The Osceola times., 1881-03-05
hought nothing of that; she was perfect

what she was about TO do, he gallOped
swiftly over the intervening space.
Settling herself firmly in the saddle,
Louie gathered up the reins, and was
just about TO scale the wall, when a
voice rang out clearl:
"Stopw it said, imperatively.
CHANGING up in surprise she beheld a
strange gentleman riding rapidly toward
her.
"Whet are You going 20 do?" he asked,
as he reined up his horse.
II am going over into the meadow"
she answered, opening her brown eyes
to their fullest extent.
Sitting there on the horses back, she
looked very young; her hair, which had
broken loose from the combining net, lay
i'm wavy mass upon her shoulders, and
her hat, with its dropping feathers, was
pushed far back on her head. The
stranger could scarcely be blamed for
supposing her to be some fearless, yentur-
some child.
81 beg your pardon, but / shall not al
low you TO thus endanger your life" he
said, quietly, hut very firmly.
Louies eyes flashed; how dared he
speak 80 to her, she thought. Looking
at him defianty, she said, saucily:
81 don't think you can help it,"
In second he had leaped from his
saddle, and had seized her horse by the
bride. lie was handsome man, about
%, tall and well built, with regular fea-
lures and dark eyes, just then very deter
mined in their expression.
let go of my horsel" ordered Louie.
"Not until you promise me 10 go around
by the road, he answered. Child, why
do you wish 10 imperil you life?"
He looked up into the lovely flushed
face, in no wise prepared for what was to
follow.
IL am no child" said Louie, haughtily.
81 am woman, and my own mistress;
once more ! ask you, will you remove
your hand from my horse?"
"Not until you give me your word that
you will not try to jump that WALL he
said.
Graspng the reins tightly in one hand,
Louie raised her gold-handled whip and
struck him full in the face; and as his
hand suddenly relaxed its hold, she lifted
her horse over the wall, and went flying
across the level meadow like a bird
Reginald Davenant held one hand over
his face, his blood fairly boiling and
and looked after the flying figure.
The little imp" he muttered. Then
lie mounted his horse and rode slowly
hoine.
But his anger cooled as the pain sub
sided; and he wondered who the child
was, with her lovely face and horrible
temper. Perhaps he might have sats-
fed his curiosity had he remained longer
Judge Wilton's guest; but when he
reached that gentleman's beautiful
country-seat that evening he found
telegram awaiting him, recalling him to
the city on important business.
Many times after that he found HIM
self thinking of that sweet, childish face,
with its brown eyes and red mouth; and
he was conscious of vague hope that
some time he would see again the little
impetuous creature who had struck him.
"For | shall always remember her
face" he said to himself, "and if | ever
do meet her | shall surely recognize
her"
Louie's anger died quickly, too, as she
rode homeward; and as a burning shame
for what she had done crept over her.
she laid her head down on Carlos silky
man ana cried as though her heart would
break.
IAOH tDulu nave uOllt SUCH illlllg,
she thought; what can he think of me-"
She was unusually quiet that evening
at the supper-table, and Mrs. Brewster,
noticing her flushed face, said:
81 am sfraid you rode too far this after
noon, Louie"
A month later Louie joined her aunt
at Newport, and the remainder of the
summer passed gayly and rapidly; but
she could not forget that afternoon ride,
and the handsome face of the stranger,
and she never thought of it without a
hot, psinful flush staining her cheeks.
Two years glided away, and Louie
Ellesmere was a very queen in society;
for besides her exquisite beauty and
winning fascination of manners, it was
woll-known fact that she had inherited
all her fathers fortune. But although
many true, noble men had laid their
hearts at her feet she gently refused
their love.
my king has not come yet" she would
say, laughingly, to her aunt.
She was sitting in her dainti,y-
furnished room one morning, busy with
some fancy work, when one of her dear
est lady friends came in.
81 can not stay long, Louie" she said
81 must be at the dressmaker's at IL
O'Clock. You are coming to mammals
reception Thursday evening, of course;
and / shall introduce you to such pleas
ant gentleman, new friend of mine.
Prepare to lose your heart, Louie, for if !
was not engaged, should certainly fall
in love with him myself lie was at
college with Harry, my brother, five or
six years ago; but he has been abroad for
some time. Harry met him IN Paris,
and they came home on the same ship,
and so renewed their old friendship.
lie is very rich, very handsome, and
talented"
There Eva, do stop and take BREATH"
said Louie, laughing.
But must 90 now" said Miss Frank
lyn, and, after few minutes conversa-
ion, She hurried away.
The evening of Mrs. Frankly recep- |
ton came; and, after her maid had com
pletsd her toilette, and had left the |
room, Louie glanced critically at her own
reflected image in the long mirror Not |
a shadow rested upon the lovely face; |
the soft brown eyes were lustrous; the |
dress she wore was of heavy silk, in |
shade and texture like the creamy petals |
of a tea-rose; and in her golden hair, at |
her throat, and looping the lace draperies |
were clusters and sprays of velvety pur-
pie pansies. She knew she was charm |
ing; and was there ever yet a sweet, fair |
gill who could be indifferent to her own |
beauty
Mrs. Franklyn's rooms were lhronged |
N~Th Wl 4 =,