The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-04-17

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near the girls. and Brandon. without
any apparent intention one way or the
other. allowed events TO adjust them
selves and rode with Cavendish and
me.
We were perhaps forty yards behind
the girls. and I noticed after a time
that the Lady Mary kept looking back
ward I'm our direction, as II fearing rain
from the east. | was i'm hopes that
Jane, too, would fear the rain, but you
would have sworn her neck was stiff,
so straight ahead did she keep her face.
We had ridden perhaps three leagues
when the princess stopped her horse
and turned in her saddle. heard her
voice, but did not understand what she
said
In moment some one called out
Master Brandon is wantedv' So that
gentleman rode forward. and / fol-
lowed him. When we came up with
the girls, Mary said, Il fear my girth
Is loose"
Brandon at once dismounted to tight
en- 1t, and the others Of our immediate
party began to cluster around.
Brandon tried the girth.
MY lady. 1t is as tight as the horse
can we'll bear" he said.
1T Is loose. | say insisted the prin-
cess. with a little irritation. The sad
die feels like 1t. Try the other" Then,
turning impatiently TO the persons
gathered around: Does II require all
of you. standing there like gaping
pumpkins, to tighten my gIrth? Ride
on. We can manage this without so
much help" Upon this broad hint ev-
erybody rode ahead while | held the
horse for brandon. who went on with
his search for the loose girth. While
he was looking for ii Mary leaned over
her horses neck and asked: Were you
1 and Cavendish settling all the philo-
sophical points now in dispute. that
you found him so interestingly
Not ALL answered Brandon, smil-
ing.
"You were so absorbed I supposed 1t
could be nothing short Of that"
) "No," replied Brandon again. But
the girth Is not loose"
perhaps I only imagined it." re-
turned Mary carelessly, having lost
interest in the girth.
! looked toward Jane. whose eyes
were bright with smile. and turned
Brandon's horse over to him. James
smile gradually broadened into a laugh
and she said. Edwin. l fear my girth
is loose also"
'As the Lady Mary's wasy' asked l.
unable to keep a straight face any
longer.
yes" answered Jane, with q vigor
Gus little nod of her head and a peal OF
laughter,
"Then drop back with me-" 1 re
sponded.
The princess looked at US wi-h a hal
smile. half frown. and remarked, Now
you doubtless consider yourselves yer,
brilliant and witty"
"Yes," returned Jane maliciously
nodding her head in emphatic assent
as the princess and Brandon rode oil
before us,
~ hope she Is satisfied now" sait
Jane soto voce TO me,
$50 you want me to ride with you?
] replied.
"Yes." nodded Jane.
"Why?" / asked.
Because | want you to-" was tn
enlightening response.
"Then why did you not dance witt
me the other EVENING""
Because did not want to-"
'short, but comprehensive" though
l, "but a sufficient reason for a maid
, en-
said nothing. however. and after
, time Jane spoke: .'The dance was on
! thing and riding with you Is another
! | did not wish 10 dance with you. but
: do wish TO ride with you. You are tn
, only gentleman TO whom l would hav
; said what | did about my girth bein
, loose. AS to the new dance, | do nc
| care to learn IL, because l would nc
dance it with any man but you, an
| not even with you-yet" This mad
, me glad. and coming from coy. modes
p Jane meant great deal. 1t meal
: that she cared Tor me ana would som
I day be mine, but 1t also meant that sh
: would take her own time and her ow
: sweet way In being won. This wa
8 comforting. If not satisfying, and loo
r ened my tongue. "Jane. you know IL
= heart is full of love for you
G "Will the universe crumble?" 81
/ cried. with the most provoking litt
l. laugh. Now. that sentence was n
Z rock ahead whenever | tried TO ri,
= Jane some idea of the state of my a
v fections. II was part Of the speed
=, which | had prepared aud delivered
II Mary i'm James hearing, as you alreat
d knew. l had said to the princess. 1T
l. universe will crumble aud the heavel
8 roll up as a scroll ere my love shall 8
l. ter or pale" Ii was a high soundir
a sentence. hut II was not true. as WI
Is forced TO admit, almost with the san
a breath that spoke II. Jane had heal
1t and had stored II away In that mel
n' ory of hers. so tenacious in holding
n everything il should forget. 1t is wo
N derful what fund of useless inform
" ton some persons accumulate and clil
" to with a persistent determination We
-e thy Of better cause | thought Jai
s never would forget that unfortunat
q abomInable sentence spoken So gra
le diloquently 10 Mary. | wonder VIII
is she would have thought had she know
r, that had said substantially the saI
s. thing To dozen Others. | never shou
IL have won her In that case. She dc
n not know II yet and never shall If
can prevent.
~ So Jane halted my effort to pour {
81 my heart, as she always did.
he There is something that grea
nm troubles me-" she said.
=, "what is itf' l asked In some g
at Germ.
- My mistress" she answered, NJ
as ding in the direction of the two ridi
- ahead of lis II never saw her