Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-11-16


rsssing-svsn Suspicious -situation In
which that very man had found him on
the previous evening. Pressing duties
and hurried preparations kept him from
brcoding too much upon thsss sore
points. but thssyoungstsrs all rallied
him upon his preoccupation while at
thsir merry breakfast tablA he had re-
solved that there was one thing be could
and would bring to IN issus with Dr..
Cuin, and was I'll impotienoe for the
coming Of evening. thaS he might hear
from the lips Of Capt Lawrence the sct-
ual stories that had been In circulation
concerning Danraven Ranch. He never
went out 10 hunt % utterly Indifferent
70 the fortunes Of the day, % eager to
have u Ill over and done with. And
yet-and yet-nevsr had there opened
TO him . day 20 radiant with glorious
possibility; never before In al his young
life bad nightfall proved % unwelcome
when it finally CANA
The arst rabbit was started before they
werea mile from Rossiter and thehounds
tumbled over him nearly . league away
down the valley OF the xonee. It was
while they were watering their horses In
the stream that Mrs.. Belknap rode up be-
side them end laughingly addressed Mira
Lawrence:
''That was too much Of straight away
for either Of Us, Mrs. Lawrence; but what
wager shall we have on the flrst mash
after thisi"
why. Mrs. Belknapi lean never hopo
to rival you. Il was mere accident and
good guiding on the part of some Of the
officers who were kind enough to stay by
me, that enabled me to be in at the death
the other day"
"You have Mr.. Perry to lead you today.
Surely with such q guide you ought to be
inspired. Am I to see anything Of you
todsyr she almost whispered to him, as
her stirrup brushed his riding boot.
Certainly" he answered, quietly, and
looking her over with frank blue eyes
that were rather too clear and calm for
her mood. "If Mrs. Lawrence will ex-
cuse me few moments by and by, 1t
will be a pleasure to come and ride with
you. I'll ask her."
Indeed you shall not" was the low
toned reply, while the dark eyes fairly
snapped with indignation. ~ do not
borrow other women's escort. II you
know no other way that ends it."
And then Mrs. Sprague's CHEEKY voice
had hailed them as her eager horse came
splashing into the stream; no opportunity
occurred for further impressive remarks,
but as the "feld" rode out upon the
prairie again and the dogs spread their
yelping skirmish line along the front,
Mrs. Belknap felt confident that before
they returned to Rossiter she would have
her big, simple hearted admirer in some
shape for discipline. Two capital runs
added to her self satisfaction, for in one
Of them she was side by side with the
foremost rider at the finish, and in both
she had left the other women far in rear.
Then came third, and with 1t revela-
tion to one and all.
It was almost noon. and from point
well out on the prairie to the northeast
Of Dunraven the "feld" was hunting
slowly homeward, horses and hounds
pretty well tired out, and the riders
quite content with their mornings sport
Up to this time Perry had been in con-
slant attendance upon Mrs. Lawrence,
and had made no effort to join Mrs. Bel
see that every little while her eyes
sought his with significant glance and
that she was riding well out to the left
Of the party, Dana faithfully lowering
about her. The colonel with Mrs.
Sprague ranged alongside just then, and
q general conversation ensued, in the
course of which Perry found himself q
triAe in the way. If there was one thing
fastidious Nolan did not like, it was to
be crowded by horses for whom he had
no particular respect; and, as a number
of riders were grouped about Mrs. Law
renee at the moment, it resulted that
Nolan's teeth and heels began to make
play, and Perry laughingly resigned his
position at her side, in order, as he ex-
pressed it, ''to give you other fellows q
chance" Even then, As ho fell to the
rear, it was with no thought or inten-
tion Of joining Mrs. Belknap. But, once
clear of the merry group, his eyes sought
the distant outlines of Dunraven Ranch,
glaring In the MONDAY sun beyond the
Monee, and between him and that mys-
terious inclosure whittier his thoughts
were SO constantly wandering there rode
the dainty lady, the Queen Of the Chase,
SO far as that day was concerned at
least, and she was signaling to him with
her riding whip Oddly enough, when
Perry rode up to obey her summons,
Mr.. Dana presently found means to ex-
cuse himself and join the main body.
"Mr. Perry" she said. as soon as Dana
was out Of hearing Mrs. Page will be
with us tonight, or tomorrow morning
at latest"
"Will she?" answered he, unconscious,
forgetful, and with an air of pleased an
ticipation. "How pleasant for you'll I'll
come and pay my respects the very first
thing"
"You do not understand" was the re-
proachful response. "You do not care,
presume; but this means that you and
will have no more long talks and hap
py times together"
''I'm awfully sorry, Mrs. Belknap,
but I'm blessed il can see why we
shouldn't"
''No," despairingly, cit is plain enough
that you SEQ nothing. All, well!-and
the sigh was pathetic-profound, and the
look from the dark eyes was unuttera-
BILE in its sadness, II suppose 1t is better
so-better 3d." She was silent q mo-
ment, and Perry's puzzled faculties took
refuge in long look over toward Dun
raven again: he fancied he saw figures
moving down the slope on the southern
side.
Zone thing ! want you to promise
me-" she presently said, sad and soft
and low. There was no reply. Looking
IN. she saw his head was ayerted, Was
he feeling the sting, then, after all9 Was
he actually suffering little pang after
this affectation of nonchalance?