The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-13
A SQUIRE OF DANES.

| pleasure bent
The morning after the midnight ride.
Luke Curtiss sat in his library waiting
the announcement of the bell which
would summon him to breakfast His
/ VIE had not yet come down. but by the
time the meal was served she was in her
| place, looking fl much better fettle than
/ her lord and master.
When they had eaten some little time
H. burdensome silence Curtiss said, Ian
| guidly:
James tells me that Bay Dick was
taken out OF the stable last night ana
ridden within an inch of mis- life
Mrs Curtiss laughed. You must have
witches in the neighborhood I have
/ hearo that story so often that il sounds
familiar Have you seen Bay Dick? IS
he really inJured?"
4 am going out after breakfast. and
intend TO make a rigid investigation into
the matter. l do not keep horses for the
| public TO ride. And last night was a
fearful night. I fancied you might he
alarmed-the lightning was particularly
sharp-and / raped at your door, but
could not waken you"
4 always sleep soundly in a thunder
storm, responded Mrs. Curtiss with 4
| mendacity that astonished herself. An
hour later Mr.. Curtiss had not seen the
horse or visited the stable. He was. as
I =
and on James second report. learning
that not hair of Bay Dick was injured,
ne retired TO a rocker on the veranda,
where he alternated the time in taking
his pulse and dosing with vest-pocket
pellets warranted to cure anything from
dyspepsia TO rheumat ism.
Meanwhile his wife-the lady of the
midnight ride-was interviewing James,
the factotum of the stables.
you James - Mrs. CurriSS was
saying, the horse is really mine as much
as II is Mr.. Curtiss He would not OBJ
ject TO my riding it every day If he could
go with me. But he thinks ne is not well
enough to ride, and of course he would OBJ
ject TO my going at night, but l was
brought up in the West, the great. free,
houndless West, and rode at the round
ups with my brothers and the cowboys.
That is life, James.
"Yes'm, expect this does seem stupid
like and I'll do the best l can. and if the
master finds out and discharges me you'll
meb5e give me a letter of recommend
yourself
Liberal fees reconcned James TO the
extra grooming required by Bay Dick.
Every man has his price and he proved
conclusively that he had his. Mr.. Curtiss
made an occasional visit 10 the stable,
but saw no evidence of undue exertion on
the part of his fine saddle horse which he
was too i'll or too effeminate TO ride him
self
He had met her at a gathering on her
fathers ranch when he had gone West
for his health, and what more natural
than that this blase young man should
fall in love with such a healthy radiant,
beautiful creature. And she was lured
by social visions only TO find them tedi-
Gus nightmares. She tried after a year
OF marriage TO induce him to go back
with her TO the West. but he would not
listen. although he loved her. He mag
ired himself doomed to consumption, and
lived the daily life of an invalid.
Again and again Editha Curtiss gal
Hoped into the night on the grateful back
of Bay Dick while her husband slept,
unconscious of the unconventional pro-
ceedings of his wife. But one night she
met her fate. Or rather 1t overlook her.
She became conscious that a man was
following her. He, too. was mounted on
a good horse and Bay Dick became very
FESTIVE at the strangers approach. At
word from his mistress he was off like
bird on the wing and that night she saw
no more of rider or steed. But the next
night and every time that she ventured
out at & certain point on the road the
steady click>> -,ick of the strangers
horse smote the silence. 1t was not like
Editha to be annoyed in this way and
make no demonstration. So she sud
denly wheeled her horse.
You seem to be following me-" she
said, angrily. II do not choose TO be
followed. Either ride on and leave me
to my way alone, or go back and choose
another route"
II understand that the highway is for
the use OF the public" was the cool re-
tort II did not intend to aceost you.
Editha felt rebuked. She could not
mistake the fact that this man was
watching her, but had she taken too
much for granted?
who are your" she asked.
"A squire OF DANES" was the quick reply.
She could not see the features OF her
self-constituted escort plainly by star
light, but could discern black hair and
wildly prominent black moustache. He
sat on his horse well. and there was both
vigor and grace in his ensemble. and his
voice was husky with manhood as he
babe her good evening.
a happy chance, this meeting" he
said. gayly.
For whom?' asked Editha. cooliy.
"Oh. for the squire of danes, who has
been very lonely with no vision Of a res
cue for any fair dame" he answered
lightly and as he rode nearer. although
Editha shot ahead. she did not entirely
distance him. and that was the beginning.
The ending? Oh. it is not yet or those
stolen rides the memory is still golden
There was no talk Of love. Had both
been married there would have been no
cause for heartaches by their respective
partners but they never alluded TO social
conditions The squire of danes talked Of
foreign travel or Of general topics. IA
miiiar salvage TO all strangers. Editha,
OF the West. OF horses. OF the sameness
Of civilization. "reminiscences Of school
days, but never Of her husband or home.
Then from that charm OF environment,
that freedom OF social intercourse. she
would flee as If fiends pursued hes and
her unknown escort would see her 10
more for the longest time Then. sud
denly. she determined TO go home 10 the
ranch. and almost without preparation
she vas gone. Her husbands health had
improved OF late, but she WaE scarcely
conscious OF that fact. for her own was
not up to its usual standard. heavy
weight was or her heart Luke had
trusted her so implicitly. he had been 50
kind. thai she could not bear 10 look into
his ewes and see there no shadow Of
doubt. But she did not intend to live the
lie Of z hvpocrite and coward. So. when
she reached home sac sat down and made
a clean breast OF it-s4le told him Of her
midnight rides. the escort everything
Il knew she wrote that I should
hate the man anywhere but on horse
back. but Oh. Luke. he rode divireiy.
But. thank goodness. ! never said enc
word u him that could make me blush
for my own selfresDect- And IS for
the freedom 81 Il. you must remember ]
was a western girl VIII abide ~ what
you say shan be ny punishment.
The answer she received vas telegram
- corning v-ferrerssf