The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-05-31
LEILA STAUNTON'S RIDE.

hurt" as she essayed to step forward.
.sHere. let me assist YOU" He sprang
from his horse, throwing the bride OF
the black over his arm as he did SO.
my gray will stand all right. am
afraid his owner thought | was poor
horseman, and 50 gave me steed that
was safe. Easy, now; lean on me-"
He assisted her to the. saddle, and
then examined the girths and bride to
see that everything was secure"
do you think you are able to go
alone?" he asked.
"Oh. certainly. The bushes broke
my fall. 1 think that my ankle will be
all right by tomorrow"
well. then. l will not try to keep up
with you. My horse is very deliberate
in his movements, and ! doubt if /
reach town before dark. Good-by."
AS she rode on. Lelia's emotions were
a curious mixture of exultation and
dismay. She could be first to enter
claim to the land, but in doing so she
almost felt that she would be taking
an unf3.. advantage of the man who
had COM to her assistance. At times
she thought of stopping and waiting
for him to come up, and of explaining
anu MIN lar
race. Then she would think of her
mother. and of her brother-in-law and
of the German who had said that he
would like her to have the land. OF
course she had better right to it than
this stranger; and of course it would
be the height of folly for her to throw
away any of her advantage.
But she could not quite satisfy her.
self; and the thought of the stran-
ger jogging along on the old pillow
horse accompanied her into town,
and into the land office, and grew
stronger when she knew that the
homestead was securely in her pos
session
Early the next morning she started
on her return trip, and soon after
leaving town overlook the old gray
horse and his rider, moving slowly
back toward home.
81 am glad to see you looking sc
WELL" said Mr.. Wayne, as she refined
in her horse in answer to his saluta-
ton. 81 hope your adventure of yes
terday caused you no Inconvenience
Every little. thanks to you
They rode on for some minutes il
silence, then Mr.. Wayne looked al
her humorously.
IF you are not in a hurry" hs
said, II will do my best to make the
old gray keep up"
81 have the day before me, ane
will be glad to have company"
Thank you" Then: did you en-
ter your claim all right?'
Leila flushed and looked at him in
quiringly. He laughed frankly.
II recognized your horse as ont
1 had seen in Mr.. Chords stable, anc
I put one thing and another togeth
err. But don't think I harbor tbs
least i'll feeling toward the old gray
he went on, quickly, patting the an
imal as he spoke; ''he and | are get
ting on famously together. And really |
and truly and honestly, Miss"
"Staunton."
THANK you-Miss Staunton, I an |
q thousand times obliged to you foi |
obtaining that land. You see, my |
brother was wild about my getting !
it, and his enthusiasm was so conta |
gious I never paused to consider the |
consequences. Now, l am a lawyer |
and I think I see a good opportunity |
down here for me to practice my pro |
fession. But suppose I had burieC |
myself out on that homestead? Why
it would have been the extinguishins |
of both the profession and myself |
Not but what it is a fine piece
land" hastily, "and a prize to any |
one who can afford to live on it the |
necessary five years. But you see |
could not do that and practice
Leila looked at him searchingly. |
Are you in earnest?" she asked.
Really and truly and honestly, al |
I just observed"
She looked relieved.
II am glad to hear it," she said |
81 was afraid that II might moi |
have acted quite fairly by you
When they reached the house O;
Mr.. Clifford they found the owner |
absent. Mr.. Wayne assisted Leila te !
dismount and took the horses to the
stable. Then he came back to ths
porch to say good-by.
+ at has been a very pleasant ride
he said, earnestly, and something il
his voice brought warmer color te
her face. May I call again."
The color grew deeper, and some
thing of her embarrassment ever
crept into her voice as she answered:
I'LL