The Forrest City times., 1891-12-11
Dark DarreIl's Bride.
CHAPTER VII.


 DarreiFs mind when he rode over from the Court to tae Grsugr, with a mounted groom following, leading Zuleika, wha was provided wita new saddle and bridle. Bus Slr Pailip had not said to himself, sI will woo IIasa; | will Ery to make her love me- There was 10 saca dednite thought as yet, Oaly the heFve defiance eg the fsts vaiea fsroade him to l1ve. saIy shs de- termination ass to yield her up. bearing him steadily eawards Co she fulfimenE be was putting from hia.
 lima was qHIEe ready when the hcrses ersw up befsre the door; and she came oar to meet Sir Paaiip on the thrssaold in a closs-sttiag riGiuS-dress and plumed Spanish aas taat made aer loox, il possi- be, more witesias shAa ever.
 ssi hope | lave Bes kcPs yau wsitings" said etr PAigip, saailsas, 'sl asn puaetaal. 1 saiBKs''
 "To tas minute. am Sniy just down. You w0a's mind not seeing auatie, will yoGs sae has headae.fe, and is not cut of her recn ret. JsnRieN 70 oae of the ser- sants-"waere is my ridins-ship? Run and fetsa IL, please lE is tn my room, think"
 .st hope,7 said Sir Philip, as he led his companion out, tsat Miss Dgraford's head ache Is caly sight eae:"
 "re-, thanks; it will 70 of presensIv.- She often has taem, sac tells me, and they never iast-p
 SsE Paslip !issea the slender figure, and vitA practiced skill swung the giri into the saddle az if sue had beea z feather'L weight.
 "You do help one perfsctlyg' said H. uA "rhanEs, Sir Paidp."
 He smiled, aad, turning to the groom, took from him s dainty silver-mounted rid lns-whip. which be placed in Tima's hand.
 "Oh, Sir PaiIig"--the quick color rush. Ing to her ehceks--swhy will you be 50 kind! What perfect little beauty of whip, which, I am sure, by-the-way, shall not have 10 use much! And the saddle and bridie are lovely. You have quite beygared ne in words, but not in gratt. tude.r
 aYou forget that, if gratitude were due to me from you, it would be more than cancelled by mine to you for the honor you do me in accepting my poor gifts"
 With this gallan, speech Sir Philip vaulted into the saddle, and the two riders took the road to the Larches.
 sr Philip saw iH q moment that lima wss a practical horsewoaian- She sat her steed we'll, and none put skiIlfuI rider could have mastered Zuleika, who was under the control of the girls firm but gentle hand. lima was enrap- tured with the mare, and Sir Philip after riding for a while su almost perfect silence said-
 ssI see you are mistress. I would not for the world have any but such a rider as you are mount Zulsika."
 .was that" asked the girl, laughing, .wby yeu preferred to bring her with your"
 "Yes. I knew, of course, that you were a crack horsewonan, or should not have selected Zuleika; but forgive ne if l wanted to make assurance dou0ly sure by having mademoiseIle's debut with you under my own eye. You sec, though she has been exercised for lady's riding, she has never yes been ridden by lady"
 "There ls nothing 10 forgive, Sir Philip. It is very good of you to be SO careful for me. If had gone out the frst time with Roland, and Zuleika had boltrd, he would neEe have beea able 10 catch her up. 1 call his horse Tom nTonsIer--nt 10 draw a nine pounder unaidedl'
 sir Philip laughed at this piece of youth ful exaggeratlon; and So, chatting, they rode in Inc sunlight and under the spread ing boughs Of Iarch and elm, tili they came ia sight of the Larches. They saw the horses before tue door, and the Sabine girls and Roland on the terrace; and lima, giTI-Iike, put Zuleika into swift eauter, pulling up the mare in such splendid style close by the steps that cry of admiration greeted the feat.
 alsn'E she darlingr said lima, bend. ing from the saddle, flushed and laughing, as they all rushed round her; aud at tue same instant Sir Philip rode up.
 "Well done, IIma," he said; and then, raising bis hat, aud lowing low to Mrs. Sabine, he dismounted aud went up the terrace to greet her.
 "rhat horse is fearfully wild, Ilma," observed Roland, while his sisters were admiring llIn4's whip. "Are you sure you Can manage herr"
 llma's laugh rang out like q silver bell.
 s.I wish 1 was as sure of everything as am of that" she replied. "Steady, dear," -as Zu!eika began eaperIng about "Oh, Roland, you will kill mel What has made you tinild all in a moment"
 sI shouldn't be tiniid for 2 person l cared nothing about" said Roland, look ing up al her earnestly.
 "Iou can't care much for me in thls short time you know, Koland," responded lima, perfectly unconscious of any deep meaning ia his words. "But, whether you GO or not. you need not pull q loag face for me-"
 Roland could not say more just then, for md t,atn her saddle, and Roland was obliged to turn away to perform d like service for Janie.- But, while he was giving his sister tue bFi- die, he kept bis eyes nXed anxi0usly upon ZuIeiNa, who was euryetiug about esi- dehtly eager to be of. Hardly acknowl- edged to himself, was an unworthy desire in Hue young mans mind to find flaw in Sir Phiip DarrelPs gift, to prove him wanting in sufficient care for Ilma's safe F, while hls osu solicilude, if even oyer- anxious, would shine by contrast.
 "slr Phihp," he said q little abruptly to the Barouet, wbo, having attended to Rose, was now tarning away to his own horse, "Zul,ika is terribly wild. l hardly think she Is sale for lima to ride"
 For A seeoHd sir PBilip's naughty brow contf acted, aud the blue veins ou the tenn pies stood out--sure indications Of quick and passionate temper; but he checked the answer that rose To his lips, and replied cooly, though with some irony
 sI suiss that know now 10 match horse and rider, Sabine; there Is no danger what eyer."
 .sI hope not," said Roland shortly, turn ing red.
 To this s.r Philip gave no answer. He mounted in silence, and backed his horse to Ilma's side. She had not heard what had just passed, and was exchanging ban- dinaze with Rose and Jamie.
 aNexer mind.n she said; .sZnieika can