Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-12


matter OF fact, he shuddered to
think Of the opportunities Middleton
might have out hunting to say sweet
nothings to Diana. Great was his
surprise and delight, therefore, when
that fair sportswoman came down, at.
tired, not in riding habit, but in 4
long driving coat. and informed him
very graciously that she was not %.
ing to ride, as her fayorite hunter was
lame, and that she would be glad to
drive Mr.. Satterlee to the meet il he
wished.
Just to see them throw off, you
KNOW" she said, with a smile and a
flash of her beautiful eyes.
Satterlee was beside himself with
delight. He could not help think that
the hunters lameness was only an
excuse, and that the fair Diana would
rather jog quietly around the roads
in a pony cart with him than follow
the hounds without him. Indeed, so
elated was he that he could scarcely
eat any breakfast, and to save himself
he could not but dart one or two tri.
umphant chances at Middleton.
Presently there was great hustle
in the breakfast room, and eager
sportsmen and sportswomen started
out to look up their horses, which
were being walked to and fro on the
lawn. The hounds in charge Of the
huntsmen were already on the way
to the covert. where a fox was re-
ported to be in hiding. Soon the
whole field was astir, and Miss Hall.
day sent for the horse.
Satterlee's heart sank within him,
as he saw, instead of a lazy pony, a
restless young thoroughbred between
the shafts Of light game cart, being
led around to the door by groom.
Higgins, the coachman, had also ac.
compamed the trap to the door, and
Satterlee, who was at heart an ar.
rant coward. where horses were con.
cerned, noted with a tremor the evi.
dent anxiety in Higgins face. There
was none in Miss Ilalliday's, however,
as she stepped lightly into the cart
and gathered up the reins. motioning
Satterlee to follow. Just as he did
so the horse, a handsome bay, reared
violently. in spite Of the efforts of
both of the men to keep him down.
Miss Halliday treated him to cut
from her whip, which only had the eff.
feet of making him rear again; then,
as he lowered his head, she called to
the men to stand clear, and away they
bowled down the drive at a pace that
made Satterlee cling to the side of the
cart and hold his breath in trepida.
ton.
"You see" explained Miss Halliday,
coolIy, he has only been in harness
once before Steady, my boy, steady
Rociet'
Satterlee gasped. So his name was
Rocket. \ very appropriate one, TOO,
he thought. He wondered how long
it would be before he went off.
They soon caught up with the
hounds and horsemen. and Miss Hal1-
day managed to curb Rockets ardent
enthusiasm sufficiently to keep him in
the rear. !
Look at the darling" she eXclaim-
I'd rapturously. "how he watches the
hounds. | shouldn't be surprised II |
he wanted to follow Them
Such, indeed. proved to be the case
No sooner had the hounds been
thrown Into covert than Rocket began
to display unmistakable signs of rest
lessness, standing on his hind legs
at one moment, flashing ont vigorously |
with them the next. and at other
times dancing gaily with all four feet
ait once. |
Satterlee. trembling in every limb.
wished himself safe out of the adj |
ventnre--back at Halliday lIall-4at
his club--anywhere but where he was
Presently a shout was heard. The
fox had broken cover. and the appar.
entity listless band of horsemen SET
tied themselves in the saddle. and
started across "A low fence by the
roadside. The fence. by no means
strong one, was not proof against the
charge of such body, and before the
last one went over it three or four
panels were lying fiat on the ground.
Meanwhile, Rocket. with two men
hanging on to his bride, was making
violent efforts to throw himself over
backward while sNterlee was vainv
imploring Miss Halliday 10 get ont
and save her life. She paid not the
slightest attention to him, but her
eyes, lighting upon the recently ere.
ated gap in the fence, she took
frmer hold of the reins and called
Let 60 TO the two onlookers who
had rushed to her assistance. With
his head free, and encouraged by n
light touch of the whip, Rocket made
one dash for the fence gap, and pres
emily they were speeding along at a
full gallon across field, not far be
hind the horsemen.
Miss Halliday's eyes were glowing.
"Hurrah" she cried; I'VE will have
a run after ALL"
Fortunately, the field was large
one, but SaterIee's anxious eyes could
see no way out of it. Hounds were
running at least three fields away,
but the main body of horsemen were
just clearing low stone wall at the
farther side of the field Good"
cried Miss Halliday; there's a gate"
as stout old Henderson, who never
was known to jump, managed to pull
1t open with his hunting crop. See
ing Miss Holiday and her galloping