmi-
~ sprang up, it must be confessed.
principally from Julia. Aurora knew
she did not like her, but she would not
have cared much for this, had il not
been that she found Julia's manner
gradually growing 30 disagreeabe that.
IN self-defence, she thought it hest to
keep out of her way. But this afternoon
accident brought about a meeting. Au-
rora had been out for a day of grouse
shooting on the parties, when, Just af-
ter she had remOunted her horse TO ride
home, she encountered Julia Aurora
looked the huntsman in dress and equip
ment. She wore short dress of dark
green cloth, and full gray trousers. her
ordinary custom being in this stVle, for
IN Rocktown boomers were the rule
and not the exception, and long skirts
would have been absurd in the sort of
life she led. She had stout boots on her
well shaped feet, and heavy gauntlets
on her fine-knit hands on her head
she wore round cap that suited admir-
ably her pretty face and clustering curls
The only spark of coquettery in her
toilette, was the scarlet bow that peeped
out from under her neat white collar
She rode a strong built Mustang pony.
and with her bag of game in front of
her, her powder flask and shot pouch in
her belt, and her rife slung at her back.
looked veritable young Nimrod.
JHiia dress was much more in accOr-
dahce with our rules or prOpriety; il
was well-made black habit. with long
skirts, rolling hat adorned with black
feathers, and quite stylish standing
collar and blue cTavat. She was mount
ed on the handsomest bay horse in her
fathers stables.
Aurora was trotting down the road
toward ROcktown, whistling merrily,
when she encountered her rival
Good afternoon, Julia" she cried,
with little friendly nod.
Julia responded with cold bow, and
then, as their way lay i'm the same d.
rection for a little, she added pleasant
~
Nice afternoon for "A ride, isn't it?u
Yes replied Julia. But your
horse is pretty well used up by days
work ! suppose"
" Not bit OF it, fresh rs lark; he's /
been tied up pretty much all day, while |
have been walking the prairies for
grouse
" heard the other day that you said
your mustang could beat the best horse |
I owned
e" SO did replied Aurora, with
little allowance OF course.
q" Well / believe this is about as good |
horse as | have-are you afraid to /
try"
q No, Julia Dalton, you know | am
not afraid of anything" returned Auro-
"a, with her eyes flashing; " although
my pony isn't near the size of your
horse, l believe he has better pluck, and
will beat yours all TO pieces
Wen see said Julia, with her teeth
yet. - Its five miles from here to the
liver, let's see who viii be there first.u
AgrecdW And without more words
he two girls turned their horses, and
started like the wind down the road
Julia had little the advantage at first,
Aurora having tnrned a second OF so af-
err her, but as they dashed down the
prairie path she urged on her little mus
ang with so much enthusiasm, that she
Don regained the distance and was neck
md neck with her antagonist for some
distance the girls rode on thus, both
unning their horses, never looking at
'ach other, but with glittering eyes and
ct faces, flying along like two rival
lymphs of Diana. But the contest was
IN unequal one. Julia's horse had a
much longer stride than the mustang,
md all his quickness of motion barely
nabled him to keep up with him; he
ould not gain one foot. Aurora began
o have misgiving that all her own and
he pony's pluck = might not save her
rom defeat before the end of the five
niles, when, as they dashed past lit
lie clump of trees that rose like an is
and in the prairie, her ear caught what
eemed to be faint groan.
Instantly she slackened rein careless
f the result of the race, she bent all her
aculties to listen. Yes, that was sure
Y human groan, and she drew up b err
ony to halt. Julia, for moment,
bought she had merely fallen back de-
Gated; but in an instant, CHANGING
round, she saw what had happened.
All, ha !" she laughed. " You have
topped you are beat ~
No, indeed ~ cried Aurora, impa-
iently, "but don't you hear? there is
ONE one grooming here"
Julia instantly rode back to the copse
there Aurora had paused, forgetting
er enmity. She was off her horse al
lost as soon as Aurora, and the two en-
cred the bushes together. Both had,
,r the moment, laid aside all dislike,
nd were united in the cause of humani-
Y.
A little search and following the groans
hey soon came to the sufferer. 1t was {
man lying on the ground, apparently '
lsensible. He was young and hand
,me; both the girls saw that at glance.
lie had clear-cut, regular features, fair ]
air and moustache, and his face was
ale, not merely from loss of blood, but
ON the delicacy of city life. {
q Poor fellow =, said Aurora "a she ]