The Portland daily press., 1899-01-20

We can have very good time. II you
don't, have warned you, and the conse-
quenccs, n there are any, must be on your
own head.
Lancaster laughed rather weakly al
accept the TERMS" he said "It Is under
stood that this Is only Irritation"
Which he explained TO Dorothy at much
length, but which she would not under
stand and was 50 unreasonable about as
TO break her engagement. Lancaster was
deeply aggrieved and rather more deeply
relieved. But 1t made one fact plain to
him-that nc was seriously in love with n
girl who frankly told him that he was no
more to hor than a score had been before,
than scores might be thereafter. And 10
was all in vain that he tried to change her.
II warned you quite fairly" she re-
minded him, bending forward to stroke
the glossy nack of his black mare. 1t was
the marc that, Of old, Dorothy had consid-
cred almost her own property, and on
which she had lavished the overflow OF her
affection for Lancaster. 81 warned you,
Miss Leeds repeated, and nobody has
suffered but yourself unless she glanced
at him with quizzical little smile-"un-
less thore was another girl"
"1here was another girl, he answered.
ShO shrugged HtF hNoututTs hDitIahtiys
sTbat was to have been expected. Most
problems of the heart are In the rule OF
three"
He frowned angrily, and his lips curved
in contempt. Are you absolutely heart
lessg Have you no pity for herr"
Z" Not great deal. If you were the sort
to desert her in fortnight for girl who
made not the slightest effort to win you.
and who told you that she didn't love you,
/ think upon the whole, that she is rather
well rid of you.
Lancaster was biting his lips, and he
was very angry. "She is better woman
than you, he said.
THAT may be. But still, she laughed,
good naturedly, do you think am bad
enough for you TO be passing Judgment
upon me?f
Il do, for you are doing the thing cold
bloodedly and IL, he said respondent
ly. "have lost my head.
She smiled into his eyes. "You don't
want TO do that 1t is such a handsome
head Lose your heart--it is not worth
nearly so much.
He turned in his saddle and faced her
II am likoly to lose more than that, he
burst out suddenly. Il am likely TO lose
my life"
"Oh, come" she said; 'you are not con-
templating falling on the point of your
saber or drowning yourself in the bay or
superinducing galloping consumption, are
your l have had men do number of
things for me, but never quite that.
II am not contemplating doing any of
those. ] may be n good deal OF a fool, but
not enough of a one to put an end to my
self for n woman who cares nothing for
me-
Yet that has been done, =" she suggested.
"What | meant was-and what l in
tended to tell you when / asked you to
come today was-that am going to the
war ="
THAT was TO have been expected, of
course. Is your regiment orderedy"
Not yet. am especially favored
when do you leaye9"
Tho day after tomorrow. And now 1
am going to ask yOr to promise me some
They had refined in their horses by the
dynamite guns and sat looking out over
the whitecapped blue sea.
$50 that 1t is not something l cannot
promise"
Not that shall leave that until
come bnck--if do come back. II do not
in short, If / am killed. She gave
little shudder He saw that she did and
repeated, IF am killed, shall leave or
ders that my most treasured possession
shall be sent to you"
do you mean this maref'
Il mean the mare. 1t will make me as
happy as it would seem am meant TO be
to know that If l die you will have her
and will ride her and be kind TO her, for
you are fond of her too.
Miss Leeds knit her brows and consid-
cred. "And if l should nots" she said.
"She shall not go to any one else. Twill
have Dartmoor shoot her on the day that
he hears my death confirmed
Miss Leeds switched at the skirt Of her
habit. as there no one else who is fond
of her alsos"
NO. he answered.
But that other girl you told me off"
There flashed back upon Lancaster's
memory how Dorothy had been wont to
stand with her arms around the arched
black neck and her cheek against the
warm soft nose; how the mare had fol-
lowed no other but himself. Then Miss
Leeds turned the sun of her questioning
eyes upon him. They were serious now,
and their gentle light scattered the mists
of memories. She only valued the horse
for the masters sake and the master is no
longer anything to her. "Will you do as
! ask"
A little ironical smile, the smile of an
easy going oynicism, ourled her lips.
Unto the victor belong the spoils. Yes,
If anything happens to you, l will take
the horse But you must not be rash.
believe prefer your safety to it"
Two months afterward Miss Leeds,
forward to stroke the glossy neck |
of the black mare that had belonged to
Lancaster, turned and glanced |
up into the face of the man who was rid
ing beside her.
"Who was the girl that you bowed to |
near the gates, the one with the big, sad |
eyes?"
"Itwas Dorothy Terrence, he told her |
Lancaster used once TO be engaged TO |
her"
"No wonder, then, that she looked at |
me reproachfully." She tried to laugh, |
but the laughter broke, and she grew
white as she set the mare into a gallop. |
There may, you know"-she called to |