Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-08-28

make up a riding party, Whine the fine
weather lasts. DO you know any one you
would care TO ask TO join usg"
Roland back his head.
ono, new'somers are scarce In these
parts. lima Is the first for twenty years
ut least; and the last before her were only
farmers"
"Ilma will join us" said Sir Philip,
using the christian name quite inady ert-
ently-probably merely catching il from
Roland, possibly from Il subtle instinct to
try to think of her as "only u child"
But Roland did not like the dropping OF
the formal title. Wild aud childlke M
lima was, she was not young enough to DO
treated with such freedom on the strength
of mornings acquaintance, especially by
so young man as Sir Philip Darrell. Sir
Philip could read what was passing in Ros
lands mind-ior it was not easy to hide
anything from his obseryant eyes-but ho
gave not the slightest sign Of having no.
ticed resentment which he haughtily
considered "deucedly COOL"
There was an awkward pause for few
seconds after Sir Philips words; for ev-
cry one knew that lima had no means of
carrying out her promise. Mrs. Sabine
glanced up ut lima, the girl nodded
laughingly.
"Sir Philip is so kind as to give me a
mount" she said; aud rs she spoke u quick
heavy trown crossed Roland's brow.
''Oh, then, YOU can rideV lie observed
hastily.
"Why, of course, replied lima, while
Sir Philip Darrell half smiled; sill could
not ride should be thrown"
al am afraid you would" said Sir Phil.
ip. al don't think there is very quiet
horse in my stables"
"You must take care Ilma," and Mrs.
Sabine looked anXiously at her niece.
al will look after her, MOTHER" said Ro-
land quickly; but lima shook her head.
"rhanks, Roland; 1 don't need coach.
ing. am as much at home on horseback
a. on my feet"
"Can you jump"
"Yes," opening wide her great clear
cyes-"gates, ditches-anything Pll try
conclusions with you."
YOU'RE confident, Miss America. Do
you challenge all creationy'
"No, only you. l shouldn't have q
chance with Sir Philip"
GLOW do you know that?" asked Dar-
rell, while Roland bit his lip hard.
"Ghey told me you were II crack rider;
and could see by the way you rode this
morning that you were like u Mexican in
the saddle. And then see what superb
horse you havew
"Roland rides twelve stone," observed
Rose; $50 lie has much more to carry than
Sir Philip"
"Twelye stone against something under
one," said Sir Philip, laughing as he glane-
Cd from Roland's stalwart frame 10 llma's
fragile-looking figure. IL should think II
good breeze caught you, lima, you would
be blown away"
"We'll prove that on the Fells," return
ed lima, laughing too, as they all did but
Roland little liked that there should be in
30 short u time SO good an understanding
between Sir Philip Darrell and lovely IL
ma Costello.
Mrs. Sabine looked from Sir Philips
striking features to Roland's, and then to
lIma's exquisite face, and then she SAID to
herself
"Heaven avert that Darrell should think
too much Of the child, or she OF him! And
yet he is but human, and she not even
afraid"
The mother noted too how her son
watched lima and listened TO her voice,
and her heart sank. Were the two men
equal IN worldly fortune, or Roland the
superior, he would have no chance OF WIN
ming u young girls affection against Sir
Philip, even If the latter should make no
deliberate attempt TO conquer.
rA