The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-14

horse half sorambling, half sliding down
the slippery turf towards the point indi.
Gated
"He's for Boughead Woods" cries the
Squire; 1--WE must take the lanes, girls,
and make haste. Come along" and of
he bustles, followed by Evelyn.
Not 80 Cicely. Turning Swallows
head, she faced the descent, leaped a
low, wall at the bottom, and was soon
racing across large pasture In company
with Hinton, the whips, and some dozen
others. The hounds were well away,
the pace tremendous, and it was only as
Hinton turned his head for moment on
hearing crashing of rails, that he be-
came aware of the fair form beside him.
There she was, firm as rock. yet giy-
ing easily to every motion Of her horse,
sailing along without an effort, taking
every obstacle in her stride neck and
neck with him. Fond Of hunting as he
was, gallantly as the hounds were run
ming, he could not help dividing his at
tention. Those were not the days in
which women rode so we'll or so much as
at present, and he had never seen any
thing like 1t. Less 'and less was his at
l more and more on Cicely, as the chase
I
/ to the rear one by one; he noticed it not.
AS it appeared; instinctively picking the
frmest ground and most practicable
places, she sailed along as ii by magic,
while old Swallow nobly repaid the con-
fdence reposed in him.
At length Hinton became conscious
that the pack were disappearing momen-
| tarily from view, to emerge dripping wet
on what seemed merely level surface.
"Good Heavensw cried he, "here's the
brook. You must not attempt it. know
ford close at hand" And still with a
lingering eye on his pack, he reluctantly
turned away.
A.quiet smile was Cicely's only an.
swer, as she patted Swallows neck, and
| then setting MIN sklllfully at it cleared
the water at bound. She heard the
beat of Hinton's horses feet as he turned
to follow her-heard the thud as he
pitched, and the splash and struggle
that followed when the bank. gave way
and horse and rider slipped back into the
water, but she never turned her head
When he once m0re'gained terra firma
Swallow was more tnan u field ahead,
and still going straight as his name i'm
piled. The water had shaken off the few
remaining stragglers, and Hinton strug-
gled on the line of the flying pack and
their fair attendant alone in a hopeless
stern chase. At last, crashing In a field,
he found the hounds snarling over the
| remains of their fox, and was just in
time to save the head for himself and the
brush to present to Miss Burnett.
"Really, Mr.. Hinton, fear have been
most imprudent in deserving my CON-
panions in this fashion, but l could moi
resist when the hounds went away so
beautifully. Am very far from Eldon
HallW
"Nearly twelve miles; but I see my
whips in the distance. When have de-
liyered the hounds into their charge,
you must allow me to assume the office
Of guide, aud escort you thlther, for the
route is somewhat intricate. Nay, l
can take no denial, and as 1 ain already
engaged to dine their this evening, you
are really .conferring favor by saving
me lonely ride."
What passed during that long twelve
mile journey has never transpired.
Cicely Was quiet, nay almost absent, dur
ing dinner. Nor was there any confer
ence between the friends that night in
Eyelyn's boudoir. The latter chided her
friend gently for running such desperate
risks the next day, and told her that
Hinton mad spoken SO highly of her rid
ing that she really feared she had come
there to steal her sweetheart. Cicely
smiled. and told ner that Hinton was
more likely to be chagrIned because she
had iairly ridden away from him. And
when church was over and dinner dis
cussed next day, she entered into the
Christmas gambols more gaily than any
child present-and their name. was le.
glon-and declared, when she Kissed
Evelyn, and departed few days subse-
quently, that it was the jolllest Christ
mas she mad ever spent.
Within a month OF that she was bride
at the. altar, Hinton was her bridegroom /;
and poor Evelyn, ere another year came
round, was in the churchyard, whittier
the old Squire soon followed her; and
Eldon has long since ceased to hold a
merry Christmastide.