The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-10-12
Katherine Bl0Qnt 5 love.
BY The Dutchess.

IL sssss,s
not, to ride over here all the way With
l.out groom?s Is, \, 3
! They had reached the hall door b,
this time, where Miss Blount's horsi
stood. held by one Of the castle men.
viii you allow me to escort yoi
homer" Sir Marx asked. ~ can tax.
care Of you, ! fancy, and % put Mrs
Chnrteriss mind at rest about you
s,lfety." q f
.Tilank you," katherine answered
plnclng the tinlest foot he had ever ye
seen In the palm Of his hand, prepare
tory to mounting, ''but I could mo-
dream Of giving you 30 much trouble
/ Besides, ungraciously, 81 generally
prefer riding by myself"
Conclusive" returned the young
man, reddening little, but gathering
up the reins quietly and putting then
into her hand, while Harriet felt almos,
ready to cry with vexation at the grill
wilfulncss. "Rut aln sorry for my
own sake TINT solitary rides are e.
much In favor with you, az It would
, hive given me great pleasure to accom-
pany you 10 far"
Miss Blount relented. After all, II
was not HIS fault, and probably he
would never even want to marry her
1t was not wronging Blackwood In any
way to be commonly civil to him. So
she turned und made amends for her
rudeEess very prettily.
1T 1t will really give you any pleas
ure," she said, softly, bestOwing q re-
markedly sweet repentant little smile
on him the while, which was her method
of being commonly civil" to young
men. you can come; but warn you
that am not the most agreeable per-
son in the world to ride with"
Thank you," Sir Mark found HIM
self saying very gratefully. And 30
they rode down the long avenue Of
chcstnuts together, little dreaming OF
tho future that lay before them.
Three miles Ia short ride, taking
small time to travel. 30 1t was not very
long before they arrived ut the manor
gate. where Warrenne drew rein and
paused.
"Will you not come in?" Miss Blount
asked. her manner more friendly than
1t had been hitherto. "You knew papa
long ago, I think, when I was away at
school. and Blackwood-did you know
himy'
Your father and were very good
friends" Sir Mark answered. II viii
call tomorrow and renew our acqunint-
ance. as I cannot come in this evening,
thank you; but Lakewood have not
the pleasure Of knowing. He 10 your
brothcr?" u
mo. my cousin" the girl answered,
with Ger lain hdlf-shy embarrassment
In her voice which she somehow found
impossible to restain, and which caus.
ell the baronet to feel most unreas0n:
able pain somewhere about the region
of the heart-a pain he would have
scorned to call Jealousy, but which,
nevertheless, was remarkably like it."
''Oh. your cousin" he said, simply.
''GOod.by, Miss Blount" But he press
ed her hand with unusual warmth,
and went on his way musing vaguely
about divers things that In some unac-
countable manner always merged Into
recollection of Katherine Blount's
knocking irresistible face.
Meanwhile, that young lady had can.
tered gayly enough up the travelled
walk, NIL her old spirits quite restored
now that the obnoxious barOnet was
ont Of her sight, and, having dismount.
ed and run upstairs to change her
dress for dinner. had come down again
radiant In beauty and white muslin, to
encounter her cousin In the hall.
where have you been oil the day."
he inquired lovingly, taking both her
hands In the old familiar fashion, and
looking with true warm admiration In.
to her eyes. 'sRiding7"
"Yes. riding" Katherine answered,
feeling unusually glad to see him, and
smiling brightly up into his face. II
went over to zee Harry and tell her NIL
about the ball affair, you know"
Eyes, I know" he said. still retaining
her hands. as though 10th to part with.
them, "and-did you hear that Sir
Mark Warrenne had returned to the
hall7". -
YES" a vivid. un-wished-for blush
crimsonlng her cheeks. II met him to-
day at Harriet's."
ibid your BlackwoOd said, with sud-
der bitterness, az he remarked the con-
scious flushing Of her face, and he
dropped the little clinging fingers hur.
riedly, az though their kindly touch had
burned him. y.