Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-20
The blood rushed to Hunters face

The blood rushed to Hunters face,
and no bit his lip hard. Thus far Ray
had been holding the mares head by
the bit--a hub, so to speak, about which
she circled, first one way, then the 9TH
er, to dodge the blanket swathed form
Now the trooper was heard TO speak.
Pardon me, captain, but may | take
her myself"
Instantly the two ladies exchanged %
glance 81 told you he looked like
gentleman, said Mrs. Ray, in low tone
Then began very pretty piece Of
coaXing. With ono firm hand at the bit,
tho blanket still strapped about his
waist, Trooper Hunter had managed to
reach Stella s neck with his right hand
and, patting her softly, was murmuring
gently. MAXIM love to her in Irish "
Hogan muttered to Duffy. Several adj
ditions had been made to the group by
this time. The colonel, Dana by his
side and followed by his orderly, came
riding around from the direction Of tho
stables and doflng his cap to the Ia.
dies, sac in saddle, an interested specta-
tor. Several wives and children Of the
soldiers had been attracted from their
quarters to the fence, while little far
ther back, aloof from the general run Of
Sudstown people, with IA pale blue
shawl, one of Mrs. Freeman : discarded
evening wraps over her head, pretty
Mrs. Merriweather stood to gaze.
Hunter slowly lifted an edge of the
blanket and let Stella nose it. which she
did feigned to be much frightened and
attempted again to pull away. But at
last, wearying Of fruitless efforts, she
consented to smell of it and then
nudged it disdainfully aside. The next
thing she knew Hunter had slipped both
hands back, one to the pommel, the
other to her name, and with agile
spring alighted on the saddle, threw
the right leg over the horn, and, despite
her plunging, Stella found herself once
moro under his weight, firmly held as
ever. Five minutes petting made her
forget her burden, even when shown
the shadow of the skirt In less than ten
she had leaped the hurdle to and fro
half dozen times and was realizing
she had made fool Of herself. And
]
the major.
"What | want is to see how she'll
behave under a cavalry saddle, You've
ridden one often enough, | SUPPOSE"
he said, scowling at Hunter.
Never until came here, sir"
MEAN to tell me you've never been
in the cavalry
tCl n . q IN
Ego " was the firm yet respectful reply.
"Well, where'd you learn to ride,
them" asked Mainwaring, who had a
fixed idea that no one not of the cavalry
could be at home in the saddle-this,
too, despite long years among vaqueros,
Comanches and cowboys.
II learned to ride as "a boy, sir. "
"Well, dismount and put on that
Mcclellan saddle" said Mainwaring
CURLY.
Anterior heard the order, saw the
quick glance of the soldier toward his
captain and the half vexed expression
in Rays face, and, glancing at Mrs.
Ray, hesitated no longer.
mo, no, major, don't change the
saddle. Let Us see how she'll take the
bar again Set it loosely, you men, so
that it will slide off the pegs if she
strikes
Sergeant Merriweather was busily
setting the peg at three feet again,
when, glancing up to see that the oppo-
site end was at the same notch, he
caught sight of the slender figure Of his
wife standing well back of the group at
the fence, her eyes fixed, not on him or
on the ladies, but with deep, intense in
terest i'll her gaze, upon the tall, erect
young soldier Oh the spirited mare Up
to this moment Merriweather had been
silently carrying out his instructions,
all his attention given to them or to
Stella. of the man in saddle he took
apparently no notice whatever. Now,
forgetting everything else in hand, he
stood there, half bent over, gazing, with
heaven only knows what thoughts surg
ing through his brain, straight and
steadfast at his unconscious wife.
Sergeant, don't you hear" At last
the impatient words seemed to reach
; him. and the tlustered face Of his com
rade at the opposite post recalled him
to himself The captain says set 1t at
3 feet g. Quick! She's coming.
Coming she was, with rush, Hun
ter's hands held low on her withers his
; legs dangling on the near side as she
bounded over the springy turf Merri-
, weather jer!ied out the iron peg and
, thrust it into the three-six hole, lifting
the bar as he did so, but turning the
, hook of the pin upward instead OF down.
/, 1t was no leap at all. There was nc
-. <ela
s. IT,. ,t.lE9
%:-7G ~ &. g: = "