Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-05

Will ever put to her is, will you marry
mes" while. SO far as am concerned,
cannot approach her save by indirec
ton. And it is by no means easy to sur
prise her into saying anything she doe:
not intend to say.
For the last week John has been hav.
ing his gray horse Sibyl trained to the
sidesaddle so that our cousin might &c
riding. Sibyl is a superb animal. with
most agreeable action. but there is some.
thing tameless in her still. Yesterday
morning before breakfast Tom had Just
girthed the sidesaddle ON her and had
gone inside to fill his pipe before mount
ing, leaving her attached by her halter
to the stable entrance. AT that moment |
happened to be standing at my bedroom
window, which is above my study and
laboratory in the right wing. | saw
Sintire appear and cross the court
yard. She had ON scarlet riding habit
trimmed with black. 1t was the first
time she had worn it since she has been
here. and it had very striking effect.
She seemed to have made up her mind
that Sibyl was trained enough for her to
ride
Tom came out of the stable and stood
in establishment at the young lady's APP
pearance. He is her devoted slave like
everybody else) because, as he explains
it, she is fresh from his native land
After short parley. which of course
could not hear, he gave her hand, and
she sprang into the saddle. There was
no 6ridle on the horse. Tom was in the
habit of riding her with the halter only.
She had stood pretty quietly thus far,
bat just us Tom had loosened the end of
the halter from the ring in the doorpost
and was in the act of handing it to Sim
fire the collie came racing mp and emit
ted an explosion of banks right under
Sibyls nose. She threw up her head,
| jerking the halter from Toms hand
danced about for moment and set off
at full run in the direction of the
drive.
This brought them directly under
meath my window. Sinfre was of course
powerless to guide the horse, but she
kept her seat well. and to judge from
the expression of her face as she flashed
past she seemed exhiiaratca rather than
frightened Nevertheless she was in
imminent danger II Sibyl kept on her
present course for 200 yards, it would
bring her to the cliff, and that was near
ly certain death. Tom was in pursuit,
but he would never overtake her. 1t
looked like goodby forever to our Eng
lish cousin.
But just then saw John running on
line which would intersect their course
at point about so yards from the cliff s
brink. Where he came from know
not but he was running as never be-
fore saw man run. He had a good
start. but | could hardly think it pos
sible that he would be in time At the
moment when | thought the horse had
passed him. however. saw him give a
spring lie was dragged off his feet in
an instant, and knew he had caught
the halter. waited to see no more, but
got down stairs as fast as could and
set off for the seat of war.
The situation when | got there was
somewhat different from what had ex-
pected Tom had hold of Sibyl's halter
and was soothing and scolding her by
turns and at the same time generating
himself to Sinhre. who had dismounted
and was seated on the grass with Johns
head supported on her knee. At first
thought he was dead. 1t was terrible
thought. But when she saw me she said
Immediately. He has only tainted"
| sent Tom on Sibyl after restoratives
and held John against my shoulder. Sin
fire had already loosened his collar. He
was unconscious, and his face had n
strange look that did not like. could
not find that he had been struck any
where. and according to Sinfire he had
assured her that he was not touched
But just as he was saying it" she add
ed. he dropped down as if he were shot
and las been this way ever since"
put my finger on his pulse That
told the whole story. | wonder | had
never suspected it before. especially as
heart diseases my speciality in pathology
AT any rate, there is no doubt that John
has il. and he must have had it for some
time He is such a robust man that one
would never suspect it. He may live for
many years. 1t might even be possible
to cure him, but when he does die the
chances are that he will die of o stroke of
the heart.
Naturally said nothing Of my discov-
cry to Sinfre 1t is serious matter and
may mean great deal. | remember
that when John was boy he once
climbed to the roof Of the barn and tried
to stand on his head on the ridge pole.
Some fool or other had dared him to do
it. He lost his balance, rolled down the
roof and fell not on the ground, luckily,
but on heap of straw that was about TO
be used as bedding for the horses. He
escaped with few insignificant bruises,
but the doctor who attended him said he
had strained his heart. Probably it has
been weak ever since, and the active ex-
trcise he has been in the habit Of taking
tan have done it no good. However,
what Is done can't be nended All we
can hope for is to guard against mischief
in the future. | wish John were less
headstrong aud more phlegInatic.
He began to come to before long, and
then made him sip dozen teaspoon
fuls Of brandy. which administered one
after the other. The slipping. more than
the brandy. stimulated his circulation,
and he was able TO get up and walk. He
had no idea what had been the matter
with him; thought Sibyl must have
kicked him. But it was Of Sinfre that
his head was full, and suppose he must
have suffered strong agony Of emotion
during that minute and half that she
was in deadly peril and he was trying to
save her. If there had been any doubt
about his feeling for her before, eiere can
be none now. And, as for her, if she is a
woman and not witch las sometimes
fancy. she cannot resist a handsome
young millionaire whose first love she il
and who has saved her life, for beyond
peradveuture she would have been IN
kingdom come but for John.
Much Obliged. old fellow; don't need
any help" said the heir Of Cedarcliffe Il
his younger brother, and took the hint
like the dutiful youngster am, and re
turned with my brandy flask to my
study. while John and Sinfire sauntered
slowly across the lawn together. ex-
pected it would have been all settled by
the time they reached the house, but al
breakfast. half an hour later. Johns face
proclaimed more loudly than even his
sturdy tongue could have done that tbs
engagement was still in the future. Men
tally as well as physically he was much
depressed. Sinfre, who was still in hei
Mephistophelian riding habit, was being
tenderly scolded BY mother for having
exposed herself to such danger, and shs
seemed to be in high spirits and laughea
and talked with freedom and brilliance