The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-11-15


The buggy was high and the seat so
narrow Il barely held two persons. Bill
ly had to kneel upon the floor, steady
Ing himself with the rens as best he
might. II was more than aggravating
lie had the fastest horse on the road
and had counted on giving dust to ev-
erythlng else there no less than on
having the prettlest face in the county
at his side. NOW he drove at Utmost
a foot pace. partly because Of the add
ed weight but much more because he
wanted to keep away from sight OF his
acquaintances.
/ Naturally conversation langulshed
For awhile Mrs. Hicks kept up
sprlghtly chatter, but after a mile or
two even she fell silent. Amelia sat
with cllnched hands, ready to cry be-
tween anger and modification OF
course Billy would be angry lie had
a right to be. Not with her, to be sure
but then, how could she expect him
to Disseminated Her mother, she
knew well, had the name Of being
be plenty Of folks TO tell Billy, IL he
did not think Of 1t himself, that the
whole thing had been planned between
mother and daughter on purpose to
make him ridiculous.
! Being self made he was keenly SEN
sltlve. Unless she could make him I'M
derstand her innocence she had lost
him, and she did not wantsto lose him.
She loved ever fiber of bis six foot
ruddy cOmeliness as she hated the oily
lankness OF Brother Gillian.
Her heart leaped when Gillian drew
up alongside the buggy and said, trying
to speak Jocuarly; why, Batson, don't
you know there are laws against mo-
nopoly3 Here I'm driving to town
! without a soul to bear me company.
Divide, man, dividel know It's hard
to choose, but you must give me pas
senger."
II have to mind the preacher, don't T.,
Mrs. Hicks7" Billy asked over his
shoulder, making wey Tor her and
checking his horse as he spoke. He OF
course could not choose, but she must
understand that she was In the way.
But Mrs. Hicks sat tight, glggling
and saying airily: Indeed you do,
Mist Batsonl Gut the wheels the least
mite more, then Amelia can step across
no need IN the world of your gettln'
out to help her-and Brother Gillian
can meet us at the Mathewses Their
yard Is such a good place to see the
parade"
There must have been fate In It, else
Amelia would have refused. But some
power beyond herself compelled her to
obedience In wink almost she was
whirllng forward beside the man she
hated. Billy glared after them and set
his teeth. He made no pretense Of civil
talk to the woman beside him. His
heart was so sore. his mind 10 angry,
Il was almost a miracle that he did not
drive into or over somebody But by
good hap he got safe TO his journeys
end and found himself a little later.
with Mrs Hicks at his elbow, wedged
into the throng which lined the street
on either side.
Amelia and the minister were Just
across the way. Neither couple had
had time to reach the Mathews haven.
The parade was already moving when
they came to town, so they had made
what shift and haste they might.
1t was a plteous parade, something
tawdry throughout. and In spots dusty
and threQdbare, But the lady riders
had superb horses and sat them won
derfully. especially sandra, queen Of
.amazons. who In green and gold lace
blew kisses right and left from her
finger tips. tile while making her milk
white Arab keep time with the band
blarng ahead.
Sandra was slight and round, with
everywhere about her the suggestion
Of supple strength. She carried a crop
to fourlsh what time she was not
throwing kisses Every man along the
line uncovered to her, and here or there
she got hand clapping and cheers,
AS she drew near Amella's stand
Brother Gillian said uneasily: "You
won't mind If leave you, the others
are so near2 And 1t has just occurred
to me that oughtsnot to be here
Not that there is any harm In 1t, but
we must avoid the very appearance Of
evil"
go, II you cam Amelia said DULY.
She was too angry to feel relief IN his
absence.
Bllly's face had told her thlngs-all
she had been fearing Since be was
lost to her beyond question, she had a
mad wish that the world might end.