Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-26
THE BLIND GODS SPORT.
By Ethel Mills.

BY Ethel Mills.
aft is far shorter by the river now
that the kangaroo fence is up, Miss
Durie," said the Irishman.
"One goes much more quickly by
the river paddock road, and ii is
twelve by the clock now, Miss Grace,
said the Scotchman.
Its easier to get amongst the
grass tussocks without heavy habit
on said the Irishman.
"Macaroni is spelling for canter,
and the bluebell plain was like gar
den when l came across it the fore
noon," said the Scotchman.
Grace Durie puckered her pretty
brows over the two tempting offers.
She was standing on the low, level
bridge-a narrow plank affair, almost
flush with the water-and her slim,
Whitehead figure was reflected in the
stream as in a looking glass, so that
Con Sylvester resting on his oars in
the skiff, had no need to look upwards
to see her.
Straight in front of her stretched
the willow-shaded, lily-fecked reach,
further down it narrowed, and the will
lows met in a green arch, and the
boat would glide through a carpet of
gold dust, shaken by every passing
breeze from the willow flowers. And
all the time the dark-faced, blue-eyed
Irishman would entertain her with
the brightest of stories, more or less
true, gathered in the highways and
by-ways of the world through which
he had travelled.
On the other hand, it was one of
the most sunny spring days, when one
feels a pleasure in active movement,
and here was Macaroni ready saddled
on the bank, with a scantily-clad
black boy riding "sidesaddle" on his
back to keep him exercised. Just be-
yond the belt of myall trees the blue
bell plain began; Donald Rennie, in
all probability, would scarcely talk to
her at all; but she was not at all sure
that the silence would not suit her
mood best.
Il think" she began rehectively,
and then it was that Rennie made a
great mistake.
"You have right to come with me,
Miss Grace" he said eagerly, be
cause you told me to get the horse,
otherwise | should nave gone long
ago in the wagonet.'
Really, Mr.. Rennie-surely I can
change my mind if l wish to. Bring
the boat a little neare. Mr.. Sylvester,
if you please"
With a sweep of the right oar Con
was alongside the bridge. He was
not the sort of man to lose an oppor-
tunity, and he caught Miss Durie's
white hand in his own brown ones
and swung her into the boat before
she had time to change her facile
mind again. Donald raised his hat
and turned on his heel abruptly. His
honest face was crimson with anger
Miss Durie had promised to ride with
him, and now he would have tC
countermand the order fer the horses
and also stand a good deal of chat
from his fellow-jackaroos at the bach
elors' quarters that evening, to say
nothing of the impudent remarks o.
the black boy, Bundi.
sTake the horses back to the yard
Bundi," he said quickly as he passed
by; but Bundi, the son of Kin,
Jackey. was not to be put off SO easl
ly. "Woffor you let that fellow rul
off with Missile? No fellow game t.
run off with my lubra," he said genial
". trotting his horse in the young fel
lows wake.
"Do as tell you at once, unless 70,
want to be kicked" said Donald.
Got your hair off all right thi
time" said Bundi, with innocen
amazement, but he thought best t
obey orders, and turned down tn
stable lane obediently.
There was to be large picnic /
the river bends that afternoon, an
Donald had been looking forward t
It, but now he was determined not
) go: instead he would spend the Who'll
afternoon packing, for he was sci
sible enough to see that he was spoi
ming his whole life by staying In tn
same place with beautiful. and appa
emily heartless, Grace Durie. If sh
: was not the only girl she was certain
D ly the only young and pretty one
: the district, and the name Of her a
/ mirers was legion. He would cate
7 the northern coach next morning
fore daybreak and would say good-t
: to her that evening. She would hay
/ the latest addition to the ranks of h
sIaves-Con Sylvester-to conso
J her, and the fact that she was losir