El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-14

thinkin anything, so far as I'm con-
cerned, Mis- Ellery. 1 wouldn't have
him if he was made of gold from head
to foot and was as big as an elephant to
boot. -
well, We're he such freak as that
should certainly hope not, " cried Mrs.
Ellery laughing amusedly as they
walked away. But what a touchy
creature she is!' she observed, with
some anxiety, when they were beyond
range of the open window. WAS it be-
cause we kept the breakfast waiting that
she was in such a temper, do you
think?''
There was curious expression about
the lines of Edith's mouth hot flush
upon her cheeks. Il wonder you can
endure the grill" she exclaimed vehe-
mently. ITO me she is simply detesta-
BILE. -
''Ah, but if she gives US three meals
day, " the other protested in tone of
good humored compromise.
''Of course you observe that your
prediction is fulfilled? She is in love
with your horse trainer. 5"
''Oh, do you think so?'' faltered Mel
sine, as if loath TO credit the statement
after all,
Il am sure of it.
Then suppose she will marry him."
calculated the unhappy housewife, de-
spairing1y washing her hands of the
whole business. But heaven forbidr'
ooh, heaven never forbids'' Edith
rejoined, with q sarcastic little laugh.
Heaven is given over to the making Of
marriages, don't you knowr'
1t was Browns custom to ride each
horse himself until its spirit was suffi-
GENTLY subdued, when it was turned
over to one of the boys to be handled
under his direction, and thus at inter
walls all day long a struggling process
sion, exhibiting every degree of equine
perversity, was charging by devious
ways about the place. Ill advised hens,
bent upon feeding about the confines OF
the corral, contributed regularly to the
excitement as they scattered with cac-
king protest before each fresh onslaught
ON their peace, while the little boys,
like Greek chorus, aided the proceed
ings to the best Of their ability by shrilly
announcing each change in the pro-
gramme over and over until nobody
could be left in ignorance of all that
was going on.
Edith was out on the lawn one MORN
ing, assuming TO read, although the
book had dropped forgotten to her lap
while her eyes We're dreamily fixed upon
one moving spot on the gray green plain
across the creek-a growing object
which she recognized as Paul Brown
returning from a mad dash across the
country on the back of an animal which
had seemed as unconquerable as origl-
nal sin. She was recalling Hugh's
words of the other day. Seven years
was the limit of such life, he had said.
In such a little time, according TO that
grisly law of the average, this man
would have passed away to the unknown
beyond to find out, perchance, why God
had let him thus squander his rich gift
of life. Such little time-seyen years.
However travely he rode today, it
seemed 10 her but as a losing race with
death
He saw her as he crossed the bridge,
raising his hat with that graceful air of
Difference which more than any other
thing about him seemed to betray I'M
mistakably the training of a gentleman.
Perhaps it was this movement that star
tied the colt; perhaps the vicious brute
had been summoning strength merely
for fresh coup However it was, sud
denly leaping across the little bridge
and swerving violently to the left as he
struck the ground the maddened crea-
ture made straight up the rise of lawn
toward the trees where Edith was stand
ing, glued to the spot with terror. Just
beyond her, nearer the creek, a tree
had fallen in one of the spring storms
the top still alive and clothed in mass
of greenery closely interlaced with the
branches Of the brace of cottonwoods
against which it was leaning There
was just time to see that Brown was
pulling fiercely at the bit and to no pur