The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-02-04

Miss Hester" he demonstrated.
"Oh, Pluto is gentle; anybody can
ride him." she rcjoined. gathering her
skirt and standing beside her horse.
"Will you give me a hand please?"
Having, in his stories. had frequent
occasion 20 describe the dexterous man-
ner in which gentleman assists a lady
to mount, Ringbrand knew precisely
what was required of him; but, unfor-
tunately, the ability to portray dexter
ity in virile English does not necessarily
imply it's possession by the artist He
took his place rather awkwardly beside
Hester and made step of his hand.
holding it SO high that she hesitated.
Just Il little bit lower, if you please"
she said, demurely, and his last shred of
self-possession took flight as 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 Hesters ready agility saved
her from falling out of the saddle on the
opposite side. 1t was too much for her
equaniriity. and she burst into ring
ing laugh.
Ringbrand Strengthened up and wiped
the perspiration from his face. II beg
your pardon-indeed do; told you
was but an Indifferent horseman," he
apologized.
"Please don't mention it," she said.
as soon as she could speak. Its aw-
fully mean in me to laugh, but couldn't
helpit. shall have an immense respect
for your strength after this
Ringbrand took Pluto's bride from
the grinning boy and tried to mount.
forgetting, in his embarrassment, that
well-trained saddle-horses are prone to
object to approaches from the wrong
side. He did not realize his mistake I'M
til he had one foot in the stirrup and
was hopping about breathlessly in
desperate endeavor to make Pluto stand
still long enough to enable him to spring
into the saddle; but with the knowl-
/ edge came sudden access of obstinacy,
and he determined to succeed if it took
the remainder of the afternoon. Hester
was convulsed with laughter, and it
was some moments before she could
find breath to suggest that Pluto was
unaccustomed to receiving his rider
form the off side.
'T-know-it isn't - customary"
gasped Ringbrand, making violent eff
forts to keep near the plunging animal,
''but--I-usually-do it-this way"
just then his foot slipped out of the
stirrup, and Pluto's enthusiastic and re-
proachful protests ceased. The discom.
flied cavalier mopped his steaming face
again, and beckoned to the boy.
"Just hold him a second, will you?"
he said, and, backing away for short
run, he vaulted into the saddle before
the astonished charger knew what was
happening.
bravo! bravo!" exclaimed Hester.
clapping her hands in delighted appro-
val. THAT was certainly original.
| Where did you learn to vault, Mr. Ring
brand?"
II used to do a little of it at the uni
versity," he replied, modestly forbear-
ing to add that he had held the record
for the running high jump in his class.
| SChtiCIhCl
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 turnedsinto the noun
tain road. Now that you speak of it.
I'm not sure that ever saw anyone do
it in just that way-at least not outside
Of u circus"
She laughed again, sweet bubbling
over of unrestained merriment that
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 be
well to convince him of the fact"
81 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 used to think
you WERE"
II 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;
| know less than nothing about it, ex-
perimentally, and | shall be deeply in
debted to you if you'll teach me how to
behave in a becoming manner"
She leaned over and dsengaged her
skirt from its ENHANCEMENT In his stir
rup. May ?" she asked.
II shall be very grateful"
We'll. then, IL believe it is CUSTOM
dry for gentleman 10 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 sug-
gest itself naturally to anyone but q
book worm like myself; assure you {
shouldn't have made my hero in story
guilty of such awkwardness. Now,
how about these stirrups? they seem
to me to be too short, or too long, or
something"