Arizona republican., 1898-12-24
CHAPTER GI. A ~rh0 RTD-

A MAD RIDE
 Alphonse Damieas' wrists were as strong as steel, but 1t was some little time before he could bring his horses down to steady trOt They started at their own shadows in the occasional gliInpses of moonlight; the fierce gusts of wind which came with more con stant fury terrified them into mad re- bcllion and, whon the snow beat their faces and the cutting slect lashcd their sides, it was all that accomplished horseman could do to keep them in hand. But at last he succeeded in reduc- ing their speed to g swift, swinging trOt, which carried them gayly over the ground to the rythInic cadence of the sleigh bells.
 i "Kecp the buffalo robe well wrapped around your l1nccs," Danicns said. T think we had better try the marsh; it will save at least five miles,"
 Try the marsh; do you mean the bay Dolna1 was speaking of? Is it not rather Q dangerous road:'
 Bah! Dolman i5 an old woInan-thc bay. or marsh, whatever you like to call it, is safe enough to q man who knows his road. But if you are afraid, why-'
 No, no, am in your hands," Arun- del said hastily, go whichever way plc2acs you best"
 Then, hold on, fer WIG turn down a hill here, and the descent is little ;iwl1ward.'
 So awkward that it seemed to George Arundel as though they were going down the roof of a house, but ere he could confess his alarm, the runners grated On the level rough ice of the frozen river.
 The relief was instantaneous. The cold, cutting blasts of wind lost their fury in the shelter of the high bank, and the horses, blown with their furious speed, relaxed their pace to a gentle walk.
 This is ever so much pleasantcr, , Arundel observed, though I think we ran some risk to get here. A blind man, you know, Mir. Damlcns, may be excused for being q little nervous, and my being frightened must not be con strued into q slight of your magnificent accomplishments as 9 Jchu."
 ''Oh, I'm all right and the horses know me, wc7 the careless response; but you ought not to mind little dan ger for the enjoyment of so much hap piness as you have had to-day. There's many a man would go through twice as much for such reward
 ''Ycs, I have had q delightful day." Arundel replied, puzzled at the sudden change of his companions tone.
 And, when is the marriage to come off?' the Frenchman asked abruptly.
 ''Thc marriagc-wl,at marriage?"
 ''Why your own, of course-yours and the pretty teacher's,'' was the coarse reply.
 Do Fou mean by the pretty teacher to refer to Miss ArlinGton?"
 >.\Tho else? You arc not ashamed of your choice, I suppo5c?"
 ''IIas anyone dared to hint at such Q thing" Arundel demanded in angry tones.
 No need to hint-I'vc got eyes in my head to see with, l suppose, f you have not" was tho brutal rcjoi1dc~.
 T don't know what you moan by as suning this tone to nc George said, highly indignant; ito taurt me with my af1liction is rot q very brarc thing to dc, Mr. Damiens. Pcrhaps, if I had the blessed privilege cf eight. you would be more careful in your selection of words and your manner cf using them
 Bah. What do you mean by snapping a mans head off for vcnturing q re- mark? Is Wanda Arlington-'
 Please, 1Ir. D2niens, let Miss Arl- ington's name rest
 '.Oh, SO Miss Arlington must not be talked about, or even thought about, I suppose, by anyone but Mir. Arundel. How selfish you successful lovers arc"
 George was silent. A rctort rose to ] his lips, but he wisely curbod his tongue. Helpless as he was. what could he do to cheek the ribait non- sense of this man, who seemed deter 1 mined to pick quarrel with him.
 But silence did not suit Damiens' mood.
 Aye, you thought you'd got the game in your own hands, didn't you, 1Ir. Blind Mar? But when you made | your plans to ortrcp Wanda with voar sni-eliog apPcals to her pity. 5-oa left ! nc cat cf your calculations, Guccs.'
 '-Gcod hc2vcHsi I5 tic man i2sacc?'' George Earttcrcd.
 We'll -aiG---t he ask himself the Quca- ion. for the next moment his compan-