Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-23
Copyright. lSos, by Frederick A. Stokes 4 Col
CHAPTER vi.

But when some one asked why she con-
tinued to 60 there year after year, she
replied brlskly, Because it's such
becoming habit, my DEAR" The ques'
toner smiled feebly at the answer
without fully comprehending 1t.
1t was unnecessary to ask Miss Car
roll Parsons why she attended the
horse show. You could see II In heI
eyes as she watched the sluggish hu-
man river flowing beneath the boxes;
you could hear 1t in her laugh as she
talked over her shoulder; you could
see 1t In the heightened color and the
merry smile lighting her face. Miss
Parsons was there for fun, and she was
having II.
A ripple of applause heard above the
crashing band caused the occupants
Of the boxes to glance at the ring
where the attendants had been setting
up spruce-twined hurdles. A number
of hooded and blanketed hunters led
by smart, uniformed grooms were jusl
entering the arena.
"Oh, Leslie, look" cried Miss Par
sons to the girl beside her: they're
bringing in the hurdles and we'll see
the jumping. That's always so excit-
Ing! And there's Mr.. Croydon: be
must be competing, he's dressed fol
riding.-Good-evening. Mr.. Croyden.-
Certainly. Do come up"
Miss Parsons leaned back In her
chair as the young man released her
hand and moved toward the nearest
entrance.
"You know him. don't you, Leslie?''
she asked her companion.
mo"
I'm so glad, because now I can
claim the credit of introducing you to
each other. He's such a good fellow.
Papa thinks he's one of the cleverest
men down town. Thank goodness,
haven't prejudiced you against him by
singing his praises. warn you, NAM
ma and ] get regularly jealous OF one
another whenever Mr.. Croydon calls.
Don't We. mother?"
The girl looked back mischievously
at her mother and patted her hand.
You're an impossible child. Carroll.
But suppose you're used to her, Miss
Harlan"
"You never could get used to any
one so original as your daughter, Mrs.
Parsons. She Is the personification OF
the unexpected. It's. her charm"
THAT will do for you, Leslie. Here
comes my masculine ideal. Good
evening again, Neil. Miss Harlan, al
low me to present Mr.. Croydon, fame
of my mother"
"A flame that goes out too often,
should say" remarked Mrs. Parsons
as the young man greeted her. What
have you been doing with yourself
Neil? You look out Of sorts. Toe
much work down town and too much
play up town? That's what makes US
a nation of dyspeptics."
Now, Mrs. Parsons, Is 1t fair to
criticise me before this critical daugh'
ter Of yours?"
Possibly not, but perhaps Yes,
see-this is your first public appear
ance?"
Exactly. II I'm pale, it's stage
fright. But then I'm part Of the show
and no ones supposed to look at that
When do you ride?" asked Miss
Harlan.
What is your horse?" broke in Miss
Parsons. What is his name, what is
his number-what does he do-what
do you do? Come. sit right down and
tell us all about it."
81 will II can remember all OF
those questions. Let's see. What Is
my horse? Well, he's a hunter, and
Of course, a splendid jumper. His name
is Thanatos, and my number. curious
ly enough, is 13-"
why 'curiously'?" interrupted Miss
Parsons.
Because 'Thanatos' means death,
! believe, and 13 Is supposed to be un-
lucky"
"Oh, don't like that" responded
the girl. with shudder.
You're not superstitious. are you?
"No-yes-yes, think l am. Aren'1
you, Leslie?"
Not about such things. Do you e1'
pect to win, Mr.. Croyden?"
81 certainly do. l never go into any
thing without expecting to win. lt's
half the battle"
"And you never suffer from over
confidence?"
mot in the long run. People who
believe too little in themselves fail IA
oftener than those who overestimat'
their ability"
Cor their horse's?"
Croyden looked at his fair questionel
with surprise. But he smiled pleas
antly as he answered:
"Of course in this case the horse
Is entitled 10 most Of the credit. bu
every one knows an intelligent anima
will interpret its riders mood with sur
prising accuracy. BY Jove, what
good one!" he exclaimed, pointing
down at the ring where gray horse
had just cleared an lin and out" jump
do you have to do that% asked
Miss Parsons, as the volley Of applause
died away.
Mr.. Croydon apparently did not heal
the inquiry, for he was gazing at th'
crowd, his eyes following one OF th'
moving figures. When the girl re
peated her question he started.
81 beg your pardon. Yes, l have u
clear the same hurdles. It's not a
hard as 1t looks. BY the way, MIS-