The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-01-17

standing in front of Honru's portrait
Now, though all this was put nypo-
thetically, it bore internal evidence of
mature consideration. My cousin had
discussed the matter with herself before
discussing il with me. But whether she
spoke from experience or from magma
ton who can tell? 1t hardly seems like
ly that so handsome young woman
should have hitherto escaped all person
al knowledge of the great passion; but,
on the other hand, she may be younger
than she looks, and then her life in
India Il believe she was born there) may
have isolated her from available soci-
ETY.. The fact is we know nothing more
than the bare outline of the girls pre-
yious life. It is not that she ever hest
tates to answer questions, but she never
volunteers information, and as there IS
no one but mother to interrogate her.
and az mother is poor hand at cross
examination. that amounts to nearly the
same thing. The only question John
will ever put to her is, will you marry
me?" 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 doee
not intend to say.
For the last week John has been hav-
ing his gray horse Sibyl trained to the
sidesaddle 80 that our cousin might 90
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
Sinfre appear and cross the court
yard She had on a scarlet riding habit
trimmed with black. 1t was the first
time she had worn it since she has been
here. and 1t had Il 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
every body else) because. as he explains
il. she is fresh from his native land.
After a short parley. which of course
could not hear. he gave her hand, and
she sprang into the saddle. There was
no bride on the horse. Tom was in the
habit of riding her with the halter only.
She had stood pretty quietly thus far,
but Just as Tom had loosened the end OF
the halter from the ring in the doorpost
and WAS in the act of handing 1t to Sin
fire the collie came racing up 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 a moment and set of
at full run in the direction Of the
drive.
This brought them directly under
meath my window. Sinfire 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 exhilarated rather than
frightened Nevertheless she was in
imminent danger. If Sibyl kept on her
present course for 200 yards, 1t would
bring her to the cliff, and that was near
ly certain death. Tom was in pursuit,
but he would never overtake her. II
looked like goodby forever to our Eng
lish cousin.
But just then saw John running on
a line which would intersect their course
at a point about 80 yards from the cliffs
brink. Where he came from | know
not. but he was running as never be-
fore saw a man run. He had good
start. but could hardly think 1t pos
sible that he would be in time. At the
moment when | thought the horse had
passed him. however, saw him give q
spring. He was dragged off his feet il