Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1906-03-31
SHE CHANGED
HER MIND
BY JEANNE o. LOIZEAUX
Coppjgrt. ioo5. by Ruby Doug,as


even for July-no weather for riding.
The girl Wore Il neat blue gown. and Il
wide straw hat shaded her golden hair
and Cloudcd blue eyes As She passed
the bayfield,, midway between her ia
Tiers farm and Jim BradlcyS. Jim
himself stepped to the road and motion
ed her to stop. She reigncd the rough
bay colt up with difficulty and pushed
her lovers hand away when he laid it
on her arm. She gave him no chance
to speak
"Now, don't say anything. | shall
ride whatever horse | please See how
quiet he is, anyway. Well. suppose
am killed? Then you will be free to
marry Agnes. since you seem to like
her SO well. You can ride with her
every day. You are free now, for that
natter
She knew it was an unjust remark,
but jealousy had the upper hand.
Jim Bradley was every inch man,
tall and good looking. His dark eyes
flashed, and his jaw set He had seen
Marion in Il temper before. He tried
to explain.
but, dearest, she only overlook me
on my way to town. 1t was not
planned by either of us and have al
ways known her, as have you. Would
you have me tell her you did not allow
me to ride mile with a neighbor?
81,
love, dear"
shes always after you. She's in
love with you. She
''No, she is not, but if she were ought
you to be angry with me? And even
then should you blame her? You love
me yourself, don't you? Come dear be
reasonable. Let me lead the brute
home, and if YOU must ride and get
sunStrolie, get it on n safe horse" His
maSterful air of possession irritated
her as much as 1t ordinarily pleased
her.
II don't love you. l hate you. Come
on, Prince" She gave the reins little
slap, and the colt danced and snorted
wildly. Jim caught him by the brdle
He spoke with represSed anger.
"Well, love me or not, you shall get
down. You shan't break your neck
just to break my heart. You know
plenty of other ways of doing that
Prince has not been saddled half n
dozen times, and | know your father
does not allow you to ride him, though
you are an Old hand at horses. And
you know perfectly we'll that Agnes Is
nothing but friend. She cares moth
ing for me. She's Il nice girl''-
"rhat'S it-Stand up for her, jim
Bradley. She told Sue Field that she
would take you from me, and she's
done it. Not that care-much. Let
Prince go, | say.
II will not. | shall take you down
and have your father forbid you to
mount him. Sue is only trying to make
trouble. Agnes never said or thought
thing like that"
Marion sat quietly a moment. us if to
obey his command to diSmount. Her
eyes We're wide, her cheeks glowing
He dropped the bride and came to
denly the demon of pride seized her
again. She gave Prince a cut that sent
him out of Iim's reach with one bound
"Goodby," she called. You are free
| wouldn't marry you if you'll would
have to be dead and come to life again
before would say | love YOU"
The horse was off at an unruly gal
Top. Jim was angry, but his heart
stood still as he watched the little blue
figure riding away so lightly. Untrust-
worthy as he knew the colt to be, she
seemed TO have him under fine control
She could tame anything but her own
temper; it was a way she had. Per
haps her own unruly spirit made the
conquest of others easy. OF all her
suitorS-and she was much sought
only Jim had ever held his own and
refused to bow utterly under the yoke
of her will, That was why she loved
him and uuarreled with him-and had
always come back to him. He was the
stronger, and, while at times she re-
Sentcd his power over her, she also
gloried in it. This was the worst she
had ever done-detied him, broken her
promise to marry him, risked her life
to wiring his heart.
lie watched horse and girl fly from
him over the level road. Then he
Shouldered his hayfork, walked swift
ly to her fathers place, entered the de.
serted barnyard-the men We're all in
the tields-closcd the open barn door
and waited with set jaw.
Meantime Marion and the colt We're
having grand ride past grain lands
and groves and farmhOuses, flying past
meadow and bayfield,. The brisk mo-
ton, the wind in her face, cooled the
girls anger little and made her
ashamed. She thought with a pang
that she had gone too far this time
that she could never make it up with
Jim now she had been a fool
Then she remembered coming back
from shopping with Sue and meeting
him riding gayly to town with Agnes
Sutherland, with whom she had warred
had Il fondness for her. Her wrath
rose again, and she twitched the bride.
Prince was tired and beginning t. be
bit sulky and nervous. With horse
wOmanly instinct she humOred without
Welding to him, let him drink at
roadside trough and turned his head
fOr home.
AS they reached Fields farm she no
ticed preparations for thrashing going