Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-04

M ETA MO "fhat riding master
! !: !: !: !: ! ! + I
k6&2EN may think he knows il
t2SEKSSSs all so far as grace il
IA AMN concerned, though hi
y EAsAANN ideas Of grace dihe,
1NAM with mine materially
~ Nv but I'd like to tell him
about one woman have known who had beer
accustomed to the management Of horses in
rural parts or on the plains,' who had been q,
home on horse back all her life and seldom
lay 1t over any rider in this city for grace"
Uncle paused to polish his glasses, then re-
marked interrogatively: "You remember
"Of course" replied I had made that
same response to that same question at least
my godmother, and to absent-minded Uncle
Zarah she was bit Of womanly perfection,
whose virtues he never tired Of extolling. He
trotted her on his knee when she was baby,
| and she trotted around after him till she was
grown great girl, for he was manager of her
iathers cattle ranch near the town Of Lemon,
IN Kansas. Her given name was Captola; her
surname cannot be divulged because her people
would not enjoy the notoriety given a family
for many years well known in Washington.
well, she would have shocked the senses out
OF the narrOw-skirted, prim- visaged, tied-down
i
lowed her inclination and ridden ~ she best
liked to do when her husband was in Congress
here. I've seen her on her big black mare in
her dark blue habit, riding along the byways
| OF Washington, when 1 thought she was the
prettiest picture had ever looked at, except
ing when used to see her astride her pony,
her curls flying and hat on the back of her neck,
as she raced after the hounds on the plains.
along through Georgetown, I wish / could
play Lady Godiva, after fashion, and shut these
old fogies up in their cells for an hour; wouldn't
have ride that is ride? 1 must play pro
pr1ety for a few weeks longer, though, TIL the
boss" gets ready to leave his resolutions and
III. BIS" and then mean to make him head
straight for Kansas
Belt known right now that Captola's home
was In an eastern state, but the ranch" uncle
spoke of belonged to her husband, and was only
a few miles from her fathers ranch in Kansas
a motherless child.
Ibid ! ever tell you how Cappie won her
husband?" asked Uncle Zarah.
Now, that story was actually dogeared in my
memory, but uncle liked to tell it. His dear.
childish old heart dwelt with such tender fond
ness on those early days that never ''remem-
bered" anything when he desired to enlighten
me, so his reminiscential old tongue set itself
wagging.
SIT was an early September morning in the
late sixties. The summer rains had made veg.
citation 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 sky like copper 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 l came up on the porch 1 discovered Cap in
her dingy old riding habit sitting on the edge
swinging her feet and swapping a 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
"Tn buy you gross of silver-mounted whips
them especially for the purpose, if you will give
up riding at the fair
That would be circumstance, wouldn't it?'
flashed Captola. Il could shake them under
Miss Oates nose and say There! just see what
got for letting you win the prize" No, Hal, it
ambition want to crafty. That woman called
me h6yden. an uncultivated little heather, and
said 1 couldn't ride little bit. 1 don't
mind the hoyden and heather. 1 sup
pose am both, but can ride, and mean to do
it. I shall win the whip and-and then I'd like
to wear it out over her patrician shoulders
she finished deiantly.
Isl, senior, she returned gaily as she jumped
lightly to the ground, Il sometimes answer to
that name
Little girl, You hurt me when you talk SO
thoughtlessly'
And you hurt me, cruelty she cried pas
sionately, as she turned her flashing eyes on
him. I'm ashamed to acknowledge how much.
thought you loved me, but you don't. When
you see me beside your mother and your incom-
parable sisters and-and that horrid prim Puri-
tan, Miss Oates, you get ashamed Of me and
want to make me over by the square and level
Of your own social world but-you can't do it.
tried to cultivate the little prairie anemonies
but they always died. I'd die, too, under the
cultivating process. So you'll think-you can
have your ring back, and with little sob
Gaptola 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 l met you. l am graver
and quieter than you are, but like your sunny
ways-your bright nature. My mother and sis
tiers do not know you well as do and they
want me to marry Miss Oates. They are look
ing for flaws In my gem and don't want them
to have a chance to think they have found one
1t is such a little thing have asked you. Your
father Is away; there is no one to attend you,
as you utterly refuse my escort unless desert
my mother and the other ladies, which l cannot
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.
'Neverr Cap replied angrily, as she jerked
her hands away. They may take me az 1 am
or not at all. II mamma had lived maybe /
would have been different-s,s prunes and pris-
amy as Miss Oates, possibly--but I've 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, pur-
pOsely for me to hear, that ''stioking 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, yeso 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; 30 now!
Then we will discuss the matter no fur
ther.'
'Adios, then, senior, until this afternoon; and
remember, she called as she vaulted on Bret's
back and turned to go, after today l mean
TO show that dad has as much money as any,
body: don't care for dress, but if you do
you shall be pleased and, with a saucy kiss
from her finger tips, she rode away
II felt sorry for both, but / knew it would
come out all right In his summers ON his
stock ranch, only two miles away, Henry had
seen Captola grow into q willfu} but iovable
Qv1r 81 md had VII 3o<lxx III A.