The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-10
CHAPTER III.
NJ rxyENrEr1T vrrArH

AN EvENTFUL WALK.
Boughton was good deal impressed, at
the same time that he was provoked at be-
ing shown up in all his fragrant ignorance
Of the ills that horse-fesh is heir TO.
They had a tiresome walk the rest of the
way, for Judith would not remount Eye
brows, and poor Trumpeter, emulating his
name, behind them, was any thing but a
cheerful companion.
How Phil did wish that he had been
able to spring from the foundered horse,
all the time having full cognizance
of what allied him-have whipped out his
knife and bled him, and administered the
whisky, all without word from Judith.
And how he fumed over that idiotic speech
about Trumpeter's heart He thought
Judith must have a contempt for him.
And, to tell the truth, she did. She
blushed to think that some of the neigh
bors might have been with them, and
heard her Cousins remarks, and seen the
helpless way in which he stood about,
while she righted things as best she could.
Her eyes were still good deal more red
than brown whenever she allowed her
thoughts to dwell upon him.
That night, as he came into the drawing
room, just before dinner, he found Judith
in the arms of slim young man in very
elaborate costume-or rather, if the truth
must be told, the slim young man was in
the arms of Judith, who appeared to be al
ternately laughing and wiping her eyes as
best she could on the lapel of his coat.
AS Bougnton came In, however, she
stood erect, and put up her hand to her
curls, which were good deal rumpled.
Her eyes were brown as washed
autumn leaves now. No red in them what
ever.
s'Dick, your cousin, Philip Boughton, y
she said, speaking pretty coolly. And
Boughton found himself in possession of
the slim young mans hand.
" "Er-glad to see you-er, just from
Paris! Cold here, isn't itl'' said the boy,
languidly.
something like Judith's seen in spoon,
and the same red brown curls His eyes,
however, were pale gray.
"No; / am from start to hnish.'' said
B0ughton, gravely.
"Eh!' said Dick.
He did not laugh, neither did Judith She
scratched the chin of the black kitten in the
Toby collar, and looked gravely at Bough-
ton between its ears.
''Oh, see," said the boy, finally s'Bcen
out hunting. Deuce of a time you had, Judy
here tells me. Horse foundered. Awful
nuisance, having ones horse foundered.
Do you like hunting?"
81 haven't done much of it,n said Philip,
honestly, wishing devoutly that he had.
He had eyes keen to look with, as well as
to look at, and saw the little downward clip
of the girls mouth, as she went on cosset-
ing the little kitten.
ave done lot of it in my day." pursued
Dick, laughingly. sand must say it
rather bores me.n
''Oh, does its" said Boughton. sit doesn't
seem to bore your sister,"
stNothing bores judy" Master Dick as
sured him in the same languid tone. 81 tell
her to wait until she's grown up.''
'She's bit more grown up than you
now, isn't shea" said Boughton, dryly.
show do you meansn Dick asked, allow
inghis eyes to open themselves, as it were,
In despite of his own will, while Judith
stopped scratching the kittens chin, and
looked great deal astonished.
s'Why. as you stand there together, I'm
quite sure she's good inch taller,' said
Boughton, calmly, with one hand in his
pocket and the other meditatively at his
moustache. Eyes, a good inch, should
say" he repeated.
Dick flushed, but Judith grew positively
scarlet. The intense blush seemed to spread
into her.yery eyes, and they reddened ON
inously.
/" You are entirely mistaken" she said, in
the small, still voice which is generally sup
posed to be monopolized by conscience.
"Richard is half inch taller than myself
We were measured only last June"
"Perhaps you have grown some since,"
suggested Boughton, quite unmoved.
"Not in grace, eh Judya" put in the boy,
good-naturedIy coming to the rescue.
"You've got her in perfect temper, Cousin
Phil"
"How can you speak so, Diczp' cried Ju-
dith, turning upon him, and dropping the
ki ten, which fell with furry bounce upon
the polished floor. II see that you have
even less consideration than before you
went away. And, besides, you know very
well that you are half inch taller than l
am"
"Suppose we test it," said Boughton, who
somehow felt an unaccountable pleasure in
exasperating her. Perhaps he was revel-
ing in the delight of taking the superior
pose in his turn. ''Heres good book to
measure with. If you will stand back to
back with your BROTHER
All the blush was In her eyes now. Her
face had grown quite pale.
"You are insulting" she said, with her
teeth shut, and walked out of the room.
This was great deal more than Bough-
ton had expected. He stood staring after
her with the book still in his hand, and then
opened it blankly and looked IN 1t as if for
an explanation. 1t was volume of Miss
Hannah More's private devotions, and so
he closed it and replaced it on the little ta-
BILE whence he had taken it.
"Don't you mind her." said Dick, easily.
.'6he's always twice as sweet after one OF
her tantrums."
This seemed in truth to be the case. She
came in 20 dinner as suave as May, and
took her seat beside Philip with smile.
"How cross do you think am2" she said,
leaning toward him, and making cushion
for her round chin with her palms, her
elbows being on the table.
II am afraid / was very provoking" he
said, eagerly. ~ am sorry; will you for
give metz
She said nothing, but went on smiling, so
he took his forgiveness for granted, and
partook OF more green goose with light
heart.
Now, it was very dangerous TO take any
thing for granted with this young lady.
especially when there were little sparks OF
vermilion in her eyes, as there were to-
night. But Phil could not possibly have
known this; the smile she bestowed upon