The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-05-31

! 1urtner from my desire, Dir hdHuOlpn,
than to hurt your feelings, but believe
me when say that if you would win
Ethel you must first WOO her."
In order to prove how thoroughly in
earnest l was l took a house in the
county and transfe rred my entire stud
to it Luckily the hunting round
Market Corby was famed for its excel
fence, and many a good run did enjoy
over the glorious grass. In addition to
her other accomplishments Ethel was
an admirable horsewoman, and once or
twice week we met regularly in the
hunting field. Although l paid her
every attention could not fatter N.Y.
self that l made much way. Not sin
gle tender passage took place between
us. Whenever l talked sentiment she
+ changed the conversation in the most
skillful manner.
To cut long story short, laid siege
to that girl for five years. At times a
tiny ray of hope would futter across
the darkness of my horizon At others
l relapsed into the very depths of de-
spair. l began to feel that if this sort
of thing went on much longer, our
youth-or rather mine-would SKIP
away. Lady Browning comforted me
occasionally by declaring that she
knew Ethel liked me.
1t was on the 18th of January, 1879,
how well | remember the day. There
was a burning scent, and hounds ran
like wildfre over the biggest and stiff
est part of the Market Corby Vale. The
line was simply IRENE ndous The
| bitches were like bottomless pits, and
the fences were topped with such
strong binders that they turned horses
over if they did but touch them Men
We're tumbling about in every direc-
ton. Empty saddles were the rule,
rather than the exception. The ladies
bless their dear hearts!-were gal
liant as usual, though this was no wom-
ans run. Ethel Browning was just
! ahead of me- riding in most brilliant
and artistic fashion. Her perfect hands
and seat served her in good stead. New
ertheless my heart was in my mouth
every time she jumped, for the fences,
mind you, were real snorters. My ami
NAL was faster than hers, and l could
/
| chosen, but / purposely kept behind
her so as to be near in case of accident
By the end of five and twenty minutes
/ there were not more than dozen of us
| left upright with hounds. Ethels
| chestnut mare was a good game ami
NAL, but the pace had begun to tell
upon her, and 1 could see by the quiv-
ering motion of her tail that her bolt
was pretty well shot
Hold hard, for heavens sake" l
I yelled out, as we neared a huge fence,
having timber paling running along
! the top. | had already seen that it
must be jumped clean, and knew that
! Ethel's mare was not in a condition to
make the requisite effort. But when
! the blood is warm, when one holds a
foremost place in a first-class run, and
every onward stride brings an increas-
| ing sense of exhilaration, prudence
flies to the wall Either Ethel did not
/ hear my warning, or she chose to disre,
gard it. Anyhow, with a courage that
made me tremble, she charged the
fence. The mare was done to a turn,
/ and scarcely rose an inch. Then fol-
| lowed hideous crash, and the next
moment rider and animal turned a
complete somersault. My heart stood
still with fright. 1t was an ugly fall
/ to witness. | took my horse by the
/ head and steering him little to the
/ right, managed 20 get over the OBJ
/ stacle with a founder on landing
! Hastily dismounting, l rushed to
| Ethel's assistance. Meanwhile, in less
time almost than it takes to tell, the
! chase swept by, leaving us alone. Ethel
| lay motionless on the ground, a few
! yards in advance of the mare, who was
| too beat to rise. ! thought at first that
/ the dear girl was dead, and in my an
/ guish put both my arms around her
! PROSTATE form. Thank God! she was
only stunned. and began to revive di-
rectly poured the contents of my
/ flask down her throat. Little by lit
| tie, the color returned to her cheek,
and opening her eyes. they rested upon
mine.
And as l held her pressed to my
| heart, her dear face so close to mine
that | could inhale the fragrance of her
dewy breath, the passion within me,
SO long restrained, took fire.
Ethel cried. "Oh, Ethel! are you
a woman or statue? | love you. !
love you, and you know it. | have
been very patient, and time after time
have forced back the words that came
to my lips, so as not to brighten you.
When l first spoke to you you were a
shy girl Now you are grown up, and
my youth and manhood are fleeting
by. Things can go on no longer as
they are doing. l am only flesh and
blood and cannot stand the uncertain
ty any more. Tomorrow / shall pack
up and go off to India, Africa-any-
where, so as to be removed from your
maddening presence. Please God! the
worst will then be over"
Gently she freed herself from my
grasp, whilst the blood flew to her face
in a crimson wave, and, receding, left il
deadly pale. Her eyes were fastened
on NINE. 1t was as if She could not
withdraw them. For several sec onds
we gazed deep into each others souls.
Never had we been SO near to one an
other before. Yet dared mott dared
not snatch her to my breast. Strong
man as was, for once l felt the phys.
ical fear of a coward Instinct told