Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-09-17

be? he unused as he walked slowly along
the road.
Then they turned from the main road
and went along rough. uneven wagon
track through pasture toward the
woods.
In the woods something might hap
pen. Woods sweet with pine and pink
with arbutus offered many opportuni-
ties for the adjustment of complicated
love affairs
Once under the pines, before Dick
could fasten the Major to tree In q
cleared space the Girl was out of the
carriage and away through the green
glooms.
Dick followed more slowly. Major
stood quietly. Things seemed to 60
well ut first. Then there came silence
then another longer one: then there was
no conversation at all
After awhile the Girl came out from
under the trees. Her face was sober
Dick came behind her. She ran up to
him-the Major-and gave him some
grass. She slipped her arm around his
neck and said in a very low voice: Ma
jOr. 1 wouldn't be so stupid as your
master is-not for worlds! Would you?
Then she ran away again through
the soft gold green shadows. Dick fol-
lowed. There was n look on his face
which Major remembered to have seen
there once before when he, the Major.
had entered a horse race
Major munched the grass and lis
tened. He could hear Dicks voice
speaking earnestly. Then came the
Girls. coolly defiant. tantalizing; then
Dicks again. II only they could wait
long enough. matters would be decided
Then 1t was that the Major took
matters into his own care He pulled
gently at the halter; twas quite loose
He pulled again and again, each time
harder. Dick had been thinking of
other knots than the one he was tying
when he fastened the Major, evidently.
1t slipped. loosened, the halter fell.
Major was free to do as he liked.
With great care he measured his
space. There was just room to turn
around. Very carefully he did It, back
Ing the carriage quietly. Then, pick
ing his way over the rough road and
broken bridge. he went slowly away.
He did not trot. He walked swiftly
and surely as for settled purpose.
ANY one seeing him would have said
that he was driven.
He reached the main road and start
cd for home
Surely somewhere in the pine woods
or on that long walk home the two.
Dick and the Girl. would come to an
understanding.
He went on leisurely, trotting easily
up the little hill. then walking slowly
again. coming nearer and nearer to
the first dwelling this side Of the pine
woods. little farmhouse nestled
among the naples.
A woman pulling weeds from flow
er bed looked up ut the sound of Ma
jOr's steps. She pushed back her hat.
She glanced ut the empty carriage.
Then she sprang to her feet and called
"Whoaw
But the Major didn't stop. The
woman ran down the walk and through
the gate and caught his bride. You're
Dick Churchalrs horse" she said with
soft touch on his head. Where is
your MASTERY"
The Major didn't wish to talk. And
he did wish to be on his way. But the
49, a
she? She was only woman. She
led him through gate and along q
driveway to big barn. He went
readily enough. The Major was al
ways polite to womankind out Of re-
spect to the Girl and her apples and
Jumps of sugar.
In the barn the woman fastened him
securely and gave him u drink Of wa
ter and IL handful of hay. Your mas
ter II be along soon enough lookin'
Of you up." she said as she went back
to her wedding.
Almost an hour later Dick walked
hurriedly along the road and up to the
farmhouse. Major heard his step and
his voice. Can ! borrow q horse and
carriage here" he was saying. my
horse has gone Off without me-
Guess you'll find him In the barn.
said the woman. HE went walkin'
along by here quite n spell ago. Any
thing wrongT'
There was nothing wrong. In fact
to the Majors way of thinking. every.
thing was right, for Dicks face look
ed just as 1t did after he (Aiajor) had
won that race many years ago.
When Dick and the Major reached
the woods there was the Girl sitting
on the pine needles. And her cheeks
were as pink as the arbutas itself And
her eyes-well, the Major just wished
she'd look at him as she did at Dick.
'Oh, Dickw was all she said. But
Major knew.