The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-27
A GIRLS ADVENTURE.

her heated brow.
It was warm day, even for the month
Of June. Vague thoughts of sunstroke
and dread of a thunder storm, which had
been coursing through the child's mind
for the last hour or two, were now almost
dispelled by the cool, grateful shade of
hemlocks.
Naomi, Hates sleek bay, appeared
equally thankful for rest and gave ex-
preston to her feelings by a low whinny
of satisfaction.
The little girl dismounted and pro-
ceeded to brush the flies from her dumb
companions glossy coat.
Twenty miles from homer murmured
she, whereat Naomi turned her head and
gave the speaker an intelligent look out
other great brown eyes, quite as though
she understood the significance Of the
words and had caught the half smoth-
cred sigh which accompanied them
1t was, indeed, long way for child
of twelve to have come alone, and upon
such an important mission, but Kate was
a plucky girl and not in the least home
sick nor at all afraid of anything but a
certain tiny black cloudlet in the west,
cloud no bigger than a mans hand"
1t was the prophesy Of a storm, and a
thunder shower meant unutterable things
to Katie Tynedale.
She wouldn't have started out today,
but her father was sick and. Mr.. Stein
felt's note being due. the old gentleman
wanted his money. Securely buttoned
inside the little gray basque were the
$500 which was to cancel her fathers in
debtedness.
Quite fortune!' thought she, feel
ing very womanly over the trust re-
posed in her.
There had been a commotion in the
Tynedale household the previous even
ing when Kate had announced her will
lingness to go over to Rydal with the
money.
Mrs. Tynedale had promptly declared
that such thing wasn't to be thought
of for moment; but her husband had
laughed, in a good natured way, and as
serted that it was capital idea, and he
would sooner trust his boy than any
man in the neighborhood.
He often called Kate ''his boy" partly
because Of the assistance she rendered
him about the farm work, but chiefly in
consequence of her skillful management
Of horse.
In the end Mr.. Tynedale and Kate had
carried the day. So here she was at
noontide but ten miles from her des-
tination. She had only been over this
road once before, and that was some
years back; but she remembered every
crook and turn of the entire distance
perfectly.
Directly ahead of the place where she
had halted lay a long stretch Of I'M
broken, uninhabited woodland. A timid
person would doubtless have been af-
frighted at the prospect, but our young
friend hadn't thought of fear.
Her courage was soon to be put to
test.
After a brief pause she left Naomi
and climbed to the summit of gently
rising knoll beside the wav to get bet
ter view of the western
Behold! the threatening oud had en-
tirely disappeared drifted away down
behind the blue hills.
Kate drew deep breath of relief, and
ran back to the foot of the hill.
"You shall have nice, long rest, Ma
omit" exclaimed she, patting the arched
neck of her favorite.
Threading the ravine below flowed a
shallow stream, the sparkle of whose
sunlit waters came up through darkly
branches of evergreen like
CLEANS of silver. Thither Katie led her
steed.
After quenching her thirst at the brook
the mare turned her about and began
cropping the tender green vegetation
which fringed its banks, while her mis-
tress sat down upon messy bank to
partake Of the lunch which careful
Mother Tynedale had prepared for her.
Fully an hour they had remained
there, the little girl stretched at full
length upon her soft couch of moss, half
asleep, Naomi grazing near at hand.
Suddenly Kate sat up, very wide
awake Her quick ear had caught the
sound of horses hoofs.
Yonder, up in the highway, two men
were approaching. Both travellers were
provided with horses, though but one
was mounted. The other picked his way
carefully along, evidently searching for
something. What that something was
interested the child greatly. She felt Of
the precious envelope N her bosom and
wished heartily that it were sale in Mr..
Steinfef's keeping.
Slowly the men neared the group OF
trees under which she had first halted,
following her very track, she could have
aEared
They stopped directly, and the r1der
disuounted. Then began doubly sharp
Of the ground
Our brave lass felt that u was high
time for action Catching Naomi by the
bride she led the unTesistlRg ANIMAL
down into the stream resolved that no
traces of their fight should remain.
Then she sprang in7o the saddle, and
touching her lightly with the whip
guided the beast silently as possible up
the creek
4 few hundred yards above she headed
her for low bank on the SIDE nearest 20
the highway q moment later she had
the horse safe behind q friendly screen
Of small trees
Hastily tying the halter 70 szplins
she stole cautiously through the under
brush 20 q point near the spot where she
had last seen the men.
They were Still there, bat evidently
contemplated q move Of soEs soE.- /.