The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-05-11

ness. There was light and ventilation.
too. and the box-stalls were roomy.
The girl stopped before a handsome
bay mare which whinnied when II saw
her She laid her cheek against the
animals nose and talked that soft Jar
gon so embarrassing to man and so in,
telligible to babies and pet animals.
Lucky horse! he thought! but his
face expressed nothing.
This is Jane, my own horse, and
there are few living things love so
well. Remember this. She Is thorough
bred, first class hunter; and have
done more than five feet on her at
home"
She moved on, Warburton following
soberly and thoughtfully. There was a
good deal to think of just now. The
more he saw Of this girl, the less he
understood her purpose in hiring him.
She couldn't possibly know anything
about him, who or what he was. With
his beard gone he def1ed her to recog-
nize in him the man who Travelled
across the Atlantic with her. A high
bred woman, such US she was, would
scarcely harbor any kind of feelings
toward a man who had acted as he
was acting. II any man had kissed
Nancy the way he had kissed her, he
would have broken every bone in his
body or hired some one to do it. And
she had paid his fine at the police-sta-
ton and had hired him on probation! .
Truly he was in the woods and there
wasn't a sign of blazed trail. Ut
will be seen that my hero hadn't had
much experience with women. She
knew nothing of him whatever. She
was simply curious and brave enough
to attempt to have this curiosity graft
fed Of course, do not venture to say
that, had he been coarse in appear
ance, she would have had anything to
do with him.
This is Dick, my fathers horse,"-
nodding toward a sorrel, large and
well set-up. HE will be your mount.
The animal in the next stall is Pirate"
Pirate was the handsomest black
gelding Warburton had ever laid eyes
on.
What a beauty" he exclaimed en-
Enthusiastically, forgetting that grooms
should be utterly without enthusiasm.
He reached out mis- hand to pat the
black nose, when warning cry re-
strained him. Pirates ears lay fiat.
Take care! He is a bad-tempered
animal. No one rides him and we
keep him only to exhibit at the shows.
Only half a dozen have ridden him
with any success. He won't take
curb in his mouth and he always runs
away. 1t takes very strong man to
hold him in. really don't believe
that he's vicious, only terribly mis-
chievous, like bullying boy"
II should like to ride him"
The girl looked at her new groom in
q manner which expressed frank as
constituent. Was he in earnest, or
was it mere bravado? An idea came
to her, a mischievous idea.
IF you can sit on Pirates back for
ten minutes there will not be any ques-
ton of probation. promise to engage
you on the spot, recommendation or no
recommendation. Would he back
down?
Where are the saddles Madam"
he asked calmly, though his blood
moved faster.
ION the pegs behind you."-becom-
ing interested. do you really intend
to ride him?"
with your permission
81 warn you that the risk you are
running is great"
Il am not afraid of Pirate, Madam
in tone which implied that he was |
not afraid OF any horse living. The |
spirit of antagonism rose up in him, |
that spirit of antagonism of the human
against the animal, that eternal ambi-
ton of the one to master the other.
And besides, I'm not sure that James
didn't want to show off before the girl
another very human trait in man
kind. For my part, wouldn't give
rose fer a man who
wouldn't show off once in while,
when his best girl is around and look
ing on.
ION your head be it, then"-a sud-
len nervousness selling her. Yet she
was as eager to witness the encounter
Is he was to court it. William" she
called. The stable-boy entered, setting
aside his broom. This is James, the
lew groom. Help him to saddle
Pirate"
Saddle Pirate, Miss Annesley!"
.ried the boy, his mouth open and his
yes wide.
you see?" said the girl to War
burton.
Take down that saddle with the
hooded stirrups,' said Warburton,
'riefly. He would ride Pirate now,
wen if Pirate had been sired in Beel-
ebubs stables. He carefully inspected
he saddle, the stirrup-straps and the
firth. Very good, indeed. Buckles
n saddles are always a hidden menace