The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-13

not on speaking terms. That - 10 say,
when they did address each other
which was as seldom as possible-their
accent was simply perfect. grammar
absolutely irreproachabls. and manner
well. 'artic regions would give one
some faint idea Of the state OF affairs
between the two. From the earliest
stages Of their acquaintance they had
always been more or less. fond OF spar
ring" but AZ Mrs. Courtenay was be-
ginning TO admit dismally TO herself.
they had never had spar" like this
before. And all about such utter non
sense. too" the little woman murmured
rucfully. as she recalled the last. and
most frozen" speech Of her lord aud
master. But I don't care"-forgetting
that ut the present moment her dainty
little nose and Redeemed eyelids bore
fragrant disregard OF truth.
II was perfectly right (she always
WASH. He ought not to we-r bright
purple tie with n complexion like his. :"
Yes. that was the root OF the matter
that purple tie. oh. and how IL had
appeared since then. on every possible
occasion. save when. the regulation
white one was necessary. until Mrs.
Courtenay told herself she would never
wear q scrap Of purple again. although
she knew perfectly well how much IL
enhanced her fair, dainty coloring.
Courtenay had risen that morning
with n liver. or n head. or something.
and Mrs. courtenay's remark at the
breakfast table as TO his complexion
had been the last straw. 30 TO speak. n
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 NJ last she told herself
she would leave him 10 come round TO
his own way. This was four whole
days ago. and IL would be difficult TO
say which OF the two was more miser-
able.
Mrs. Courtenay had troubled con-
seriousness OF several very sarcastic re-
marks on her part. while Courtenay
could not forget the shy little ''ollve
branches" which he had refused to
take. Burns was seldom more true
than when, In his reckoning up OF thu
man bodies, he finished his lines with
When nae real Ills perplex them,
They make enow themselves to vex
them"
But Mrs. Courtcnay had n real H."
n IL happenr' as she stood thinking
things out-somewhat uneasily II must
horses to be brought round.
You may tell Barnes 10 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. Il am riding Vixen to-
day" Then turning 20 James. Bring
Bell round for Mrs. Fame"
Now Vixen usaa n recent additiOn 10
the stables. bought with an idea OF be-
Ing absolutely Mrs. Courtenay's own
private property. for the two were de-
voted TO hunting. and always followed
the hounds at every available opportun-
lty. However. upon closer ncquaint-
ance. she 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 ut the
earliest opportunity, and In the mean
time they must not tempt fate by max
Ing use OF her. Mrs. Courtenay's order
to James. given In distinct defiance TO
this arrangement. proceeded In some
lndehnable manner best known TO her
self from an overdose OF purple tie.
There IL was again At breakfast time.
and more brilliant than ever, II seemed
10 her. He must have bought anoth-
err" she thought. FOR I'm sure It's three
shades brighter this morning" Then
again. he he didn't care for any eggs
the bacon was abominnbly overdone-
the coffee was cold"-in fact everything
was wrong but presumably the purple
tie. In an excess OF righteous indigna-
ton, and with burning desire 10
ayenge herself. Mrs. Courtenay
launched her little bombShell. only TO
be met with Courtenays crushing re-
jolnder. She dare not question II, for
that look on his face, which she had only
seen once or twice during the course OF
their brief married life. told her that
he meant I'm this thing TO have his way.
As she stood by the window. In her
neat. trim riding habit, she looked
picture or lovely. mutinous discomfort.
but the tears were not very far away.
She could not help thinking OF Courten-
avs remark when he had decided the
mare must be sold.
Il wouldn't ride her myself. darling.
much less allow you to do so. Do you
think l will have any needless risks
for your"
Vixen will be n 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 81 II
was you. Let me go and saddle
Freddy: there's plenty OF time"
-ourtenay's answer. She'll be all
right once We get away" Then. tell
your mistress the horses are round"
As Mrs. Courtenay made her way
down the wide staircase feeling OF
sick terror came over her. What IL
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.
ITS all my fault" she thought mis-
Erably. Il knew he didn't want me 10
ride Vixen, and he's only taken her
himself so that I shall be safe
As Courtenay stood by. ready To help
hcr 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 had once told him with an add
mirIng kiss. That did II.
Putting her pride on one side she
laid her hand caressingly on his arm.
rDon't ride Vixen this morning. Cour-
tenay: she doesn't look safe. There's
plenty OF time TO have Ffrefy round"
she said entreatingly.
"Pshaw! / shall be all right Don't
you worry. little woman" with one OF
his old admirinE glances, as she set
tied herself in her saddle. But Mrs.
Courtenay doubted 81. as she noticed
the difficulty he had TO get Vixen well
In hand. However, they were on at
INST, and once out I'm the open country
all Mrs. Courtenny's doubts and fears
were blown 20 the winds. Then came