Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-29


a hand lower than Captain, was some
thing lighter in the quarters and slight
er of barrel. But he made good with
shoulders and forearms, to
say nothing of suppleness out of the
He had a cross the more of
blood, but was of a more equal temper.
His gait waS eiastic-a long, stealing |
distance at a rate |
that Knocked the eye.
Captains rider sat erect, his bride |
hand low, the other swinging lightly at
the side when it was not waving the hat. |
Warlocks master rode another fashion,
sitting well forward, half crouched,
free hand on the pommel, underneath
the reins. Slowly, steadily, he drew
ahead. The white shipped, black nose,
the clean, muscular neck. the MASSEY
breast, the deep, sloping shoulders,
forged clear of the brown. But do
what horse and rider might, they could
get no farther away. Captain ran
stride for stride with them until they
reached the goal.
1t was the inner gate, white with
black tips, leading over low stile into
the Edmunds yard. A brick walk ran
from the stile UP to the front door.
There were borders either side of it,
wherein chrysanthemum clumps made
still a brave show of blossom, though
the Haunting dahlias We're dead, and
the asters weedy ghosts. AS the riders
neared the gate Rose had run out upon
the porch. Before they fairly checked
she was half way down the walk, call
ing gayly:
why were you racing? i know 1T
was not just for fun"
T 20
ride Warlock to church today" Tom
said, smiling down at her. He had
flung his rein over horseshoe, nailed
upside down to the gate post, and rush
ed to meet Rose, never stopping to
close the gate. Billy Hope grinned as
he followed the impetuous victor. He
stopped and carefully fastened the
gate, looking up at the house as he did
/, it to catch Miss Peggy's approving eye.
The lawn was full of active pigs, turn
ed in there to feed upon the beech mast.
They lost no chance of invading Miss
Peggy's carefully kept yard. Notwith-
| standing, Billy's action had more kind
ness than calculation in it. He wanted
1 to stand we'll, of course, with every
body who was anything to Rose; still
it was his nature to take thought for
any woman wherever such thought was
possible.
you'll ride Captain some other time,
4 if did lose just now" he said tenta-
lively to Rose as he took the hand she
held out. She looked up at him with
dancing eyes and said:
II mean to ride him today-as we
come home. Then 1 can judge which
/ goes best. Besides, believe he'd beat
Warlock if asked him to do it,
IF he didn't, I'd sell him tomorrow,
Billy said. radiant all over at this new
4 turn. Esten laughed easily.
Captain has been trying to carry
you off from me this year and more
he said. But I don't mean to let him
do it, not even with you yourself to
help him."
Don't you love modesty?" Rose ask.
|. ed, turning limpid eyes up to Billy.
} His own twinkled merrily. but his
face was grave as he answered.:
II hope you don't, for, you see, mod
! esty's other name is Tom Esten.'
you all had better be startin. It's 1,
!, o'clock now-and five miles to preach
in!' Miss Peggy called from the hal
| door.
Rose put up hand to her bright bar,
: head, patted stray tendril in place
then said to Esten:
3 Make Dan change our saddles
: please, while put on my hat. wish
l could go without it. Riding bareheadet
is such fun"
I Whats all this?" Mr.. Edmunds ask
: ed, stepping out on the porch. He wa
/ tall and weatherbeaten, withal Still
d handsome. Rose gave his cheek
dainty flip and ran past him, cryin
e out:
|, Now, Marse John, don't you say
Y mustn't ride Warlocll? He is as SAT
!. as a rocking chair-and almost a.
u easy"
t Still Mr.. Edmunds looked uncertai
y and family troubled. He glanced al
most appealingly at Billy, who smile
e and said:
n Don't fret, Marse John You're &c
$ ing along, and so am l. Between u
S all Miss Rose is certainly safe"
: Five minutes later the riders stream
o ed away, with Rose on Warlock
s front. Esten mounted upon Rose
:, roam Barbary, rode at the girls elbow
: Billy Hope logged contentedly besid
her father his eyes clear, his laug
:, fresh and untroubled. He was clea
o souled, clean blooded young fellow
o deeply in love with Rose, but too fa
y minded Tor Jealousy. lie naQ iOSt VIVA
V, Esten had won, and lost fairly. Losin
e had hurt at first, but now he was alb
n to laugh at his sweetheart's audacit.
1t was so like her. this promising to g
d with the pair of them to church.
h was still more like her-the calm al
k, nouncement that she would ride Cal
1T tain home.
lie That meant, of course. the place
n, her side for Captains master. No W.
l. man had ever ridden the big brow
e, but Billy was certain Rose could rio
him without shadow of risk 81
ID rode indeed, anything bittable, sin,
k, she had almost grown up in the saddl
is having her own horse and riding alor
a ever since she was years old. Furthe
n. she did not know how to be afrai
is Warlock found out that much befo
er he had carried her hundred yards.
Id At first, feeling new hand on h
A. rein, the black horse made play for h
I'd own gait. He wanted to run agai
st The ali had just that tingling, electr