The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-06-09
ny WILLIAM r. HICHohS.
:. Copyright. ,sss. ty }. B. urpineott Company

possessed. His garments were coarse
and stained, and his boots were old and
worn.
You're prompt" observed as he re-
linquished The reins. Its good
plan"
Its easy 'nough," he answered,
f1u:fiy, and, turning on his heel,
walked away.
At another time his manner might
hive annoyed me, but just then l had
other interests in life than specula-
tions as to the cruditics of farm-la bor-
crs' civilization. Miss Gray was ready
for the start. and in n moment or two
the bay was )eisurely beginning his
afternoons work.to allappearances the
sleepicst old roadster in the state. l
had thought the vehicle well enough in
its way, but now l Eoticed the dust on
its body and the cakes of dried mud
on the tires and spokes, and suspicion
crossed my mind that horse, carriage.
and very possibly driver contrasted
oddly, and not to their advantage, with
the trim, well-dressed young person be-
SIDE me.
Il believe I can guess your thoughts"
said, not too amiably. you're mar
Yelling at my fiery steed. Am right?"
''In part yes" she answered; "but
only in part"
And what do you think of him?"
THAT he is very quiet and gentle,
and very well suited to n physicians
uses"
$50 far so good; but is that all?"
about the horse, yer.
\ ,..1-
turned from him to his masterY
There was a little pause before she
spoke, and, looking at her out Of the
corner of my eye, thought her cheek
flashed n bit
1T was merely question which sug-
eested itself" she said II was won
dering whether the evident fitness of
the horse for his work meant that his
master looked upon this village as his
permanent field"
1t was now my turn TO hesitate.
REALLY" said, at last, "it is a hard
question to answer. can say neither
yes nor no. / can't get beyond the
present. May 1 not be content with
that?'
do you think Il isenough for YOU
for any young professional mnn?"
"But if it satisfies me?"
"Does it?"
"At this particular instant, yes; at
other times, when I can't get away
from myself, no."
There was another pc use, and when
she spoke again it was TO ask me the
routine to he followed by hcr aunt.
While l described it she listened as
soberly as if she had no room to doubt
that the invalid was close to deaths
door. Before the recital was finished
we had begun to traverse one of the
level stretches. frightened the reins,
and the bay heightened his strides;
n chirrup or two and his lazy air was
shaken of and his hoof-bcats rang
quick and sharp upon the hard road.
Away we went at pace far below his
best, but one which would have left
most of the local trotters hopelessly
il the rear. Pulling him up when we
reached rise in the grade, turned to
the girl a little triuInphantIy. The
swift motion had brought n new Light
into her eyes, and the rush of the wind
had heightened her delicate color.
That was delightful" she cried.
LET me confess at once, 1 misjudged
your horse cruelty. lie has wonder
fully exceeded expectations"
"The brute has redeemed himself
easily" said I. would It were as light
task for the man."
"Pcrhaps the man has not been mis-
| judged, after all. But come, DIR. Nor
ris, you've told me almost nothing of
your adventures for the last two or
three years. Surely, you must have
had some before coming here?"
1.-THE short and siinple nnnnls,'-
| you know the line. The city was not
generous; there is nothing more TO tell.
Believe me, you are fortunate, indeed,
to escape any risk of the monotony OF
a humdrum existence. ] envy you the
variety of scene md surroundings
which has fallen TO your lot"
"As if there could be no monotony in
variety; as if one could not grow weary
U it," she cried. "Why, DIR. Morris,
IT is the superlative of Inonotony. Many
time I've been tempted to recall mp
provingly the growls of an irasciblc
Nd Englishman we met in Spain.
| Madam said he To my aunt, take my
word for it, all hotels are bad, but some
are worse than others: all strangers
are obnoxious, but some are pestilen-
| tai; all sightseeing is u wcariness of
the flesh, and the more one has of it
the greater the burden becomes
And Mrs. Loring?"
/ His vebemence startled her, and she
He'd at the first opportunity"
Yet she could not have needed the
trade to advantage. In all sincerity,
let me say that until she consents to
settle down quietly for u considerable
time there is not much hope of effect
ing her cure. You must have observed
mat on journey she seems to be Mt
her best, but that when the trip is
ended there Is . reaction, and after q
s,ox.lxx IL L.