Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-12-27
Blind asa Bat
By Martha McCulloch>W Williams
Copyright, 1906 by Ruby Douglas
Copyright, 1906, by Ruby Douglas

ton girl when she " through IL
riding cross saddle he sure, the
town had been rea, long time
about the divided skirt, bat then the
town was also not exactly sure in its
mind that riding its streets even upon
a proper sidesaddle was not rather
bold.
OF course in the country it was diff
ferent. The very best young women
rode there. Moreover, it had come to
lie u sort of proverb among the plan
tation folk that the hardest and most
reckless riders were town girl visitors.
Very few of them had any mercy upon
the beasts luckless enough to carry
them-this not because they were hard
hearted but from sheer ignorance and
the pure animal delight of finding
themselves unfettered for a time. They
fretted not little, these town bred
riders. when the country folk checked
speed ut hills or insisted that q horse
should have a chance to blow a bit
after . hard gall0p.
Possibly envy, the least touch, gave
edge 10 their disapproval of Edith
Taunton Edith had fortune and
three tiue saddle horses. AS if that
were not enough, Billy Drayton fell
into way OF sharing her early gallops.
Until she came back to the old
homestead Billy had not seen sun
rise once year. 1t was provokingly
significant, this change in him. He
had been the despair Of the town
matchmakers He was governors
grandson, rich. good looking, good hui
mored. Further, he was a squire of
danes so nobly impartial nobody ever
yet had been able to establish
claim to him. The people he regarded
most and was readiest to serve were
meek old ladies who had known his
mother and very little girls.
Edith was, he insisted, only big lit
tie girl, very lone and lorn in her big
empty house. What he did not say was
that he thought her coming back to II
something so fine and brave he was
bent on helping her fight down the
loneliness and make her own social
place.
This in the beginning-until the town
gossips took to craning the neck, shak-
ing the head and drawing aside the
least bit when the girl came among
them. Billy saw the head shaking, the
drawing back, long time before she
did She was open and unsuspicious as
daylight and had no thought Of tread.
ing on the corns Of town propriety In
anything she did. But, being also full
of quick intuitions, after awhile she
understood.
And then? Then only she really did
set out to horrify the good gentlewom-
en-. She drove tandem through the
middle of the square. sitting up very
straight, looking neither to right nor
left, but pulling up at the corner by
the bank to pick up Billy and take him
away with her. Next week 1t was u
card party-wholly masculine in COM
position, except for Edith herself and
the colorless cousin who served as her
companion. There were wine and cl.
gars and a supper afterward-a very
late supper.
The town thrilled with the horror of
it. But not as 1t did little later, when
everybody knew that thereafter. upon
Sunday evenings, Edith meant to be at
home to her friends.
II Billy had known In time that nev-
er would have come to pass. But he
had gone away for fortnight right
after the night at cards, first making
Edith promise to have no more such
assemblies until he was there to give
her countenance and protection.
When he came back and found the
mischief done, he was In sad taking.
Il see just one way out of it-you
have got to marry me, else you won't
have rag of reputation left" he said,
pretending to shake her hard.
Edith made u mutinous mouth at
him. Suppose we try some other sac
rificial lamb. Aren't you most too old
and tough?" she asked, her eyes dane
ing wickedly.
Billy grinned cheerfully. You can
have carloads OF 'em for the taking,
nice white baa lambs. but | don't be-
lieve they'd be the least effectuAl." he
said you see, what you need. really,
Is not sacrifice, but a scapegoat.
I'm strong enough to have your sins
confessed over my head and thence
forth imputed to me-"
"But scapegoatS have to be sent
away. out into the wilderness. | learn
ed that much at Sunday school, and l
can't have you go away" Edith pro-
tested. Besides, am not doing any
thing horrid. / shall go to church
mornings just the same. AS for the
evenings, you know yourself other
girls go to church then. mainly to have
somebody see them home and stay all
hours afterward making love to them.
really feel like missionary-the boys
can come here and rest or talk or do
anything they please. AS it Is now.
they have no choice at all-they must
either nope at home or go out and
court somebody-and that must be
dreadfully wearing"
ut is," Billy said fervently, his eyes
reminiscent But, my dear girl, you
had better give it up. Get telegram
calling you away. I'll send it If your
conscience is against fibbing"-
My conscience is not against any
thing necessary, and you know flbs are
necessary" Edith interrupted. But l
have much more conscience against
backing out of anything just because
I'm afraid of some old tabby cats and
young ones"
"Tabby eats have claws" Billy said
0racularly.
Edith looked at him doubtfully a min
ute Il know. They try even to scratch
YOU" she said. And then quickly, her
CeS flaming, They actually came
here, three of them, to tell me about