The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-09-28
Blind as
a Bat

Eastbrook opened its eyes very wide
and caught Its breath over the Taun-
ton girl when she swept through It
riding cross saddle. To be sure. the
town had been reading this long time
about the divided skirt. but then the
town was also not exactly sure In its
mind that riding its streets even upon
proper sidesaddIe 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
be 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 time. They
fratted not a little, these town bred
riders, when the country folk checked
speed Mt hills or insisted that a horse
should have a chance to blow bit
after a hard saIlop.
Possibly envy, the least touch, gave
edge to their disapprOval Of Edith
Taunton. Edith had a fortune ana
three hne saddle horses. As II that
were not enough. Billy DraytOu Zen
into a way of sharing her early galIops.
Until she came back to the old
homestead Billy had not seen a sum
rise once a year. It was prOvol<lngg
significant, this change In him. he
had been the despair of the town
matchmnkers. He was n governors
/ grandson, rich, good looking, good hui
mored. Further, he was squire of
danes so nobly impartial nobody ever
yet had been able to establish a
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 1t
something so fine and brave he was
BENT on helping her fight down the
loneliness and make her own social
place.
This in the bcginniuE-untn the town
gossip5 took TO cranIng the neck shak-
ing the head and drawing aside the
least bit when the girl came among
them. Billy saw the hend shaking. the
drawing back, Il long time before she
did. She was open and unsusptcious as
daylight and had no thought of tread
ing ON the corns OF town propriety in
anything she did. But, being also fun
Of quick intuitIons. after awhile she
understood.
Aud then? Then only she really did
| sar ont TO horrify the good gentIewom-
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 it was a
card party-whoIIy masculine in COM
position, except for Edith herself and
the coIorless cousin who served rs her
companion. There were wine and ci-
Ears and n supper Afterwards very
late supper.
The town thrilled with the horror of
It. But not as it did little Inter. when
everybody knew that thereafter, upon
Sunday evenings. Edith meant to be at
home to her friends.
II Billy had known In time that new
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 countenancc and protection
When he came back and found the
mischief done, he was In n sad taking.
'I see Just one way out OF It-you
have got to marry me. else you won't
have rng OF reputation left" he said.
pretending to shake her hard
Edith made n mutinOus mouth ut
him. Suppose we try some other sac
rifcIal lamb Aren't You most too old
and tough?" she asked. her eyes dane
ing wIckedly.
Billy Srinned cheerfully. You can
have carloads OF 'em for the taking.
uIce white baa lambs, but don't be-
ueye they'd be the least efectual." he
said. you see. what you need, really,
Is not n sacrifice. but n scapegoat-
I'm strong enough to have your sins
confessed over my head and thence
forth Imputed to me"
but scapegoats have to he sent
awny, out Into the wilderness. 1 learn
ed that much Mt Sunday school. md
can't have you go away" Edith pro-
tested. Besides, am not doing any
thing horrid. shall 20 to church
mornings Just the same. As FOR the
evenings. you know yourself other
girls 60 TO church then. mainly to have
somebody see them home and stay MI
hours artcrNvard making love 10 them.
really feel like q missionary boys
ran come here and rest or talk OF do
anything they please. As It Is now,
they have no choice Mt aH-they must
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