The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-29
The Dark Lady.


: Der. for at the moment Billy's pony put
! his foot In n rabbit hole and came down.
I throwing the child with some violence
, against the trunk OF a tree. They were
{ riding at the edge OF the wood.
I The pony scrambled up and galloped of.
| but Billy lay quite still in pathetic heap.
! The baroness had pulled up her tall horse
almost onto his hauehes. for Billy had
/ been thrown right In front of her. Now.
[ with the reirs over her arm. she was
| stopping over the PROSTATE Billy. while
the nervous thoroughbred trembled and
! curvetted beside her
The baroness was noted for the speed
and grace with which she could mount or
/ disuount
! She lifted Billy in her arms. There was
l a big bruise on his temple and he seemed
! stunned by the fall. His head rolled onto
her shoulder. lying there heavily. Reach
7 ing for her flask from the pocket OF her
, saddle. and with the reins still around her
! wrist. she sat down on the ground. with
Billy in her arms. she soaked her hand
| kerchief in brandy, and dabbed his fore
head. and. as il to aid her. there battered
| down upon his upturned face the first
1 drops Of a cold November shower.
The Baroness had faced many dangers
| in her time. To scenes" OF various kinds
she was quite Injured; but she tremb ed as
Billy's face touched her neck, and there
l was look in her eyes that neither Mr.
| Rigby Folaire nor Lord Edward had ever
seen there. Presently Billy stirred and
opened his eyes. saying eagerly: I'm all
right, mother. II wasn't Daigo's fault [
fell off. It's all right
Sitting up suddenly he saw the baron
ess. and knew where he was. But he had
chung to her-she always remembered
that.
He scrambled to his feet. excla.ming:
| II hpR nardnn did \ friuhson
l am SO sorry" then, turning very giddy.
sat down again among the wet leaves
| Il wonder II | ought to give him BRAN
dy?' murmured the baroness. She pur
her free arm around him, while the ia
horse shifted inquiringly at them both.
The white mist crept higher among the
trees and the rain grew heavier. Billy
shivered.
I'VE can't sit here" said the baroness.
decidedly. You'll have to ride FrivoIity
in front of me. / don't know where your
pony is. and if ne has galloped home they
will be in a dreadful state. So We must
hurry"
How strong you are" said Billy, ad-
miringly, as she swung him up TO the sad
: die in front of her-"and how kindl" He
put his hand on hers that held the reins:
: her other arm was around him. Thus
! they rode home in the cod COON OF that
, November afternoon.
: "Billy's late," said his mother, nerv-
l ously, as she poked the study fire. Il am
2 always worried when he Is out without
jackson; he is so reckless, and Jackson
came home Just before luncheon, you
know" Biily's father pushed his rapers
away from him, and came and stood be-
: side her at the fire.
There he is" he said. There's ths
: drive gate"
That's horse: besides. Billy always
goes straight to the yard. Oh can he be
hurt? And someone has come to tell US.
: Go down quick and see.'
On no occasion did Billy ever go hunt
ing but his mother pictured every possible
, mishap. Had the child ever realized ner
agony of apprehension he would never have
gone; but she loved him too well to in
terfere with his pleasures Hes such a
I manly little fellow" she would say, when
| he came safely back. forgetting her dread
!, in her pride OF him-until next hunting
y day
She followed her husband into the ire-Iis
hall. The door stood open. The WELL
2 loved little figure was silhouetted against
the gloom. and the kind young voice was
D persuading someone TO come in do coms
and have some tea she heard him say.
t then, as he saw his mother: IT'S the dark
g lady, dear; she has been so kind TO me.
! has Dai5o toliit
The mother went out onto the steps be-
2 side her husband. The unknown lady had
' ! already turned her horse preparatory TO
departure, but waited Just TO say in short.
jerky sentences:
: Your little boy was thrown. and the
, pony ran away. l thought it best to bring
him home without looking for the pony.
He fell with some force against a tree.
but l don't think"
~
, mother, going down into the train beside
: her guest; a great many considerations
. flashed into her mind, but-"and let me
thank you"
!, The soft voice was so like Billy's. For
a moment the baroness wavered. She
looked somewhat wistfully into the hall
where the rudy freight danced on the
old oak furniture. but she gave a little
wriggle on her saddle and said lightly and
in the voice that Jared: Thanks, but
I'm far too wet. | must go home and
change. The boy is wet. l hope the pony
will turn up all right" and with that she
rode out of the drive.
2 Billy spent some days in bed with con-
! ! cusson of the brain. He talked constantly
q of his dark lady" to the bewiIderment
n OF his mother, who had no idea how firm
ly he was imbued with the notion that his
n ! dark lady was the dark lady of the SON
: nets" as he always piously concluded.
4 As for the lady-when Billys father
e went down to the MOonstOne that very
{ evening in the pouring rain to thank her
g for her kindness to his little son she was
declared to be engaged and would see no
| one.
. When Billy's mother went next morning
she was told that the baroness had gone
3 to town the night before Her servants
and her horses followed her. and the hunt
knew her no more. She left no address.
Mr. Rigby Folaire and Lord Edward in
quired as to her whereabouts in vain. But
Billy knew she had gone back into the
[ sonnets; for had she not said. as they
rode home in the rain that afternoon:
=, That is my home Of love; if l have ranged
Like him that travels, | return again
+ Billy was sure; and even Billy's father
: has given up talking about Mary FittOu.
London outlook.
q Katrina's Little Scheme.
From the Detroit Free Press)