Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-20

Then came q change in tho arrangement.
True to his colors, Mainwaring was
out at tho hurdles ten minutes before
anybody else that afternoon, and loudly
calling for Blake to come and make
good his word. He came soon enough,
Mrs. Ray and Mrs Blake, two charm
ing women, with him. Presently out
rode Captain Billy on his old favorite
Dandy, now a sedate steed over 10
years Of age, after him strobe his Irish
groom Hogan, leading a beautiful little
bay mare, all points and elasticity, a
spirited, dancing creature, with dainty
head and legs, brilliant eyes, pretty
pointed ears and a satin coat that fairly
glistened. The hurdles were at the edge
of the drill ground on the northeast side
of the post, and no sooner was the party
sighted from the barracks than num-
Der of troopers made their way to the
fence, and with appreciativo eyes stood
watching at respectful distance the
preparation for Stella first lesson with
sidesaddle and skirt.
Among the men was Sergeant Merri-
weather, still discolored as to his face,
but an interested spectator for all that
Mainwaring, Ray and Blake were in
riding dress, Mainwaring and Ray in
saddle, and Mainwaring's first below
was, Nov, where S your English sad
dle?"
Coming" said Blake coolly, and
pointed toward the stables whence, at
easy gait, tall, slender soldier came
riding a troop horse, carrying some
thing over his arm. Blake recognized
at once Rays recent acquisition, Hun
ter. Mainwaring stopped glazing at
Blake, turned and gazed at the now
conner with all his eyes, and then
whirled in saddle toward Ray and ejac-
ulated, "Well, III be id !" There
were times when even the presence of
ladies couldn't restrain Mainwaring :
impulse to verbal outbreaks
"Thought you had whole troop of
rough riders, Ray, 4" said he, after again
Flowering at the newcomer until he
grew tired of the calm indifference
which rewarded his gaze. "This ain S
one of your lot, is it: I've seen him be-
fore.
eyes, the day you persuaded him not
to enlist" laughed Ray good natured-
~. 81 roped him in afterward." Then,
lowering his voice, Hes got hand
on horse's mouth as light as a
child's."
The tall recruit had dismounted from
his own troop horse, and, having
thrown the reins over picket of ths
fence, was now quietly approaching
Stella, with light English saddle III
mis- hand. Hogan, dismounted, was pet
ting her glossy neck and speaking sooth-
ingly, but the pretty creature, with ears
erect, was switching about apparently
hunting for something at which to shy,
and the ladies furs gave her ready eX-
cuso. The moment Mrs Ray stepped
forward to pat her, Stella backed vigor
ouslv dragging Hogan with her, and
despite Ray S practiced hand extended
to aid, back she persisted in going unit
she bumped into the hurdle post. hi.
furnished excuse for kick and Il plunge
Ray sprang from his saddle, and, telling
Hogan to lOol. after Dandy, himself tool
! Stella'S bit aud began Blue Grass expos
| tulatiOn, which seemed more intelllgl
BILE than Irish. At all events, the met
tlesOme creature quieted down Ions
/ enough to admit Of hunters approach
| and that tall, silent young soldier quick
| ly set and girthed the saddle, and then
/ at nod from his captain, vaultod OF
her back, Ray letting 20 the momen
the reins We're gathered.
And then did Stella dance nimbly
daintily about playful and spirited
but not in the least vicious, Hunter Civ
ing her head abundant room to toss ant
maintaining only light and easy pres
sure On the bit Mainwaring shifted dis
daintully at the uncavalryliko pose, TN
long flat seat, the knees far to tn
front, the feet set home in the stirrup
and away forward. He shifted still
more when Stella began to bound an
curvet and Hunter rose slightly in hi
stirrups, riding lightly, springingly an
never thinking of sitting fast Ray call
/ cd to Merriweather to bring one or tw
men ana come over to the hurdles, and
without an audible word, the order wa
obeyed, though 1t was remarked ut e
time that the sergeant besitated u hl
possibly because Of his disligured face.
TRY her over the bar first, Ray,
said ManWaring. And, with MAJ
stationed at each post and the bar Sc
easily nearly three feet from the ground
Hunter guided his pretty mount to til
1,t hpr Sni n and !,
strange affair, then as quietly rode he
IA dozen yards away, turned her head I
the bar and relaxing the reins gave he
the hint to 90, his long SNOWY leg
close pressed to the saddle Stella cam
at it delightedly, but changed her min
with the second stride and would hay
flown the track but for the firm ham
and closed leg. Finding she cOuldn
dodge and had to do it, she rose high
and, half atlrighted, cleared the bar an
came bounding lightly to the turf, the
bOltcd away with blood in her eye an
the bit i'll her teeth. Only n few rods
however, Hunter, sitting her like wa
now, refined her round i'll broad circle
headed her back for the group, gradual
ly checking her speed AS he ueared tn
party.
Try it from that side" said Ray
and over she popped, light as bird. .
third and fourth time was the lea
repeated, Stella enjoying being the cen
ter Of attraction and improving on he
efforts, Then came the attempt at tn
wider hurdle, Il man being stationed q
| each end I'm piva her the idea of uOst