The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-07-27
Selerteo Storp.
Baptized by Fire.

That reminds me OF an incident" said
Uncle Zarah. THAT riding master may
think he knows it all so far as grace is
concerned, though his ideas of grace differ
with mine materially, but I'd like to tell
him about one woman have known who
had been accustomed to the management
of horses in rural parts or on the plains
who had been at home on a horses back
all her life and seldom essayed any gait
but a 'gallop, yet who could lay it over
any rider in this city for grace"
Uncle paused to polish his glasses, then
remarked interrogatively: you remember
Mrs. - Her name was Captola, Did l
ever tell you how Cappie won her husbandp
1T was an early September morning in
the late sixties. The summer rains had
made vegetation rank and the buffalo
grass was then thickly matted, brown and
dry as powder. The night had been gray
and still and given place to skylike cop
per in the morning and a strange stiffness
brooded in the air
II had been giving orders for branding a
bunch of steers to send to the lower range
and as | came up on the porch discovered
Cap in her dingy old riding habit sitting
on the edge swinging her feet and swapping
quirt, her pony browsing just in front of
her, and beside her was Henry-the owner
of the big Home ranch and her affianced
lover. His bride rein was thrown over
his arm and he was earnestly begging the
girl to comply with some request
"'Please, Cappie, yield to me this time
But want the gloves and whip.
"1'll buy you gross of silver mounted
whips and dozen pairs of Jouvin's best,
import them especially for the purpose, If
you will give up riding at the fair.
""That would be circumstance, wouldn't
itp flashed Captola. 4 could shake them
under Miss Oates nose and say "There
just see what got for letting you win the
prize" No. Hal, it isn't the gloves or the
whip, but mean little ambition / want
to crafty. That woman called me
hoyden, an uncutivated little heather,
and said couldn't ride little bit. don't
mind the hoyden and heather. suppose
am BOTH but can ride, and mean to do it,
"'Little girl, you hurt me when you talk
so tholghtlessly.'
"'And you hurt me cruelty she cried
passionately, as she turned her flashing
eyes on him. Pm ashamed to acknowl-
edge how much. | thought you loved
me, but you don't. When you see me be-
side your mother and your incompatible
sisters and-and that horrid prim Puritan,
Miss Oates, you get ashamed of me and
level of your own social world, but-you
can't do it. | tried to cultivate the little
prairie anemones, but they always died
I'll die, too, under the cultivating process.
So you'll think-you can have your ring
back and with little sob Captola began
to tug at her gauntlets, but Henry caught
her hands.
My dear little wild bird, love you. |
am twenty years older than you are, but
never said that to a woman until | met
you. | am graver and quieter than you
are, but l like your sunny ways-your
bright nature. My mother and sisters do
not know you as well as | do, and they
want me to marry Miss Oates They are
looking for flaws in my gem, and / don't
want them to have chance to think they
have found one. 1t is such little thing l
have asked you. Your father is away;
there is no one to attend you, as you ut
terly refuse my escort unless / desert my
mother and the other ladies, which / can
not do. You-well, you know, little girl,
that you are very unconventional in both
manners and dress, and / do wish you
would try to win them over, child Henry
paused, feeling that he was making bad
matter worse.
Never Cap replied angrily, as she
me as am or not at all. If mamma had
lived maybe would have been different
as prunes and prisims as Miss Oates, pos
sibly-but Ive only had dad, and he likes
me best as am. never would have thought
of riding at the fair, only when we were
all out horseback riding one night after
Miss Oates first came she said, purposely
for me to hear. that sticking on" was not
good riding by any means, and made fun
of my "old fashioned" riding habit And
Caps tears splashed down on the dingy
black calico.
"'You are much prettier in it than Miss
Oates is in hers returned Henry warmly.
"'Oh, yesp said Cap mockingly, much
prettier; but you don't want to see me
match my skill against her grace; but
will, and / will win the whip and gloves;
so nowP
"'Then we will discuss the matter no
further
'Adios, then, senior, until this after
noon, and remember she called as she
vaulted on Bret's back and turned to go,
after today mean to show that dad has
as much money as anybody. l don't care
for dress, but if you do you shall be
pleased and with saucy kiss from her
finger tips she rode away.
II felt sorry for both, but l knew it
would come out all right. In his summers
on his stock ranch, only two miles away,
Henry had seen Captola grow into will
full but lovable girl, and had yielded up al
the strength Of his great heart to her, but
as she was too young to marry he was
waiting for her. His mother and sisters
had come from the Quaker City to in.
spect' the possible addition to the family,
and were Mortified at her unconventional
ties, particularly her going about by her
self. The special grievance was over the
county fair.
Miss Oates and some of the city girls
were going to ride for the prize, properly
chaperoned, of course. Captola suddenly
decided that she, too, would ride. The
rules for entry required saddles, piece of
furniture Cap scorned, and besides her
riding alone. Henry feared that she would
be defeated by Miss Oates, who was ex-
tremely graceful in the saddle, and he
knew that would nearly break the child's
heart. He was not aware that Cap had
thoroughbred Kentucky mare of her ia
TIERS in training under saddle or that she
had added to her wardrobe an almost con-
yentiOnal hanit CantOla WAS en- nparIv