The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-07-18
A FAMILY AFFAIR
BY HUGH CONW AY,
author of Called BacW and "Dorh Days
CHAPTER XII.
A HORSEi A NORSEl

any friends CT aCQualntanCeS OF MISS Niau-
sons implies that she led an isolated life Mt
Ha2lewood House. She had, indeed, plenty
of both. /. could hardly he Otherwise as tho
Talberts were very great on the subject OF
the interchange of social civilties, and kept
visiting book as carefully as any lady could
have done One of Miss Clauson'' friends
came several times across Frank Carruthers'
path about this period.
This friend. or acquaintance, was line,
hulking Young fellow OF about twenty, the
heir 10, and hope of, one Of the families OF
position. \ great, good-natured broad
shouldcred boy, who would doubtless in
year or two develope into something that
mother might be proud Of, and Young lady
feel happy to have for n sutton. He was AN
Oxford undergraduates, and for while had
been one of Frank pupils. So when he came
I'D to Lakewood House one morning, Of
course to see the Talberts. h. was much sur
prised at finding the celebrated Oxford coach
sitting at his ease just like an ordinary
uulcarncd Philstine He hung about the
place until Beatrice appeared, and, after
while, Frank heard him ask her when he
might call and go riding with her,
Although Mr.. Carruther., whom inqurins
into Miss Clquson's likes and dislike, had As
not as yet seen her ON horseback. Perhaps
The sharpcst shaft in Loves qniyer was kept
20 be shot the last.
The Talbcrts were not great at horseilcsh.
In the first place, they loathed n hor,cy man,
and although, rs part of a gentleman cduca-
ton, they had learned to ride well, they pre-
ferrcd in their nlaturcr years the carriage
seat 10 the saddle. They had n pair Of well
matched carriage horses, and recently
horse had been bought for Beatrice. After
il was pGgr la>cd she did not, however, make
much use Of il. She could not ride out I'M
attended, and when n groom went with her 1t
uocessitatei his using one of the carriage
horses. 50 size only rodo when her unccs
worc not going 10 use the carriage, or when
some chance escort like young Iurton offered
himself
At present her horse was in the hands OF
the veterinary surgeon, 50 thoro was no
chance of young Purton's beng gratitied.
Nevertheless, the account of the animals
progress toward recovery was good, ana
Miss Clau,on hoped it would be returned to
her very soon.
After this interview Mr.. PurtOn used to
yide up to Lakewood House every morning,
TO learn if Miss Clauson's horse had come
back. He was very anxious to hire or borrow
another one for her use, but his offer was
firmly Dc, lined. Perhaps, after al, Beatrice
only cared for riding in comparative way.
Frank Cari7ithers, when he met the young
fellow, dressed in the most natty and approved
equestrian costume, used to laugh and jest
with him, and ask for the latest bulletins
nnent the convaleScing steed. He knew that
Young Purton hgd once or twice ridden into
Blacktown - see what progress the Invalid
was making
For his own amusement Frank would adj
dress humorous questions, clothed, for the
benefit or distress Of his late pupil III elegant
Latin and Greek, until young Purton fl
lncontncntlv, or boldly asserted that he
ought not TO be tormeutcl before his time.
But one morning, to his inexpressible de
lght, ho found the horse reinstalled in the
Lakewood stables; an, moreover, Miss Clau-
son willing to don her riding gear and allow
her cavalier to take her Tor twenty-mile
ride.
Frank had the pleasure of seeing the two
ride away in company, young Iurton feel ng
and showing how immensely superior being
good horseman, intrIsted with the care Of
fair lady, is to the best Oxford coach who
could let Greek and Latin run out OF hi
mouth like water, by Jove"
Miss Clausons appearance on horseback
need not be described; but Mr.. Carruthers
after watching her supple, graceful, but
aas vanishing figure, buried his hands ii
his pockets and walked about the garden III
seemingly reflective mood. Then for while
he went back 90 his favorite holiday occupa
ton OF lying on the lawn and doing nothing
Horace and Herbert by this time had fin
ished their housekeeping or china busting
or whatever kept them indoors. They joined
him, and laughed at his lazness, He tilted
back his hat and looked up Mt them sleepily.
II say, Horace, where can / buy horseF
"a horsen
eyes. | had quite forgotten it, but my
doctor insisted that rs soon as got letter
should tax horse exercise"
II didn't Lnow You could ride
"Yes, | can. Something of course, very
quiet Oh. yes, | can ride until | fall off.
Tho worst is that whenever fall from any
thing, whe her IA horse or ladder, come on
nv head Us certainly as IA shuttecock does.
Take one OF the carriage horses, said
Herbert.
I'VE can u;e the dogcart," added Horace.
''Not a bit of it, You wouldn't look well
in dogcart It's not a dignitied conveyance
enough No. | will buy me horse, and sell
hin WhcD leave you. VIII VI hoo SSh
10 a hireling The hireling what Is 1T the
hirelng doesP
'Forsakes the flock" said Herbert
1.-THE sheep" said Horace, correctingly
Eyes, to be sure. / am neither a sheep nor
a flock, but fear the hirelins would treat me
badly SO tell me where to go for horse. "
ut seems great extravaganza, Frank"
'Extravagance! What Is extravaganza
Spending more than one can afford. | am
rolling in money. am disgustingly rich.
fear not to meet either my bootmaker or my
banker. Besides, in justice to my doctor ]
must have his prescriptions made up, no mat,
ter what they cost"
They saw he was in earnest, so called theii
coachman to assist in the search for a Steed,
The coachman, i'll his striped linen wastcoat
joined the group and waited his masters
commands.
William said Horace, "Mr Carruther
is thinking of buying horse. Doyou know
Of anything for sale round about hereP
"Do know of hoss, sir, said William
effectively,
Something quiet" put in Herbert, who
was solicitous for franks safety.
"a hoss-samething quiet repeated VII