Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-11-14

the turning and greeted the young
lady pleasantly enough, though he
glanced aIt me disprovingly.
Pray introduce yous companion"
he said sharply. Aiiss Van Deemen
turned purple and aokeo reproachfully
Oft me.
II don't know the gentleman" she
stammered. HE happened to be rid.
ing in the same direction as l."
Purely accidental" repeated. bow
ing, inwardly PRAYING that the earth
Gould open and swallow me up.
Indeed" said the gentleman, and
turned his back deliberately on me.
Permit me to accompany you, Miss
Van Deemen," / heard as 1 bent low
oevr Darling's neck, apparently alb.
sorbed in a saddle buckle l heard
them trot off, and then felt myself
carried along at furious pace, and
am instant latter L landed beside Miss
VAN Deemen, breathless, but still in
my saddle. Mr.. Ccurtney-so she had
styled her escort-ghred ait me, NUT.
tered something between his teeth.
Sir" l ventureu, overcoming my
embarrassment.
y
us?" he Shrieked.
'The road is free to all,'' I replied,
annoyed by his manner, fer l had not
STARTED upon an eNpanIIl-ion.
"But yours is not beside this lady,
whom you are insulting, he ragged.
II regret III exceedingly but
81 forbid you to ride beside her." he
snapped, anewily.
"You can forbid me nothing. 1 am
not your servant"
''Sir," he shrieked. "you arc an in.
solent puppy, and I must insist upon
an explanation for yo,ir-" Here Misa
Van Deemen interfered.
For mtL'cys sake, no violencei
There must be some mistake some.
where, but l am sure 1T is not inten
tsonaA"
Nothing could be farther from my
thoughts" l assured her.
"Then prove lit by lelwing us" she
implored.
/ bowed. Then, overcome with rage
at the brute that had led me into this
pithaal l hashed Darling numerically
But Darling merely whirled around in
. bewildering TIA rantelIa until l could
scarcely heAr Or see, then finally flew
acrotS the country in WAL ga'Llop.
And came behind me "a steady tIam.
pile, nrample. Was Mr.. Courtney de.
termfned to punish what he called my
tnSolence. or"
Darling stopped las suddenly as h,
had sitnnted and, a. tearStained face ap
pesir,ed alt my elbow, and behind hel
like IAN aevnging angel, stormed hel
furious admlrar and then we threa
halted once more.
So this was prearranged," HI
snapped. Il thought so. You have
simply been leading me on, to MAX,
a fool Uf me ait last, forgetful of every
womanly-''
"Jack! Jp'ck!" cried Miss Van Dee
men imporingly.
Confess it!'' he shouted, furously
'But | don't even know him." shA
sobbeh.
'"Then, sir, answer like "a mani" b,
said turning to me. Confess thai
you know this lady"
A silpery laugh startled us both al
this juncture.
1--WE don'p know each other" cried
Miss Van Deemenn, but our horses
apparently do"
An1. lndeeus IN the mldSI OF tnls
nngyI' And strife lour two horses pre-
sented am idyllic picture as they stood
gently rubbing noses.
Eyes, SO it seems. But how could
1t happen? Isn't that your own?'
asked Mr. Courtney.
"Why. Jack, how could | have even
gotten away? Of course, had to hir>
horse. You know papa never Lett
me ride without the groom. | got THU
one alt TlterS:ml's.
$50 did l." l exclaimed. "That'i
why the brutes stick SO close"
And then we aAd laughed together
After which, as We coalhdn' separate
continued our ride. and at the clos<
had cemented "a friendship so firm
THAT when Miss Van Deemen finally
married jack Courtney | was asked
10 officiate ais best man
But in spite of his happy conclusior
determined to rake NO part in morn
ing rides until knew a little more
about the mount. 1t docs not do tc
tempt fate too of;en.-New York
Advertiser.