The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-06-13

anxiously every motion the little beast
made.
Miss Wainwright soon appeared on
the veranda. She was properly ap-
pareled in short riding skirt, and was
accompanied by the major and his
wife, who wished to see her safely
mounted. And if it must be told, half
the occupants Of the officers quarters
were pcepiny from the windows-the
women openly declaring that it was
shame for the maj,r to ask nice ofli-
Ger like Stoddard to act as a groom for
his naughty niece-when he disllked
her 50, too-and the men secretly
hoping that something would happen
to make the lieutenant appear rldlcu-
lous. Harry was all right on the
march, but little too vain about the
post
Nothing unusual happened, however.
Mabel greeted Stoddard with a cool
nod and motioned for him to assist her
to mount as she might have signaled
an ordinary stable boy; and she did
not seem to notice that he lifted her
into the saddle and arranged her skirts
in more graceful manner than any
groom could have done it. After
much useful and useless advice from
Mrs Wainwright and the major, the
lieutenant grasped the bride and led
the pony down the trail which wound
away from the fort across the level
valley.
"StodGard acts as though he was
afraid old Piebald might suddenly
stand on his head. That cayuse
couldn't be made to buck with a pair
of Mexican spurs" said the commits
sarv sergeant, as he turned from the
window and took up his two weeks
old newspaper.
The lieutenant is always very care
! full where ladies are concerneu,' said
his wife, enthusiastically. There
isn't a more gallant man this side OF
the Mississippi. Bat wonder why
be doesn't ride, also. It looks queer
to see him 90 off walking beside the
| rony's head" The sergeant smiled
! and went on reading He knew that
the only place where the lieutenant
| appeared to disadvantage was in the
saddle. He could ride across the
country with any of the soldiers, but
Ia. certainly was not grac tul horse
ln,.i.
81 rl.lar| walked with military
strides beside the pony. He looked
straight before him and did not speak
| He meant to remain thus, near Mabel,
during the ride. and to show her how
| utterly Indifferent he was to her pres
| ence. He would be q walking autom-
atom to obey her commands and moth
ing more.
1t was Il perfect October day. The
sun, hazy and red in the eastern sky,
seemed to tinge the dusty leaves of the
sage brush with glow of crimson, and
to impart purplish CLEANS to the fam
ing suntlowers and goldrn-rod Great
hocks Of red winged cow-hirds black
ened the prairie in places and broke
tie stiffness Of tue morning with their
liquid notes. Ga either side rose the
mountains like great prott ction walls
surmounted with thin line of blush
white. \ pra rie dog sa. beside his
subtcrraEeous dwelling and barked i'm
prudently as the pair passed along the
trail ard coyote stood breast deep in
the brown grass and watched them
curiously.
Miss Wainwright was evidently dis
| appointed She was not timid, and
perhaps she had hoped the mustang
would behave just little like she had
always heard they did 1t was tanner
than the riding school horses and not
| half SO nice
is this animal supposed to br
vicious?' she asked in chilling tones
Stoddar'i was tempted to reply that
Piebald was the incarnation of all that
was evil in a horse; but he touched his
hat s.ii1ly and said: NO Your unc.e
com manded that | procure a perfectly
gentle animal"
Then you may take your band
from the bride and will ride ahead
Please keep in sight, SO that if any
thing should happen" She brought
down her whip against the leathery
sides of he piehald and that worthy
Gnadruped, after turning his head
;,'"}nt to see if she really meant for
him to toquicken his speed, finally swung
into a calI"p.
Lieutenant Stoddard flushed angrily
as lie SLOW y followed. He would have
no trouble i'll keeping in sight; one
could see for miles down the level trail
After he had gone little distance it
occurred to him that he should have
warned Miss Wainwright not to ride
too far in that direction. The cattle
feeding in Tie region Of the valley had
been unruly since the last Indian raid,
and had given the cowboys consider
able trouble. He qu;ckened his pace
as though to overtake and tell her of
this, and finally broke into swift run
as he saw Mabel suddenly pitch hcac-
LONG from the saddle,