Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-07-14

absolutely ir~reproachable, and manne
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 as Mrs. Courtenay was be-
ginning to admit dismally to herself.
they had never had a spar like this
before. And all about such utter nom
sense. too" the little woman murmured
ruefully, as she recalled the last, and
most frozen" speech of her lord and
master. But l don't care"-forgetting
that at the present moment her dainty
little nose and Redeemed eyelids bore
most unmistakable testimony to her
fragrant disregard of truth.
Il was perfectly right (she always
WASH. HE ought not to we..r a bright
purple tie With a complexion like his"
Yes, that was the root OF the matter
that purple tie. oh, and how 1t had
appeared since then, On every possible
occasion, save when, the regulation
white n was necessary, until Mrs.
Courtenay told herself she would never
wear a scrap Of purple again, although
she knew perfectly well how much it
enhanced her fair, dainty coloring.
Courtenay la risen that 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 C~ourtenay's evil
IDENTIFY wounded feelings; but either the
liver. the head, or the something in
tervened. and at last she told herself
n would leave him to come round to
his own way. This was four whole
days ago, and 1t would be difficult to
say 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
than when, in his reckoning up of HUI
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 ILL.,"
as 1t happene1 as she stood thinking
things out-somewhat uneasily Ii 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
> NV 4llllS Ills OIuETS IoT tue udy.
Pardon me-" broke in Courtenay
freezingly, and with an Enthusiastically
r~esolute expression on his clean-cut
handsome face. Il 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. Courtenay'ss own
private property. for the two were de-
/ Xnfn1 70 htHfefftao nd N lr.ya ~. faIlAr.AI
the hounds at every available opportun-
ity. However, upon closer acquaint-
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 at the
earliest opportunity, and 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
i~ndefinable manner best known to her
self from an overdose of purple tie.
There it was again at breakfast time,
End more brilliant than ever, it seemed
to 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 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 bombshell, only TO
be met with Courtenay's crushing re-
joinder. She dare not question it, for
that look on his face, which she had only
seen once or twice during the curse of
their brief married life, told her that
iie meant in this timing 10 nave his way.
AS she stood by the window. in her
neat, trim riding habit, she looked a
picture of 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.
II wouldn't ride her myself, darling,
much less alloy you TO do so. Do you
think / 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 hin / would risk 1t If
/ was you Let me go and saddle
Freddy; there's plenty OF time"
mo, we'll leave it as 1t is" vas
Courtenay's answer. She'll be all
right once we get away" Then, tell
your mistress the horses are round"
AS MIS- SOdtACtldy lldhE iC 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.
ITS all my fault" she thought mis-
srably. Il knew he didn't want me to
ride Vixen, and hes only taken her
himself, so that l shall be safe"
AS Courtenay stood by, ready to help
ner 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 adj
miring kiss. That did 1t.
Putting her pride on one side she
laid her hand caressingly OF his arm.
Don't ride Vixen this morning. Cour-
tenay; she doesn't look safe. There's
plenty of time to have Firefiy round"
she said entreatingly.
"Pshaw! / shall be all right. Don't
you worry, little woman" with one of
his old admiring glances, AS she set
tied herself in her saddle. But Mrs.
Courtenay doubted 1t, as she noticed
the difficulty he had to get Vixen well
In hand. However, they were off at
All Mrs. Courtenay's doubts and fears
were blown to the winds. Then came
the short chats with her different
Aiends, and when the 1Tally-h nc was
eventually sounded, n they were
really upon the 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 wan
1nIy conscious of one fee{inr: What q I