The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-12-29

mother wound the worsted stoo
restlessly in the middle Of the floor.
"Why," Mrs. Palfrey ratified on
tIknow it would have killed me if II
been thrown like that. And I'm sur
if I had, never should have dare
ride that horse again-never. Di'
you ever see anything so reckless, Mrs
Hasbrook, as boys are?"
"Never,' answered Mrs. Hasbrook
II should have been worried to dealt
If l had supposed Frank was havin
such an adventure. Frank, VIII,
didn't you tell me?"
II didn't think you'd appreciate it,
said Frank.
II suppose" said his mother, turn
ing to Mrs. Palfrey, che was afraie
OF OF frightening me. Do you know how
they make those worsted hoods?"
AS the conversation now seemed tt
haye turned into safe channels, s
Franks spirits revived. He said tc
himself that he would see his cousin
find out what had really happened
and swear him to secrecy. Then Frank
began to be amused at the prominence
he had so suddenly attained.
| He chuckled to think how Mrs.
Palfrey's testimony to his riding the
colt must have crushed Halls in
credulity. Little by little he edged
near to the table where Hal was
pretending to study. Taking care to
keep the slSein straight on his hands,
and his face sober, he nudged his
brother with his elbow.
"Do you believe 1 rode that horse
now" he whispered.
| 'Let me alone!" said Hal, loudly.
"Boys!' said their mother. "Frank,
| move away from the table,"
This he did cheerfully. Halls ill
nature had satisfied Frank of his
triumph. Now all that remained was
to wait until his mother had finished
winding the skein. Then he would see
his cousin, and all would bewell. His
lies seemed to him quite venial; as
lies that are successful often do to
their tellers.
Just then the door-bell rang.
OTIS the DOCTOR" said Mrs. Has
brook. "He's come to see mother, l
expect"
Good afternoon, Mrs. Hasbrook,"
said the doctor. "Good afternoon.
Mrs. Palfrey. I thought I'd come in
and ask about that boy whose horse
got away from him little while ago"
Frank" said his mother, don't
Jump SO; you make me snarl the
''There isn't p boy here" continued
the doctor, with q sprained wrist or
q shoulder out of Joint, is there?
Frank, how is that?"
"What, sir?" said Frank.
With his hands stuck awkwardly
through the skein OF wool and his
startled face, he looked decidedly stu
pid:
When you grabbed that horses
brldle, didn't you give your arm
bad wrench?"
"No sir!"
20 DOCTOR" cried Mrs. Palfrey,
"dld you see him stop the horse? /
saw him thrown! Isn't it g. coinci-
dence?'
"What! We're you thrown,
Frank"
eyes, sir"
and he wasn't hurt bit," added
Mrs. Palfrey.
"Well, that was lucky" said the
doctor: "Mrs. Hasbrook this boy of
yours did about the Quickest thing!
L was coming down the hill road
about half mile off, but I could see
1t. [ tell you it was pretty, the wav
he stopped that colt. l suppose you
didn't see ME, Frank"
mo, SIR" said Frank, glad that
the doctor gave him such an easy
one.
"You were too busy to be looking
out for spectators, eh?"
eyes, sir"
GLOW far did the horse drag you af-
ter you grabbed him?"
"Not more'n ten feet" said Frank,
desperately guessing.
'"That's odd. I should have said
fully twenty. But I was good way
"Ma," said Frank, more uneasy
than ever, you've got this skein
done, can't go?"
mo. have another to wind"
"Can't Hal wind this one?''
Halls gone"
frank darted g. look behind at the
table. Hal had seen the progress his
mother was making in winding off the
skeln, knew there was another to fol-
low, and skipped out.
"lt Was o. pIucky thing, ladies'" re-
sumed the doctor. "Mrs. Hasbrook.
you should be proud of him! Frank,
er!''
Frank thought this joke in bad
taste. He tried to smile, but the at
tempt was dismal failure.
q" feel, said Mrs. Hasbrook, "that
ne has had a providential escape.
But I'm glad he acted WE'LL"
"Well!" exclaimed Mrs. Palfrev.
'"You don't say half enough. WIN,
ne acted heroically. t'He's a. real
little hero, aren't you, Frank!'
Frank thought the praise some
what exagger ated. But he under
stood the demands of the occasion.
and smiled another sickly smile.
IL agree with you, Mrs. Palfrey,"
heartily acquiesced the doctor, who
admired skillful horse-manship; "a
boy, who can manage colt like that
ought to own one. Ell. Frank?"
But Frank did not appear enthu-
slastic. He was wondering if that
skein would never be wound.