The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-12

1t vas only a moment and Jack had set
81 nrs into his pony's sides. As the carriage
came nearer and nearer the rider increased
his own speed, until they were racing in
parallel swiftness. Then, through the cloud
of dust about the rapidly moving mass, the
frightened b%ystanders saw the 'ider's big
eombrero dip down, down. until it seemed
az if the owner must be falling off his steed.
For several seconds they raced thus: then
the mans body came up with a sharp skill
full Jerk, and in his hands were the reins
that the maddened horses by his side had
torn from their drivers hands aud flung
into the road, whore they had been trailing
like writhing hoop-snakes. Tn reina were
fastened about tho high horn of the Texas
saddle. that had always seemed 30
useless to the sneering park riders.
Gradually the speed of the obsdient
aways began to feel the reins again; q few
Yards and they stood still, painting, steam
ing and Quivering in fear and weakness.
For the first time Jack turned to look at
the occupants Of the carriage. Then he
uttered a quick, inarticulRte exclamation,
handed the reins to the humbleda and a .'olo-
getio driver, and rode up to the side of the
vehicle.
Il was TO Mrs. Collingswood and the I'M
conscious form Of Maugs that he lifted his
hat.
"She's tainted" said her mother. Twill
you tell the ooachman to drive home as
quickly a. he can? And if you would ride
along, too. In case those horses"
When they reached tho C~ollingwooa door.
Madge's eyes were still closed. Jack had
jumped off his rony. and the Texas-trained
beast was standing there, rockllke, with
the reins trailing over it's head on the
gravel. Mrs. ~Collingwood looked around
her a little he'll iessly. Then she turned to
Jack. who was holding open the door, and
looked from hin to her daughters fainting
form.
"Won't you tell her father, please. that
be must help me to get her w stairs?"
But Jack SMILED u little scornfully, and
proceeded to take the girls body in his
arms and cary her out Of the carriage into
the house.
Next thing l know" thought the unre-
generate son Of Texas. they'll be wanting
to hire me for some Wild West show in
this town." just then it seemed to him
that the eyes of his bur en- opened, and
that a soft sigh escaped tho lips. 1hrn he
looklng at him. oh. 30 softly! How brave
it was-how brayen!' The eyes closed
again, but a wonderfully sweet smile passed
over the face. and when he gave way to the
excited amy of relatives who swarmed up,
each with a diff rent restorative, it seemed
TO him as il he had just breathed a some
thing 80 indeinAbly sweet, SO lovely, TINT
it almost bewildered him. He did not
know what was the matter. 1t WAS as II he
had caught the scent of the oedars on a
81 ing day in Texas. Hc rode away so fast
that a park policeman thought seriously of
lur nit and reprimand. When he returned
home his pony was all in a lather. H
1ne shock didn't hurt Madee at all. He
nerves had been Z little ul'set, that was all.
The next day she q eeted Jack just as cheer
i,y as of yore, and chatIed him quito ns
mst oilessly, and yet it seemed as i the Q
was somsthinE wanting in her %raillery.
Was it q ncerity? We could not know. We
coutentcd ourselves with chatting both of
them az soon AZ We discovered all the par
ticulars Of that PAX adventu o. And the
Little Tin God no longer replied with
fierce philippines agains, u, our ways, and
our north. Hs WAS placid. almost docilc.
Sufely here was q great change. We pre-
pared to congratulate MndGe upon the ex-
c llent success of her mission.
But about this time one of us decided
that lie wanted Miss MadRe To- II wife. and
told her 10, whsrsat she swectly hut dseid-
sdly shook her pretty head: and yet it was
u thing that all of us had always considered
~ one of the oer;aiuties. She fiji ted in nm
equally charming manned with all OF us, to
bs sure. but with this man there had always
seemed 10 be less Of fiivolity in hor fasoin-
atoms.
We shook our heads and wondered. You
see, we didn't know then that Jack had
been asked by his father If he didn't want
to go down TO Texas again, and that Jack
had politely declined. IL We had known
that
The ~Collingwoods gave n reception. We
were all there, aud We were ready TO enjoy
ourselves immensely. Oas always did have .