The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-07-14

purple ll0 WIN g. complexion like HIS.
Yes, that was h root OF the matter
that purple tie. Oh, and how it had
appeared since then. III every possible
occasion. save when, The regulation
white n was necessary. until Mrs.
Courtenay told herself she would never
wear q scrap Of purple again, although
she knew perfectly well how much 1T
enhanced her fair, dainty coloring.
Courtenay had risen hat morning
with a liver, or a head. or something.
and Mrs. Courtenay's remark at the
breakfast table as to his complexion
had been the last straw, SO to speak. A
spirited argument ensued, which ended
by Mrs. Courtenay's temper rising to
the occasion, and a brilliant passage Of
arms was the result. Later on in the
day the little woman made several fu-
tile attempts to soothe Courtenay's evil
IDENTIFY wounded feelings; but either the
liver, the head. or the something In
%tervened. and at last she told herself
she would leave him to come round to
days ago. and 1t would be difficult to
a which of the two was more miser-
able.
Mrs. Courtenay had a troubled con-
seriousness of several very sarcastic re-
marks on her part, while Courtenay
could not forget the shy little olive
branches" which he had refused to
take. Burns was seldom more true
thar when, in his reckoning up Of Thu
man bodies" he finished his ines with
When nae real ills perplex them,
They make enow themselves to vex
them"
But Mrs. Courtenay had a real H."
as 1t happened as she stood thinking
things out-somewhat uneasily it must
be confessed-while waiting for the
horses to be brought round.
You may tell Barnes to saddle Vixen
for me-" she said to James as he stood
awaiting his orders for the day.
Pardon me-" broke in Courtenay
freezingly, and with an Enthusiastically
resolute expression on his clean-cut
handsome face. "I am riding Vixen to-
day." Then turning to James, Bring
Bell round for Mrs. Fame"
Now Vixen was a recent addition to
the stables, bought with an idea of be-
Ing absolutely Mrs. C~ourtenay's own
private property, for the two were de-
voted to hunting, and always followed
the hounds at every available opportun-
tty. However, upon closer %acquaint-
ance, h proved altogether too much
for her young mistress to manage; In
fact. was decidedly vicious and any
thing but safe. Courtenay had decided,
therefore, that she must be sold at the
earliest opportunity, n in the mean
time they must not tempt fate by MAX
ing use Of her. Mrs. C~ourtenay's order
to James. given In distinct defiance to
this arrangement. proceeded In some
lndef1nable manner best known to her
self from an overdose of purple tie.
There 1t was again at breakfast time.
and more brilliant h ever, it seemed
to her. HE must have bought anoth-
err" h thought, "for I'm sure it's three
shades brighter this morning" Then
again, he che didn't care for any eggs
the bacon was abominably overdone-
the coffee was cold"-in fact everything
was wrong but presumably the purple
tie. In an excess Of righteous indigna-
ton, and with a burning desire to
avenge herself, Mrs. Courtenay
launched her little bombsaell, only to
be met with C~ourtenay's crushing re-
joinder. She dare not question it, for
that lookon his face, which she had only
seen once or twice during the course of
their brief married life, told her thai
he meant in this thing to have his way.
AS h stood by the window, in her
neat. trim riding habit, she looked a
picture OF lovely, mutinous discomfort,
but the tears We're not very far away.
She could not help thinking Of Courten-
avs remark when he had decided the
mare must be sold.
IT wouldn't ride her myself, darling,
much less allow you to do so. Do you
think I will have any needless risks
for you?"
Vixen will be a handful this morn
Ing, Barnes she heard her husband
say In his CHEEKY way.
'"That she will sir" returned the
man. II don't think I would risk 1t if
I. was you. Let me go n saddle
Freddy; there's plenty Of time"
Courtenay's answer. She'll be all
your mistress the horses are round"
AS Mrs. Courtenay made her way
down the wide staircase a feeling of
sick terror came over her. What if
Vixen were to prove too much for her
master. Fearless horsewoman though
she herself was, there was something
in the brute's appearance that made
her more than regret her hasty order
to James.
IT'S all my fault" she thought mis-
ride Vixen. and he's only taken her
himself, so that l shall be safe.'
As Courtenay stood by. ready to help
her to mount-a labor of love which
he always performed himself-she no.
!iced the offending purple tie was no
longer visible; had been replaced by a
blue one-the exact color of his eyes,
as she a once told him with an ad-
miring kiss. That did it.
Putting her pride on one side she
laid her hand c~aressingly on his arm.
Don't ride Vixen this morning, Cour-
LeHdyS SIG OOeSAl lOOk SAFE. Ihere'S
plenty of time to have Firefy round"
she said entreatingly.
"Pshaw! I shall be all right. Don't
you worry, little woman" with one Of
his old admiring chances, as she set
tied herself in her saddle. But Mrs.
Courtenay doubted 1t, as h noticed
the difficulty he had to get Vixen well
n hand. However. they were off at
hist, and once out in the open ountr
al Mrs. C~ourtenay's doubts and fears
were blown to the winds. Then came
the short chats with her different
Siends. and when the ''Tally-ho" was
eventually sounded, and they were
really upon he scent. everything was
merged into the delightful excitement
Of the hunt. On they rushed, over
hedges and bitches, through the pure
spring air, until Mrs. Courtenay was
only conscious of one feeling: What a
glorious thing 1t was to be alive. At
last came the most "tickNsh" bit in the