The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-08-04
At the End
OF the Hunt

turned field, down a long slope where
goldenrod and asters nodded in the
September breeze, across an alder lined
brook and up the slope on the other
side. AS they neared the crest of the
rise Trehholme put his big black hunt
er beside Miss Carruthers' roam.
81 imagine We'll turn back here" he
called, nodding at six rail fence just
ahead.
Nonsense" laughed the girl. Not
for that"
Look" he said Mrs. Calvert and
the rest are riding north to find gate.
We'd better follow, think
The girl merely tossed her head and,
touching the roam with her hunting
crop, rode straight for the fence.
Great Scott"' cried Trenholme
Don't try it. You'll
Miss Carruthers had reached the
fence He heard her clear voice call
'Up, Dam" to the roam and saw the
horse respond with beautiful spring.
Up they went, clearing the top rider by
the barest margin, but there was soft
ground OH the other side. AS the horse
landed, Trenholme saw him suddenly
sink to his knees, while Miss Carruth-
ers was thrown over his head into the
rowan beyond. Trenholme put the
black over the fence, and before they
had fairly landed he was out Of the
saddle assisting Miss Carruthers to her
feet. His own horse meantime, recov-
ering beautifully from the jump, was
laundering across the field after the
hunt.
Are you hurt?' he asked anxieusly.
'Not bit" she said, with nervous
laugh. THANK you,' as he handed her
her hat and crop This comes Of be-
ing willful, doesn't it," And to cover
her embarrassment she fell to brush
ing her skirt.
You cleared 1t, anyway" he said.
''If Dan hadn't bent his ankle, it would
have been magnificent jump. You
should be proud Of it,"
She flashed look Of gratitude.
You're very generous" she said. See.
Dams ankle is hurt He lsmps badly"
Trenholme hitched the roan's bride
to the fence.
Lets sit under the tree over there
and rest before we go back he sug-
gested.
"Oll," said Miss Carruthers contrite-
Iy, 1--WE ruined your afternoon
TrenholBle smiled. "On the contra
ry," he said, you've made It
They moved toward the tree.
''You should be in at the death; you
always are" said the girl. Il feel I've
f1lched brush from YOU"
Brushes are of relative value said
he. Sometimes I'd risk my neck to
be in at the finish. Just now I'd risk
my neck not to be-"
Miss Carruthers flushed. you're
awfully kind to conceal your disap
pointment that way" she said
1.-THE disappointment is very happy
one for me-" he said. "I'm afraid il
| I'd known how it would turn out
shouldn't have had the moral courage
| to tell you not to try the fence"
They reached tie oak and seated
themselves in the mottled shadow, the
| girl with her back against the gnarled
| trunk and Trenholme stretched com
fortably on the ground before her.
LISTEN he said suddenly.
/ From the distance the cries of tht
pack came family; not the long, rever
berating bay of the chase, but the
short, staccato barks and yelps in con
| fused chorus-the hubbub that told Of
| the death.
"aot him." said Trenholme laconic
ally.
II wonder who's the lucky man. sale
Miss Carruthers.
Trenholme laughed easily. "Well,
he said, taken all in all, I'm convinc
ed that am"
/ He looked intently at Miss Carru
theirs, but at that moment ner atten
] ton was centered on q bunch of neigh
boring goldenrod which she was idl.
/ fllliping with her ungloved hand.
was some time before she raised he
eyes.
'If / thought you'd give me absolu
ton 1 should be tempted to make
confession" she said.
"I'H give you absolution now," h
said. Therefore let the confession pro
| ceed"
"Well," she said, turning to the gold
enrod again, "it was simply contrar1
ness that made me try the fence. Whel
saw it first was rather faint hearted
I fully intended to follow the searc
for the gate Then, when you advises
me not to try it, / was determined t
take It."
/ Trenholme's eyes sparkled wit
amusement, but his voice became SUD
denly grave.
"And Dan and are on the hospita
list in consequence" he said
"You?" said the girl in surprise
"Were you hurt? How selfish of N
not to see it! And I've let you sta
here all this time. Was it when 20
took the fence?"
Gust after that" he said slowl,
when I lifted you from the rowan
It's a compound fracture Of the heart
He saw her face crimson and ht
4 H. I.xxx