The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-11-03

'ienlsiy hsr soins shosi by herself
Tie special grievance vss over The oool
~ fair.
Miss Oats spd some of the city gir
we're scins 10 ride for the prize. properl
ehsperosed. Of oourse.
Cspiols suddenly decsded that she. to'
would rids. The roles Tor entry rtqsire
saddles. piece Of furniture Cap scornet
and hside her riding slone. Henry fesre
ths, she would be defeated by Misc Gate,
who ws es.remeiy graceful 10 the saddle
aud be knew that xould nearly break III
child's heart He vu pot swsre ths, Ca
bad 8 th ronshbred Kentucky mare Of be
fathers In training snsrr saddle or tbs
she had added 10 her wardrobe an slmos
COO ntionsl habit. Csptols was so nesrl,
periec, that verify believe she could bsv,
ridden on that saddle standing on be,
bead. and Uncle Zsrih stopped to chuckl,
quir'iy Of the remtmb brsnce.
When aft 'rooon came the fair ground,
we're crowded. Hshs dczsn young iadie,
tn prim b'sck and blu~c,ath habits, chin
pey pot hats. long ssuntlsis, and wells.
which they wore tbep, we're gathered pear
the judees stand, and their escorts were
chatting with them. waiting the order to
clear the rirg
- al
Henryp asked his sister as be drove up
with bis mother Henry frwoned slightly
but before be could rIswer a little buzz OF
CON ment called the attention Of all as Cap
tola rode up unattended. She wouldn't
even 1T me ride my old cob beside her, so
was there before her in the buggy.
Lord, but she was beauty. Her slen'
der black mare was asmet,esome as could
be- su tossed her long name and tail i'm
patiently as she obewd That little hand,
with its touch OF velvft and grip Of steel
Cap was as slim and vIllowly as a cotton
wood sspline 10 her close fitting black veil
vet habit. She had put up oil her ours
under little black velvet hat, around
which was long ottneh plume.
Miss Oates looked ike . thund ricloud |
She had expected tosee the child on her
little mustang and 1.-THE old black calico
habit skirt she usually wore. Henry smiled
md went TO her instantly With loving
scri, and | knew the cloud had dissp
,eared for time
The tournamel began; up and down
round this way and back that, under he
oppery skys the dies rode then paused.
The judges were undecided, so they
vent through the mces again. No decision
he ladies would please change horses.
Cap was of Rondo 10 on instant. but
nsuy Of the ladies oemurred Miss Oates
refused to mount anything but
er own thorough framed animal. The
ontest narrowed TO Cap and two other
lain bred girls, but even they dared not
,ount Rondo. Cap road each Of the six
orses in turn. As she changed the seventh
nd last time to Rondo she rode up TO
,e.
Uncle don't you smell the prairie FIRE?
be asked. upessily.
Yes, replied; but its across the creek
cant reach us.
! WAS thinking OF the schoolhouse. she
piled hprriedly as the judges called c
'hool began in Heniys district yesterday !
I'd bis sister let her daughter 60 with
ose Williams to day, and then she rode
to the ring.
| looked ct my watch : 3 80 then over
the north,
The smoke was rolling up black and "
ick. / could see an eating line of red. =
be sun was beginning to look like ayell "
" haze aud the air was dense and heavy
Ith the odor OF burning grass. II the u
ind should rise = Just then . puff lifted =
, hat Yes. the schoolhouse was 10 great
niger II the wind vtereds point or two. = !,
beard shont OF pleasure and turned to =
g the Judge hand silver mounted whip VI
Cap. She turned her head to look ct 81
e. and over beyond me she saw the u
loke She brought the whip down on
g h,nis 1 the msrs, aud quivering with -
gbt, Rondo reached me in two leaps. y
-, Il
The Gill schoolbouse, gasped Cap, as
e pointed with her whip
To thut moment the prairie fire. so cont !,
on thing, had not been noticed. In . .
omeDt all was confusion. :,
Miss Oates screamed, Miss Merriam, ),
snry's sister, fainted and his mother
rned white, la an instant Henry was ).
I, Of the buggy witb bis hand on Rondos !,
ok. :.
May | take her. Cappie? Nellie is over },
su. A,
Gap slid down. The saddle wss flung
and cutting the mare with the silver il
united handle Of the whip Cap trusted =,
bis hand Henry Was oI. followed by \,
II Q doz.n mounted men. a,
lust then Cap heard wbinDey, aud . :,
d nose was thrust sesinst her face.
With scream OF joy she threw her arms VI
,ut Brel's neck. The faithful little mus D,
q had broken it's larist 10 and lo
lowed lie mistress. Catching the trsili SC
rope. Cap ted it b,ijle fashion in the 10
ter, then slipping ont OF her velve, ridi di
skirt aud tearing of her psnntleis. she IA
4 to me as she jumped On Bret: know ho
hort cut below the ford; maybe can N,
p. aud Vas of It
followed 10 the buggy.
ZAP resched the schooloonse. The fire
Irds we're forty fee, vide, sDd the teach,
and bis pupils had burned the grass
,ui the building and tlt safe In the Ct