Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-18
AT: the End
{ OF the Hunt

September breeze, across an alder lined
brook and up the slope on the other
side. AS they neared the crest of the
rise Trenholme put his big black hunt
er beside Miss Carruthers' roam.
81 imagine well turn back here" he
called, nodding at a six rail fence just
ahead.
''NonsenseT laughed the girl. Not
for that"
Look" he said. "Mrs. Calvert and
the rest are riding north to find q gate.
Wed better follow, think"
The girl merely tossed her head and,
touching the roam with her hunting
crop, rode straight for the fence.
Great Scottr' cried Trenholme.
.'Don't try IT. You'll
Miss Carruthers had reached the
fence. He beard 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 on 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 hurtP' he asked anxiously.
mot biz" she said, with Il 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 it. anyway" he said.
''If Dan hadn't bent his ankle, 1T would
have been a 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 limps 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.
"Oh," said Miss Carruthers contrite-
ly, 1--WE ruined your afternoon"
Trenholme smiled. ION 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 gfrf. II feel I've
filched a 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 a very happy
one for me-" he said. I'm afraid II
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 the oak and seated
themselves in the notified shadow, the
girl with her back against the gnarled
trunk and Trenholme stretched COM
fortabIy on the ground before her.
LISTEN he said suddenly.
From the distance the cries OF the
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.
Got him." said Trenholme laconic-
ally.
II wonder who's the lucky man." said
Miss Carruthers.
Trenholme laughed easily. We'll"
he said, taken all in all. I'm convinc-
ed that l am"
He looked intently at Miss Carru- |
theirs, but at that moment her atten- |
ton was conferred on n bunch OF neigh |
boring goldenrod which she was idly |
filliping with her ungloved hand. 1t |
was some time before she raised her |
eyes.
If L thought you'd give me absOlu-
ton I should be tempted to make |
confession" she said.
IN give you dissolution now" he /
said. Therefore let the confession pro-
ceed-''
Well" she said, turning to the gold
enrol again. lit was simply contrari-
ness that made me try the fence. When
I saw It first was rather faint hearted.
I fully intended to follow the search
for the gate. Then, when you advised
me not DO try it, 1 was determined to
take it,
tltS SpaEhltu Win |
amusement, but his voice became sud
denly grave.
And Dan and 1 are on the hospital
list in consequence" he said.
Your" said the girl in surprise.
"Were you hurt; How selfish OF me
not TO see II! And I've let you stay
here all this time. Was l. when you
took the fence?'
"Just after that" he said slowly,
when 1 lifted you from the rowan
It's a compound fracture OF the heart"
He saw her face crimson and her
fingers tighten nervously on the hunt
ing crop.
There's only one remedy for such a
case" he said
The voice that answered him was