The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-04

attend you, and as you utterly refuse
my escort unless I desert mother and
the girls, which I cannot do, there is
no one to attend you-to-well, to
chaperone you," he finished lameiy,
feeling that he had made a bad mat
ter worse.
"Chaperone mel" cried Honor mock
ingly. Now will you listen to that
Chaperone met" with great emphasis
on the me" why, Gerald Warren,
you must be crazy. I've ridden over
these prairies since I was three years
old, and the only attendant 1 ever had
was dear old Uncle Dick, and he never
bothered me after my fourth birthday
Chaperone, indeed! I didn't need any
chaperone last week when I rode ten
miles to OK Bend for the doctor for
your housekeeper. Your lady mother
and aristocratic sisters were glad
enough to avail themselves of my skill
in riding that day, and nobody thought
of a chaperone. 1 brought the doctor,
too; short skirts, no saddle, and the
lariat rope for a Bride"
Indeed, Honor, mother appreciated
what you did. but that is different,
you know. You-really, you know,
child, that you are very unconventional
when you need not be, and I do want
you to win them over. Won't you do
as l ask. just for this one time?" re-
turned Gerald in desperate laundering.
"Never!' Honor replied angrily.
Those proud women may take me as
l am or not at all. If mamma had
only lived 1 would have been different
as prime as Miss Jefferson, possibly
but I've only had dear old Daddy,
and he loves me best as I am I
wouldn't have entered the riding con-
test for the fair but for Miss Jeffer-
Whom al
antelope hunt and Miss Jefferson's
saddle turned and let her down with
such thud in such a comical man
ner, l laughed, of course. She wasn't
hurt a bit, you know; but it made her
furious. She said that good riding
did not consist entirely in sticking on,
which was a fierce slap at my strap
and blanket, and then she remarked
superciliously that she had her opinion
of anybody who would ride in short
skirts" and Honor's tears splashed
down on the dingy old calico habit.
You are much prettier in that old
habit than Miss jefferson is in her
tailor-made, if it did come from Paris
declared Gerald warmly.
"Oh, yes" returned Honor, hooking
ly Much prettier. For this much
thanks, my lord. But just the same you
are afraid to have me match my skill
against her grace. wearing this old
habit. But shall ride, Mr. Warren:
| certainly shall, and 1 will win whip
and gloves" and Honor gave him a.
sweeping bow.
Then we will discuss the matter no
further" declared Gerald sadly. He
was a noble fellow. but he didn't un-
derstand women, and he was making
forts to harmonic distinctly opposed
social elements
"Adios, sepor." she called back as
she vaulted on Cyclones back and
drew the bride rein through her tiny
gloved hands. after to-day, Gerald,
if there is an after she added pathet-
ically as she fumbled with the worn
buckskin gloves, and settled the folds
of the old riding habit, after to-day L
mean to begin being a lady, and shall
spend some of Daddy's money I don't
care for dress, but if you do, why I
suppose 1 should pay some attention
to your wishes, but for a few hours
longer. at least. let me be Honor
Bright, the hoyden." And with a saucy
kiss from her finger tips she dashed
away to join Uncle Dick" the man
ager of the Bright ranch, and her de-
voted slave since she could balance
herself on her pony's back.
Trouble had been brewing for some
time. The arrival from Boston of
Mrs Warren and her daughters on a
summers visit to Gerald and to pass
upon the merits of the possible adj
dition to the family of Warren, had
precipitated matters. The present rift
within the lutte had been caused by
the county fair. Miss Jefferson and
some of the girls from town, who
were spending a week at the Star
Cross ranch, had decided to ride for
the prizes, properly chaperoned, of
course, and had declared that they
were going to ride principally to show
the country girls" how riding should
be done.
Honor Bright didn't care a rap
about the prizes. She had gloves and
whips to burn. She had priceless
Mexican brides, jewelled silver and
gold spurs, rare saddle blankets and
two saddles with mountings of gold
and silver most beautifully engraved
Her den in the big. lonesome ranch
house was a perfect museum of things
of this kind, bestowed by men and
women of note who had been guests
of her father during the animal
roundup, or at the time of the big
hunts, when Honor herself had often
been in at the death of big game.
The simple prizes would have tempt
ed her not at all, but her pride had
been wounded sorely, and, wilful as
always, she decided that she would
enter the lists. The rules for entry
required the use of saddles, something