Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-07-16
TO something without which the day
woull lac inPomnlata

NlIcu To como at certain hour, he
found Hester In riding habit and hat,
and the coloners hoy leading two snd.
died horses up and down before the
veranda steps
I'm going TO carry you horseback.
riding, Mr.. Ringbrand," she said, run
ming down the steps to meet him.
lie looked askauce at the two thor
oughhrcds, and tried TO summon the
courage TO say that he knew less than
nothing about horscmanship. I'm
afraid you'll find me "A sorry cavalier,
Miss Hester" he demonstrated.
"Oh. Pluto is gentle. anybody can
ride him." she rejoined, gathering her
skirt and standing beside her horse.
will you give me IA hand pleaseP"
Having, in his stories, had frequent
occasion 10 describe the dexterous man
ner in which gentleman assists lady
10 mount, Ringbrand knew precisely
what was required of him; but, unfor-
tunately, the ability 10 portruy dexter
ity in yirile English does not necessarily
imply its possession by the artist. lie
took his place rather awkwardly beside
Hester and made a step of his hand,
holding IL so high that she hesitated.
Just little bit lower. II you please"
she said, demurely, and his last shred of
seif-possessiun took fight rs he COM
piled. Since Miss Latimer was any
thing but ethereal, the first attempt
broke his hold and covered him with
confusion: putting his strength into
the next, he lifted so vigorously that
nothing but IIester's ready agility saved
her from falling out of the saddle on the
opposite side. II WINS too much for her
equanimity, and she burst into a ring
Ing laugh.
Rngbrand Strengthened up and wiped
the pcrspiration from has face. al beg
your pardon--indeed do; 1 told YOU
was but cn Indifferent horseman," be
Apologized.
please don't mention it," she said,
as soon rs she could speak. ITS aw-
fully mean in me TO laugh. hut l couldn't
helrit Ishall have an immense respect
for your strength after this"
ltingbrand took Plutu's bride from
the griuninE boy aud tiled TO mount,
forgetting, in his embarrassment, that
wcll-trained saddle horses are prone To
object 10 approaches from the wrong
side. He did not realize his mistake un-
I'll he had one foot in the stirrup and
was hopping about breathlessly in n
desperate cndeavor to make Pluto stand
still long enough TO enable him to spring
into the saddle; but with the knowl-
edge came a sudden access OF obstinacy,
and he determined TO succeed IL il tool,
the remainder of the afternoon. Hester
was convulsed with laughter, and IT
was some moments before she could
find breath 10 suggest that Pluto was
unaccustomcd to receiving his rider
form the off side.
"l-know-it isn't - customary"
gaspcd Ringbrand, making violent ef-
forts TO keep near the plunging animal,
"but-l-usually-do it-this WAY"
Just then his foot slipped out of the
stirrup, and Pluto's enth,a 7iic and re.
proachful protests CEASE, III. iiscom.
fitted cavalier mopped Ii ram'rr face
again, and beckoned to tie acv
Just hold him secoaG. r.tlI W..
he said, and, backing away I,r F. shout
run, he vAulted into the saddle 10. 40,
the astonished charger knew what q 1.
happening.
Bravo! bravoi" exclaimed Hester.
clapping her hands in delighted appro.
val. THAT was certainly original.
Where did you learn TO vault, Mr.. Ring
brand?"
81 used 10 do little of il at the uni
versity." he replied, modestly forbear.
ing 10 add that he had held the record
for the running high jump in his class.
"Do-1lo gentlemen usually mount
that way in New York ?" she inquired,
innocently.
II can't say they do-not always" he
responded, as they ambled down the
long avenue and turned into the noun
tain road. "Now that you speak of It,
I'm not sure that I ever saw anyone do
ii in Just that way-at least not outside
Of a circus"
She laughed again, a sweet bubbling
~ VI lDdI
made him think of happy children and
singing birds. Didn't you know, sure
enough, that you were on the wrong
side?" she asked. naively.
Honestly, didn't at first" he con-
fessed, "but / began to suspect some
such dreadful thing before you spoke.
Then it occurred to me that Pluto was
unreasonably particular about such a
small thing, and thought it might he
well TO convince him of the fact"
Il think you've succeeded; but I'm
afraid You have hurt his sense of the
proprieties beyond recovery. He is al
most as conventional as 1 used to think
you were"
81 hope you don't think it any more,
after seeing my Interpretation of boots
and saddles, he protested. "And while
we're on the subject of horseback rid
ing, let me make an open confession;
l know less than nothing about it, ex-
perimentally, and | shall he deeply in
debted TO you if you'll teach me how to
behave in a becoming manner"
She leaned over and disengaged her
skirt from its ENHANCEMENT in his stir
rup. May -" she asked.
Il shall be very grateful"
'Well, then, II believe il is custom
airy for gentleman to ride on the other
side" she began.
Ringbrand had quite recovered his
self-possession by this time, and he
pulled Pluto around to her right. "Of
course. should think that would sup
gest itself naturally TO anyone but a
book worm like myself; | assure you I
shouldn't have made my hero in a story
guilty of such awlwardness. Now,
how about these stirrups? they seem
TO me to be too short, or too long, or
something"
She looked at them critically: "I
think they are little too short. Shall
hold Pluto while you dismount TO let
them DOWN."
''No, thank you; think I can manage
it from the deck" he replied, slipping
his feet from the stirrup irons and ad-
justing the straps TO a more comforta-
bic length. There, how is that?"
That looks better. Now, shall we
try little gallop?"
"If you please. I'll do anything you
tell me to-
They swept along the level road at an
easy canter, and Ringbrand profited by
Testers suggestions as well as he could
in the short intervals which his furtive