The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-02-08
SHE CHANGED
HER MIND
Bv EANNE 0. LOlZEAUx
Coprioht, 1906. By Ruby Douglas

Marion rode at an angry gallop. The
dust was thick and the heat intense
even for July-no weather for riding.
The girl wore a neat blue gown, and a
wide straw hat shaded her golden hair
and clouded blue eyes. Az she passed
the bayfield,, midway between her ia
thers farm and Jim Bradley'a, Jim
himself stepped to the road and motion
ed her to stop. She rdgned 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. I 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 Ike
her 30 wen. You can ride with her
every day. You are free now, for that
mattef!'
She knew It was an unjust remark,
but Jealousy had the upper hand.
Jim Bradley was every inch a man,
tall and good looking. His dark eyes
flashed, and bis jaw set. He bad seen
Marion in a temper before Hs tted
to explain.
But, dearest, she only overlook me
ON my way to town. It was not
planned by either Of Oh, and I have al
ways known her, az have you. Would
you have me tell her you did not allow
me to ride q mile with a neighbor?
Where's the harm? You know whom
love, dear"
"shes always after you. She's In
love with you. She
mo, she is not, but II 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
sunstroke, get It on safe horse bis
masterful air Of possession irritated
her as much as It ordinarily pleased
her.
'T DON'T love you hate you! Come
on, Prince" She gave the reins little
slap, and the colt danced and snorted
wildly. Jim caught him by the bride.
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
rlenty Of other ways Of doing that.
Prince has not been saddled half a
dozen times, and I 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 a nice girr"-
THAT'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 l care-much. Let
Prince go, say"
81 will not. I 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
a thing like that"
Marion sat quietly moment, as If to
obey his command to dismount- Her
eyes were wide, her cheeks glowing.
he dropped the bride and came to
reach his arms up for her. Then sud-
denly the demon Of pride seized her
again. She gave Prince cut that sent
him out Of Jim's reach with one bound.
'Goodby," she called. "You are free.
I wouldn't marry you If you'll would
have to be dead and come to life again
before would say I love you!"
The horse was of at an unruly gal
lop. 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 quarreled with him-and had
always come back to him. he was the
stronger, and, while at times she re-
sented his power over her, she also
gloried in It. This was the worst she
had ever done-deded him, broken her
promise to marry him, risked her life
to wiring his heart.
he watched horse and girl ny from
him over the level road. Then he
shouldered bis hayfork, walked swift
ly to her fathers place, entered the de-
serted barnyard-the men were all In
the felds-closed the open barn door
and waited with set jaw.
Meantime Marion and the colt were
having a 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 a little and made her
ashamed. She thought with a pang
that she had gone too far this time