The morning call., 1893-04-23

your gracious hostess good-morning and
| ride away, the kindly words of her cordial
| invitation to call again echoing in your ears
as you canter along a stretch of road like
vertable avenue, extending for miles be-
tween a double row OF giant eucalyptus
trees. 1.-THE Future" had been RECALLING
herself upon the fresh. short. crisp grass
during your stay at the house. and she is in
fire fettlP. She, too, feels the subtle intOxi-
cation of the delicious spring air quickening
her pulses; a scarlet-winged blackbird,
springing up with a musical whistle from
field aud alighting on the fence be-
side her, sending her dancing TO the
other side of the road. Her climb
over the hills has only given her taste for
further exercise, and she pulls impatently
at the bit, pleading for permission to stretch
her legs along the road. The way is clear,
1t is warm, sunny day, she Is in splendid
condition and the road is not hard. on
know the mare is speedy, she has cam
paigned in many race-meeting. and, well,
you are not adverse to a dash along the
road, so, as her canter gradually increases
to gallop, you finally loosen the rein and
let her 90.
Instantly she seems to Iengtben. She is
vlSlby nearer the ground, with her head
lowered, her neck Outstretcned. She is
creating remOteness between the last mile
post and herself. The trees spin by you too
rapidly for counting. The fence beside you
is running for dear life back along tue
road; the grain fields on either side flash
along like two vivid green streaks. There
had been no perceptibe breeze when you
started, but now a strong wind sweeps
across your face rs with lowered head,
tight grip with Que hand on the rein and
one arm desperately clasDtng the kodak
you had forgotten when you allowed the
mare TO run, you devote all your energies
TO keeping up with the procession.
Ah BUTT is fun Another mile-p post ap-
pears, flashes white beside you for an in
stant and is left behind. THE Future"
seems to be Keeling off the next one as one
unravels yarn from an old stocking, and
you remember she was said to be great on
long-distance racing" You remember,
however, her hurt knees and tender back.
and reflect upon the possibility of her
stumbling and You begin to pull
ward and nearly pulls you on to
her neck, but she is well-trained and
gradually, with many long leap and high
bound, she stops just as the. second mile
post Is reached. You are painting for
breath and feel as II you had yourself been
doing the running. Your arm is tired and
your glove split across the palm-but twas
glorious run. You walk the mare slowly
along in the sunshine and presently come
TO bridge, from which, nailed upon post
thrust through an ugly looking hole where
plank IS missing, appears sign bearing
the ominuus word, danger"
You ride into a feld, following q trail
already made by those who have skirted the
y
n deep, new cut. Evidently water has been
at work here. It is still tearing along at
the bottom of the cut. Evidently a noun
tain stream swollen by the rains and max
lug new channel. Presently you come to
q point where tie cut turns and enters the
old course OF the stream. Just here Is the
end Of a flume through which water has
evidently at some time flowed into the
creek. probably drained off from some
orchard above. The flume is dry now, how
ever, and seated in the open end, her feet
hanging over, and an imprOvised rod in her
hand, little girl sits, eXDectantly fishing in
the turbulent waters below, her line a cot
ton string and her hook the bent pin of
tradition as old as childhood, one is Inclined
to believe.
"rhe Future" eyes her nervOusly but
you take shot at the pretty picture as you
ride past, following the trail until you regain
the road, with only five miles further 10
travel before you reach your destination.
The mare Is well warmed up, and makes
very good work of these, more eager than
you, even, to reach some stopping place
where lunch shall be forthcoming.
Your friends are just sitting down to that
meal in a pleasant farmhouse, some twenty
odd miles from the city, AS you dismount
and walk up the driveway, leading The
Future" whose education in the matter Of
opening Gates las evidently been neglected.
You see her led to the barn. where you
know she will be well cared for, and are
presently enjoying your own lunch with the
keen appetite and vivid Zest given by your
long ride through the glorious spring morn
ing. MISS RUSSELL.