Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-12

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furry she mistook for her pocket hand
kerchief. But Lesley jumped up SO
quickly as to upset her chair, and cry
ing out mo, no, nor' threw her warm
arms round her aunt's neck. 1T isn't
you-it is I-who have been mad and
rude and wicked and get into muddles
wherever 1 go''
Ronny softly closed the door on them,
and as he did SO heard his mother say
plaintively:
my dear, if only people did not
know you as Lady Appuldurcombe's
niece!" Whereupon he smiled, though
there had been something suspiciously
like moisture in his eyes just now.
Then he went round to the Rag,
where he found Yelverton, looking mis-
cradle.
"I'm awfully sorry, Kilmurray, said
that gentleman, with good deal OF
color in his face. 1.-THE fact is, the mare
started Of her own accord, and what
could / do but follow? ought to have
staid behind, suppose, but l felt I'M
easy at Miss Malincourt's going into the
park alone. told the groom to come on
as sharp as possible, and he did"
Ronny nodded; he looked quito his
usual, good tempered self again, to Vel
verton's intense relief.
81 suppose you wouldn't part with
the mare?" he said tentatively.
Yeiverton's face fell, and he hesitated.
The mare was the apple of his eye, and
only yesterday he would have refused a
kingdom for her. Then he thought of
how Lesley and she had looked together
Of the girls swaying figure, as, beneath
the trees, she talked alternately to her
admirers and Coquette, but he cleared
his throat as he said:
"She's really not up to my weight,
you know, and shan't hunt this win
ter. Of to India, with some other fell
lows, shooting big game. I'll take a
hundred for her, if you really fancy
her.
But he spoke heavily, and Ronny, as
men will understand men, thoroughly
understood him. After all, what was a
girls caprice to come between man
and that trusty friend, his horse! Lesley
must make shift to do without her"
THAT'S unwise, Yelverton," said
Ronny. "She is worth Mt least 800
guineas, and I couldn't take her as a
gift. Well say no more about it.
"And I say it is not gift" said Vel
verton stubbornly. "I'm pretty sure
she's q bit groggy in that of leg. Did
You notice? And you will really confer
personal favor on me by buying her.
Stony broke, you know" he mumbled
money an object just now"
For half minute the two looked
straight into each others eyes. Then
Ronny said kindly:
$50 hard hit, old man? Well, then,
if you II take u couple of hundred, you'll
lay me under no end Of an obligation
and make Miss Malincourt supremacy
happy"
Then ensued q somewhat protracted
and animated wrangle, but the end of it
all was that Miss Coquette ate her corn
in Ronny Kilmurray's stables that
night; also several pieces of sugar.
Lesley fell asleep happy, while Lady
Appuldurcombe, waking frequently,
congratulated herself ON a scandal hav-
ing been neatly nipped in the bud by
Ronny's admirable generalship.
And to all whom it might concern
was made known in the park next morn
ing that Ronny Kilmurray had bought
Yelverton's famous mare for his cousin,
Miss Malincourt. who liked her PAGES,
while report added that Yelverton would
not have parted with her under any con-
sideration but that he was head over
ears in love with the Malincourt. he
certainly did wear the smartest waist
coats and own the best seat in the saddle
in town.