Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-09

ed the road by this time, quite as much
as to Mrs. BRANDON, Sas I saw you were
about ready. We've lots of time" con-
sulting his watch.
sWe are glad you did," said Mrs. Bran
dow, graciously. "What a glorious day
We have" Bob said not word. He was
bewildered at the position his wife had
taken so quickly and calmly; his discom-
future was increased by the appearance of
the cause OF all the trouble. He rode in
silence few rods, then said abruptly;
addressing his wife with pointed empha-
sis, Il think III ride around and pick up
Moulton. You don't need me now that
Minturn,s here,n and he wheeled his
horse.
"Very WE'LL. said Mrs. BRANDON in the
sweetest of tones, and continued the vi
vacious conversation she had already
hounds, without noticing her husbands
fling.
Bob did not pick Moulton up. In
fact, he knew very well, when he said he
intended to. that Moulton did not hunt
that day. He rode alone to "The Cor
ners," where the hounds we're to be cast,
and arrived Just as the pack gave cry and
went off.
During the first half of the run the
pace was moderate and he saw his wife
a number of times. She was riding we'll
in the front each time he caught sight of
her, and the Master of Foxhounds was at
her side. Bob was not watching Mrs.
BRANDON. The truth is he had come to
the conclusion that he had made mis-
take and gone too far. Her determined
avowaI to stop hunting frightened him.
He began to plan how he could best make
peace. He did not admit that he had
been wrong in demonstrating, but he felt
that his remonstrance had been rather
strong.
He was in no mood for hard riding,
and toward the end of the run fell far in
the rear, riding along in an absent sort
of a way, taking to the roads frequently
and following the distant cry of the pack
half consciously. He finally quite unex-
pectedly found himself at the finish, or
where the finish had been, for the whips
and pack had vanished, and most of the
riders had started back to the kennels.
A few stragglers remained, breathing
their weary horses and stretching their
own limbs cramped by the long run.
AS Bob appeared, groom leading a
weary and fresh horse approached him.
1t was Kierney leading Mrs. Brandow's
tired hunter aud the hack which was to
carry Bob home.
"Mrs. BrsndJw has gone on, sir" said
Kierney, as his master mechanically flung
the bride of his tired hunter to the man
AMI mounted the fresh horse. "She said
you'd overtake her if you'd follow the
north pike; she's but bit a'ead an on
the white mare, SIR" 'All right, let them
come along easy" answered Bob, glanc-
ing at the tired horses, and turning his
hacks head he made the road and started
off at stiff canter.
He was glad his wife had left the mes
sage for him. He thought it signlfied a
mood at least partially favorable to the
apologies he by this time had fully re-
solved to make.
When he reached the north pike he saw
no riders ahead Of him, but, concluding
that he was too far behind to catch up,
had slowed down to awalk, when his eye
was caught by two horses going across
country far off to the left, directly away
from the kennels. One of the horses
was white and ridden by lady; the other
was dark; he recognized it at once as
Belonging to Mlnturn. Besides, the
Master of the Foxhounds' scarlet glisten-
ing in the sun, left not doubt-no other
rider had worn scarlet that day.
What were they doing going across
country away from home at such lively
clip? We're they "larking?' Mrs. Bran
dow never "larked" the white mare, and
they were riding at a good clip. What
did it all mean? He turned his horse in
to lane and headed after the two riders
He would overtake them and give Min
turn piece of his mind. If his wife
was young and did not realize how such
thing looked, Minturn was man of
the world and of experience and should
have sense enough not to do such things.
1t was outrageous to go riding off to-
gether in that manner. But what to do?
They were quickening the pace, and his
hack was not much of a fencer. There
was no road that he could take to cut
them off. Should he start after them in
earnest? Yes, he would. He had had
enough of this sort of thing.
But how far would it be? Then an idea
struck him, Minturn might be trying to
catch the express for New York at On eola.
But if he was going to the city, why was
Mrs, BRANDON with him? And then a
cold shiver came over Bob. Could she
be going with Minturn? No, of course
not-absurd thought. But--no, no; he
was crazy. And yet he 9uickened his
horses pace, still arguing that the idea
was an insane one.
But how could they go to town thus
he in the pink and she in her habit?
They might wire for coach and be
driven to the city. He had done the
same thing on several occasions himself,
and the more he thought of it She more
the fear that his wife was actually run
ming away from him gained on him. His
attack had fastened plan already laid
Then he remembered his wife's calmuess
and her assertion that she would "visit
mamma or do something to get beyond
such another attack" also her message
to him through Kierney "to follow the
north pike" This last was to throw him
off the track.
Again he laughed a. himself for enter
tanning such thoughts, again he picked
up the thread and thought out more
damning evidence. A dozen little Incl
dents, dozen strong remarks which had
seemed insignificant to him at the time,
came into his head and he wondered that
he was so blind before. 1t was useless
he gave up trying to deny the purpose of
two fugitives and determined to head
them off if he could. He shuddered
when he thought of the scene which
would follow when he denounced his wife.
He trisd to plan in what manner he
should kill Minturn. An oath escaped
from his lips when ne thought of the
news of the scandal reaching the clubs.
He groaned as he looked forward into
the desolate future-for he was really
passionately fond of his wife.
The riders ahead of him had settled
down to very hard riding and were max
ing straight for the little settlement
which surrounds Oneola station. They
had not looked around since they started,
and were ur aware that they were followed.
Bob glanced at his watch and understood
why they hurried. They had but eight
minutes and over two miles to 60.
The country became very stiff. Solid
post-and-rail fences, such as good sub
stantial Quakers built about the farm
they have received from their fathers
and intend to hand down to their sons,
became more frequent. The white mare
and the Master of the Fox-hounds' mount
were going beautifully. At each leap tie
dark horse would lead by few strides;
the white mare would follow at another
panel. The two riders would then pull
across the field together until the next
fence was reached, when the Master of
the Foxhounds would again lead.
There remained about mile. Bob