The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-01-20


much matter even ifyour mamma were.
as you said,' very, very angry?"
at certainly will" said Irene
promptly. 81 do not like being made TO
feel in disgrace every hour of the day.
know we'll what it feels like. II is un-
bearab blc."
THAT sort of thing doesn't last"
said Herr Won Kreuser "Your mamma
will grow weary of showing her dis
pleasure, and will soon condone the Of
fense. After all. what is the o(fense?
A trifling act of willfulness. 1t is no
more. There is no sin about it," He
broke off adding, in tone of gentle
raillery: THAT Goldylocks has such
tender conscience is really quite reve-
lation! Is this the first time she has
taken one line, and her mamma an
other? No? And has she al
ways worn such look of distraction
when proposing to herself to carry out
her own wishes?"
"Now you are laughing at me-" said
Irene; "that is not fair"
"NQ. it isn't" was bis quick rejoinder.
""You want encouragement, and first |
give you my wife's opinion-which is
moi complimentary. and next, as though
that were not enough, imply that you
suffer from the prickings of conscience.
OF course, there is really no question
of conscience in the matter. Baroness
Leyden is little unreasonable, and her
daughter, who is no longer a baby to
be told to do or not to do this or hat
according to her amma's-shall we
say caprice thinks she will, for once.
have her own way. and rebels. In an
ether, you would say it was natural.
Why have a different rule for your
self o.
"You think to excuse me by accus-
ing mamma" said Irene. with more
shrewdress than might have been en-
pected in one so Young.
Not at all. | 90 not see that the
subject requires an excuse. Forgive
plain speaking. but don't you think
you are making fuss about nothing?"
His companion colored. and drew in
her lip under her little white teeth.
''There--now have vexed you," said
he. pray, don't look so angry, Goldy-
locks"
81 am not angry" said Irene, curtly.
And now," she went on. after pause.
"and now, how shall we manage? Who
is to order the horses to be saddled?"
Leave that 10 me-" was his reply.
"Iou have nothing to do but 10 go in
| and put on habit"
You talk as though were accus-
toned to ride. have 10 habit"
"Wel, well-get some heavy skirt,
Anything will do, for no one is likely
to see yoG."
81 don't know. Do you think am
doing wrong?"
"We will consider the ethics of the
question after the ride" was his good
humored reply. why, Goldylocks, you
look quite pale! After all, believe my
wife was right: You are afraid"
"No, no you don't under
| stand"
"Perhaps not. But do you, my fair
Amazon?"
81 don't know. l have half mind
to" She paused. adding with a
forced laugh, do you believe in fore
bodings?"
"My belief is that YOU are fright
fully nervous and would give anything
to have enough courage to give up
| your first lesson"
at is not that, | tell you. wish
| that is, I wish mamma were not so un-
reasonable. If she had not forbidden
| it, l should not have had this uncom-
| Portable feeling"
st is not too late to draw back now"
said he, stiifly. Il should be sorry to
fierce any pleasure upon YOU" AS he
| spoke, he stood still, and she, turning
| so as to face him, leant against the
smooth bole of great beech, whose
moss-covered roots. forming a verita-
BILE trap for the unMary, stretched righ;
across the path.
| You are veXed with me, said the
girl, nervously.
} Herr Won kreuSer returned no an
swer. He was looking on the ground
and stroking his beard with his left
hand, trick his friends knew well.
Irene knew it, too.
Come" said she, still more nervous
ly, "if 1 had foreboding. it is now a
thing of the past. daresay you were
right, and ! had momentary fit of
cowardice. But it is quite over, and
see myself, by anticipation, flying
through the woods and meadows at
speed to which lightning will seem
SLOW"
That is adj very fine," said Herr Won
Kreuser, resuming his walk and his
ordinary tone of voice, "all very fine.
GOldylocks. Let me, however, assure
you that until you can sit your horse
properly you will not go beyond walk
If am to be your master"
"Of course, you are to be master,"
said Irene, recovering her spirits, and
fastening her steps. Only let us go
little faster, or we shall have mamma
at home before have even learnt to
get into a saddle"
y few minutes brought them to the
house, when Herr Won Kreuser went
straight to the stables, with the air of
one perfectly at home, and the girl ran
upstairs to prepare for her ride.
Half an hour later Irene. dressed in
a plain, dark skirt and jacket, her hair
shining like nimbus, round and un-
der cose-fitting cloth cap, her eyes
dancing with pleasure, was standing
on the step of the house door.
81 found a whip" she cried, tri-
umphantly. Just look at the handle.
Isn't it pretty?" A little boy was at
the horses heads. holding the reius