The morning call., 1892-11-09
A MAD RIDE.

Lovel, that was plain enough TO every one.
A year ago ne had been q leader in nearly
ali the wild. boyish pranks the young men
OF the little country town were won't to
commit. Now he was morbid and unsocial
he had little to say to any one. When not
moping about home he was off on his black
horse riding about the hills. Late at night
Vulcan would be put In the barn almost
exhausted. Lovel evidently was q hard
rider.
About mile from Loveps home was a
pretty cottage located In a charming recess
in the hills. This had lately been bought
by a man from the Citys Mr.. Van Wormer.
He had one daughter, a handsome girl of
49, WHO was already popular with the coun-
try lads for miles around.
''Pll tell you what ii is" said Sim Ray
moud one night at the tavern; II know
what's the matter with LOvel." He
looked about at the crowd OF young fel-
lows eOnfidential!y, and then took a long
drink of cider. Yes, sir" he continued.
81 know what's the matter with him; it's
that confounded girl! Take nay advice" he
added. savagely, never have nothing to do
with the girls"
And Sim was right; II was "that girl."
Frank Loyel had seen Flora Van Wormer.
and then his trouble began. For six months
be had the field TO himself, and alternated
be tween love and fear; he never spoke
his love; her manner toward him, his de-
votioa to her. made 1t seem 10 him un-
necessary. But one day-he remembered
IL well-he had ridden down TO the little
railroad station and net her there. Blithely
he greeted her, but for the first time he felt
himself unwelcome; she spoke to him not
coldy. but indifferently. He looked at her
attentiyely. She had an air of suppressed
excitement. and was evidently annoyed at
meeting him.
The train came in, bringing with II tall,
faiT-haired young man who greeted Flora
with a warmth that eemed unmstakable
TO Lowell. He watched the two narrowly
and turned angrily away. Who was this
follow?
Level did not see Miss Van Wormer until
two weeks had passed. One day he had
been riding among the hills aud paused by
the roadside near the bring of steep cliff.
His horse was not far awav. cropping the
grass which lined the highway. Lovel
looked down the steep. rocky sides OF the
cliff and idly wondered why the road had
not been fenced in that particular spot. 1t
was dangerous to have the place open.
AS he stood there leaning against the tree
with folded arms he looked particularly
handsome, though sad. His changeable
blue eyes had a stern tight in them; il was
evident that his thoughts were bitter.
All at once lie heard voice that he knew ;
from down the road IL came, sweet, clear
Flora Van Wormer's. For a moment his
d
another voiee-that Of a man-James Clif-
ford. lie turned. took q few steps, and
paused. Why should be go? However, he
caught his horse, and slipping the bride
under his arm, walked slowly along. There
was a sharp bend in the road; be turned
around and stood face to face with Flora
Van Wormer and James Clifford. When
the former saw him she started and blushed.
Clifford regarded her in surprise; but the
dark yonng man leading his black horse
looked steadily at the fair young girl. 1t
was only moment that they stood there,
but it was a very awkward one. Then
Lovel raised his cap aud attempted to walk
by them, but Flora would not allow them to
pass.
"Good-morning," she said frankly.
"How fortunatel Mr.. Lovel. may | pre-
sent you TO Mr.. Clifford ?'
Clifford raised his hat and held out his
hand cordially. but Lovel. with cold bow,
vaulted Into the saddle and galloped down
the road. He had not gone quickly enough
however. TO avoid hearing the amused
laugh of Clifford, accompanied by the
words:
"This is one of your country bears, / sup
poser'
Lovel went home and shut himself in his
room, thinking over the whole problem.
Then be dressed himself carefully and rode
to the Van Wormers'. Hitching his horse
by the gate. a. he had often done ia the old
days, he rang the doorbell and demanded Of
the servant that Miss Flora should see him
at once.
''She is engaged and cannot see any one,
was the reply.
Tell her," be said. slowly, that / must
see her"
The servant. little frightened by his
earnestness, went upstairs. LOvel walked
up aud down the piazza, impatiently strik-
ing his boots with his riding whip. The
west was ablaze with glory and the sun
r~-a a.fF p,tt In /, /, l.
he waited for the coming of Flora.
She came at last, and at sight OF her
sweet face the words of reproach he was
about to utter died on his lips. For mo-
ment they stood confronting each other,
silent
'Is it trueP" said Lovel. suddenly. ''They
say at the tavern that you are engaged to
marry-ths man-" MS voice broke but he
went so bravely-"Clifford."
II have been engaged 10 him for long
time" she said, frankly. Yes, it's true"
''But l hoped to marry you," lie said
thickiy. Il loved you; didn't you know it p"
How should l? You never said any
thing to me about love. l like you-I al
ways did. Let US be quite frank about this.
came here after papa failed. We were
quite alone, and you really were the only
person l cared about in this little town.
su pose | am to be blamed, but / never ex-
pected you would care for me in that way.
i aid not encourage you. We were COM
rades only-l supposed you understood
that i ain sorry"
Its bad enough now; don't make IL
worse by saying that You are sorry
Nonsense! You say that we will be frank
about this. / say so too; you shall never
marry James Clifford white l am alivel
on are from the city; you have city ways
/ do not understand them, perhaps, but
when girl treats man as you have treated
me. what is he to think? Do you suppose
can forget all about you in month? No,
Flora. love you as my life"
She attempted to stop him, but it was
useless.
81 saw yon to-day-with hlmi You were
laughing Mt me. Yet am / not as good a
man as Clifford? Do / not love you as
well? You have ruined my life. Some,
times 1t seems as if | should go mad, aud |
ride. and ride and ride-ihat calms me.
This is the last time l shall see you, how
ever Good. by"
She detained him.
''You will get over this" she said ut Is
cowardly for You TO blame me. You are
not tie only man who has loved and lost"
"Yeu do not know me-" he answered,
and the next instant he was riding away.
IL was o'clock the next evening when
Lovel. half wild with rage and grief, i'm
PEELED by some strange impulse, rode TO-
ward fiora's home. There was a wild
feeling OF exaltatlon in his soul; with n
sense OF eXhilaration he felt the bounds of
tne morse under MIN. On they went, tear
ing up the hill until they came TO the road
by the cliff. They turned the bend; scarcely
100 yards in front were Flora Van Wormer
and her lover. They talked together earn
estly, aud Lovel saw that Ciifford's arm was
about the girls waist. The sight maddened
him. His rage. like flood, carried every
thing before II. This woman had PLAY ed
with him and then cast him aside. A sud-
den fancy leaped into his mind Every
thing about him seemed unreal. Mad ideas
coursed through his brain, among which
one was predominant. His face assumed a
terrible expression, aud the light that hone
from his eyes was not the light OF sanity.
de spuIred his horse forward: like an ar
row as 1t leaves the bow. so sped the noble
creature in obedience TO his masters COM
mand. Lovel laughed. The two young
people In the road heard this mad lannh