New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-04
TWO WOMEN, A BOY
AND SOME HORSES.
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL.
AT TWENTY DOLLARS A TON.

Copyrights 1887 BY The Tribune Assoefo"o"-
You see." said Mr. Riddle. as we took our but
termill "there really is but road TO the Cape,
and we're all on it, consequently we're bound to
meet now and then: / hope you won't mind 1t
very much"
But thought you were to stop In Middieoor-
ough-at the lakes" said Amabel.
80 did. a half hour So" Then something
seemed to amuse Mr. Riddle. for ne smiled to
himself. as it were. gazing into his tumoi1r OF
buttermlk as he did so.
Toms gon' down to the Cape TO learn his
part" remarked our hostess, with some pride
We glanced at the young man. but we did not
think II proper 10 manifest our surprise and curl
osity by any words.
Toms in a theaytre." went on the woman. I
tell him I sha'n't know bime-by whether he's In
earnest or only actin. Much as ever could tell.
anyway"
Mr.. Riddle laughed again.
Aunt Eunice can't decide whether she ought
10 be proud or ashamed Of me. When come out
as the first actor in America. she'll be just as un-
decided. You see 'tsn't the fame. it's the profess
sion that influences her"
He glanced at Amabel, who said: "Yes?' tenta-
lively, and then, with more animation. That's
why you thought Of painting 1t out 1 suppose
II beg your pardon"
"Oh," returned Amabel in some confusion Il
ought not to have mentioned IT, Miss Lang
thorpe's cheek, you know, where the kitten
scratched her thought twas so odd"
"Oh. / see" Mr.. Riddle came nearer to ANA
bel and sat down a stool. II make up so much
that naturally thought that she could easily hide
that scratch She looked lovely at General
Jones's, didn't she?" with some enthusiasm.
Very" replied Amabel. without any enthusi-
asm.
Jones married my cousin for his second wife,
explained Mr.. Riddle. II go there when I'm in
these diggings ] left my evening suit there last
week; that's why was so fine the other evening
It was rather embarrassing to be the finest fellow
at the lawn party"
Mr. Riddle laughed so heartily that we all
Joined him. In the midst of this hlarity Amabel
suddenly grew grave and exclaimed
"Oh, I'd forgotten!"
Mr. Riddle instantly became grave also.
Anything of Importance" he asked.
Yes yes. We ought to have spoken OF 1t i'm
mediately" She turned TO me and asked re-
proachfuly why did you mention it?
Il was waiting for you' replied.
Amabel rose and went to our hostess. who was
standing in the doorway Amabel put hand on
the big arm near her.
Il don't know as you'll speak to us after I've
told you." began Amabel
Good gracious!"
But I feel that we're deceiving you. And
we've drank your buttermilk, you know
MY sakes."
n These ordinations were fred on in dis
concerning way.
And you approved of having the weight
distributed evenly on the horses back-and-oh,
! wish you would tell us if you really are she
that was Eunice Calkins-please.'
Yes, I be. But don't what that has to
do with
oh yes. 1t has everything to do with it. You
might have been somebody ese you know. AMI
this house ends to the road. and painted
yellow / was afraid that we couldn't be mis-
taken. and we're not. You see, Mrs.-Mrs. -
My husbands name is Doane," with some
severity.
Mrs. Doane, we've been and burned up your
husbands hay that he was taking to Bill VIII
son, In Barnstable."
Speak for yourself Amabel." said.
81 WILL" courageously. Il don't want to be
mean I've burned the hay-slx hundred pounds
at $50 ton. Albert says that twenty hundred
weight make one ton. If had pencil and
that would be pound"
Here Mrs. Doane walked heavily across the
room and sat down There was an apprehensive
expression upon her large face. She folded her
arms tightly in front of her.
What made you burn the hay?" she asked
Mr. Riddle was leaning forward with his
elbows on his knees. He was looking at ANA
bel. heard him murmur
Jolly good pose"
"In tell you about It," eagerly.
You'd better. AS tits now, I sh'd almost
think you'd come from 'sylum.'
"Oh. no! I'm Just sane as ever I was. We
were riding along
Where is Mr. Doane now?"
Back there somewhere; he and my brother.
They're going to try TO save the cart, and
"Oh, you didn't burn the cart then?"
NO; at least don't think vel did. We
were"-
did Mr.. Doane git snged any?"
Here Mr. Riddle suddenly covered his face
with his hands. His shoulders shook. but
cannot state whether he was laughing crying.
"No; don't think he did l pulled him off
the load. You see. It was blazing and
He didn't know enough to git DOWN.
NO. he didn't seem to. But got him off.
You Sec" and Amabel began to speak very
fast. indeed as If fearing another interruption.
eve were riding along. my brother on a wheel
and we met Mr. Doane on load of hay. He
was lighting his pipe. and when-he-saw-
ms-he dropped his match on the hay and It
biaxed right up. Of course"
'Enoch always was a bright man. cried his
wife.
"Mr. Doane was so interested in-sceing-rne
that he seemed to forget to get off the load"
Hes too bright to live!" cried his wife.
Mr. Riddle still kept his face covered.
"Of course We couldn't put II out-the fire, I
mean, and We stood round and saw 1t burn We
saved the horse. Mr. Doane said 1t was all my
fault He called me responsible. He said IL he'd
been on q load Of gunpcwder and had seen me
coming along-weght evenly distributed. you
know-hs should have dropped his match Just the
samsS
Here stiied noise from Mr.. Riddle.
II offered to pay for the hay since he felt like
mat but my brother objected. Finally / said