The Opelousas courier., 1902-07-26
How 7 Became Best Man
By S. Ten Eyck Prince.


~SN vs. ~
with the thought that its representa-
tives could scarcely control my horse,
since I myself had failed In the at
tempt.
But Miss Van Deemen had reached
the limit; she refined in her horse, and
Darling stood imnovable! "Sir," said
she, anger and fear In every line of her
pretty face. Il must ask you to leave
me at once"
Heavens. if / only could! I would
even have climbed a tree, but Darling
was not to be persuaded.
"Sir-"
Pardon me; it really is not my fault;
It is purely accidental that our paths
lie in the same direction" I replied,
hypocritically.
"Then I will return" said she, glanc-
ing at the placard in silent comment
upon my excuse. But Darling whirled,
too, knocking me heedlessly against
the nearest tree, thereby barking my
knee in painful fashion; then trotted
determinedIy ON by the lady's side,
out on to the broad highway that was
equally forbidden to me at that in
slant.
Miss Van Deemen bit her lips in
silence, growing alternately white and
red, and I kept on in oyerpowering
shame, but helpless as the infant in
its cradle. At last she turned to me
with tears in her eyes.
81 beg you. sir, to leave me. You
cannot imagine how dreadfully you
will embarrass mt IL you persist in
this unwarranted pursuit. I appeal
to your chiyalry, for IL expect my
fance here. with whom l am eecretly
engaged. He is dreadfully jealous, 50
I beg Of you to leave mel"
She almost sobbed as she spoke, and
In the distance I could hear echoing
hoofbeats. which she, too. must have
distinguished. I knew the gentleman
to whom she referred, at least by
sight; and / confess / had no desire for
closer acquaintance under such cir
cumStancee.
I used my whip unsparingly, but to
no purpose. Darling would not bulge.
In the meantime the rider appeared
at the turning and greeted the young
lady pleasantly enough, though he
glanced at mi disapprovingly.
pray introduce your companion"
he said sharply. Miss Van Decmen
turned purple and looked reproachfully
at me.
81 don't know the gentleman" she
stammered. "He happened to be rid
ing in the same direction as I"
Purely accidental" I repeated.
bowling. inwardly praying that the
earth would open and swallow me up.
"Indeed!' said the gentleman. and
turned his back deliberately on me.
Permit me to accompany you, Miss
Van Deemen," I heard. as I bent low
over Darling's neck, apparently abb
sorbed in a saddle buckle. / heard
them trot of, and then felt myself car
ried along at q furious pace, and an
instant later / landed beside Miss
Deemen, breathless, but still in my
saddle. Mr.. C0urtney-so she had
styled her escort-glared at me, NUT
tering something between bio teeth.
'Sir," / ventured, overcoming ny
embarrassment
''Will you have the goodness to leave
u.s." he shrieked.
1.-THE road is free to ALL" I replied,
annoyed by his manner, for I had not
started upon an explanation.
'But yours is net beside this lady,
whom you are insulting" he ragged.
81 regret It exceedingly, but"
Il forbid ycu to ride beside her" he
snapped, angriiy.
lyon can forbid me noting. I al
not your servant"
"Sir," he shrfeked. "ycu r an IL
solent puppy, and ! must insist upon
a explanation for your" Rere Mss
Van Deemen interfered.
"Eor mercy's sake, no violence!
There must be q mistake somewhere,
but / am sure it is not intentional"
Nothing could be farther from ny
thoughts" I assured her. truthfully.
'"Then prove It by leaving u.s." she
implored.
bowed. Then, overcome with rage
at the brute that had led me into this
pitfal1, I lashed Darling numerically.
But Darling merely whirled around in
3 bewilderlng tarentella until / coulI
scarcely see or hear, then finally few
across country In a wild gallop. AID
behind me came a steady trample,
trample. Was Mr.. Courtney deter
mined to punish what he called E1y In
science, Or
Darling stopped as suddenly as he
had started, and q tear-staineS face up
peared at my elbow. and behind her,
like an avenging angel, storraed her
furious admirer, and then We three
halted ones more.
$50 this was prearranged," be
snapped. II thought 30. Ton have
simply been leading me on. to make a
fool Of me at last. forgetful Of every
Womanly-'
4Jacg. jack cried Miss Van Dee.
men. imploringly.
Confess it" he shouted farioasfy.