Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-12


cord the stranger great many other
advantages and accomplishments. He
rode well, wac good SHOT, talked ilu-
entity, sketched passably, understood
women, and was Miss leighton most
ardent admlrer,
Ebeu iorcsaw all this, aud yet once
when their mingled voices Aoated ont to
his little den, he brought down u ham
mer wrnthluly aud smashed his thumb.
nail. Morning aud night he saddled
and brought around horses for Barbara
and Mr., Ney and went a~n1 TO his work
IN the hot fields, while they were can
frr 4, down the shady roads, aud Mrs,
leighton and 1'heo were beating eggs
in the buttery and getting mp rare dishes
for tea. The letter had come from New
Haven aud Barbara had answered
briefly that she could not go until some
time later She had never looked 50
animated and beautiful as now. She
rarely saw Eben, sending him her re-
quests by her sister, aud Eben went on
at his inventions, feeling M Ii every
blow of bis chisel drove out u piece OF
hi, hearts core. Aud, although he
would have scorned the idea Eben had
grown wonderfully haggard and pale,
with dark circles under his eyes since
DR.. Ormsby had introduced Edgar Ney
to the Leightons. He took little pride
in tho knowledge that he was the bot
tor man of he two, but he did know
that he could crush Ney with one hand
into limp, shapeless mass, and he Won
dered sometimes why he did not. One
day he was seized with u fit Of trenl-
bling. He was pruning n pear tree
when he looked np aud barbara stood
before him, in her babit, switching ut
the mottled butterflies that ilnttered on
the hollyhocks, aud around Eben's
brown hands.
How pale and i'll you look, Eben.' 1t
was the least she could say, aud 1t was
tho truth. Eben's heart beat madly for
moment and then went on slowly.
i am not one to ger i'll, Miss Barbara;
mn not Drowned y, much ns usual
perhaps
His Mis-, Barbara sounded oddly, and
his looks belied his words. She looked
down at the ground aud said nervously:
Y hope you will not argue with me
thi, morning, Eben, but I've set my
heart on riding the co.t, Tam O'Shanter.
to the falls am not IN tho leIst afraid.
But am, said Eben, calmly. i can,
not permit you to risk your life with
that vicious colt.
Mr.. Ney will take care OF his vicious
ness" Barbara answered, u tritie inso'
lently.
Mr.. Ney may ride O'Shantcr aud wei
come, but | cannot con sent for you to-
Then Pmust do it without your con
sent. 30 so kind rs to have the colt
around in Il quarter ofan hour.
Eben finished bis pear tree aud wen
into the shop to wash his blood. ii
had cut himself to tho bone. Barbara
and Ney sat on the porch reading fron
the Princess when tho horses appeared
The colt SHE'D and reared when Bar.
bara sprans lightly in her saddle. AL
admirable horsewoman, she held he
own hncly, and Eben stood as if rooteI
to the ground until II turn in the roa'
hid them from sight then like Il dee
he set of down II footway toward wher
the railway crossed the road rs will
horror he remembered that tho morn'U;
/ express would cons down in ten min
/ ulcs The riders had stopped by th'
9 way to permit Mr. Ney to dismonn' an'
Q "a, her the first cardinals for Barbara
j, As they trotted sharply down the road
| the roar Of Tie train wac heard jus
g beyond the curve. Maddcncd with ten
| ror the wild, young. horse Barbara rod
\ reared, plunged aud sprang away from
e the other horse and darted down tn
t cut toward the train. With hoars
shout to sit firm Eben rushed out lroi
. the corpse and dung himself under hi
+ hoofs. lio caught the bit in his hand
n aud pulled the colt on his haunches
Il and then a,violcnt kick made him dro
t like u log, Some wood choppers cam
to the rescue, and as they lifted Ban
= bara Of. the train thundered by. Ebe
g was picked up for dead, and even Nj
:. Ncy declared he was brave fellow
b Ia an agony Of grief and remorsc Bar
S bara hung near him all those tediou
II da,s, when Eben's mind wandered an
e he muttered troubled. incoherer
II sentences, in which, poor fellow, he tol
all bis hopes and fears. He was no.