Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-02-24

space and slid his arm around her
waist Tho two horses came together
and twisted his leg cruelty. His jaws
snapped.
LET the stirrup gol" he cried. Let
go. quickl" She heard him. your
knee from the horni can't keep them
together any longer. Nowl"
Brave and plucky and cool she was.
She obeyed him instantly. There was
a mighty heave. terrible straining
of the back and the knees. and Pirate
was freed OF his precious burden. The
hardest part of It came now. Dick
could not be made to slow down
abruptly. He wanted to keep right on
after his rival. So. between holding
the girl with ais right arm and pulling
the horse with his left. Warburton
saw that he could keep up this terri
BILE effort but a very short time. Her
arms were convulsivaly wound around
his Reck. and this added to the strain.
Not a word did she say; her eyes were
closed, as II she expected any moment
90 be dashed to the earth.
But Dick was only a mortal horse.
The fierce run and the double burden
began to tell. and shortly his head
came up. Warburton stopped him.
The girl slid to the ground. and in a
moment he was at her side. And just
In time. The reaction was too much
/ for her. Dazedly she brushed her
hair from her eyes. stared wildly at
Warburton and tainted. He did not
catch her with that graceful precision
which on the stage is so familiar 70 us.
/ No. He was lucky 10 snatch one of
her arms. thus preventing her head
from striking the road. He dragged
her TO the side of the highway and
rested her head on his shaking knees.
Things grew dark for a time. To tell
the truth. he himself was very close
TO that feminine weakness which the
rold fellows. in their rough and ready
plays. used to call "vapours" But he
forced his heart 10 steady itself.
And what do you suppose the rascal
did-with nobody but Dick to watch
him? Why. he did what any healthy
young man in love would have done:
pressed his lips 20 the girls hair.
parched throat he dolefully pictured
| himself a modern Antiochus. dying OF
/ love and never confessing IT, Then be
/ kissed her hair again: only her hair.
for somehow he felt that her lips were
as yet inviolable to his touch.
Painting is but trsnsitory; by and
by she opened her eyes and stared
vaguely into the face above her. do
not know what she saw there; what
ever IL was caused her TO struggle to
her feet There was color enough
In her cheeks now; and there was a
question. too. I'm her eyes. OF War
burton il asked. What did YOU do
when lay there unconscious" I'm
afraid there was color in his face. too.
Her gaze Immediately roved Up the
road There was no Pirate. only a
haze OF dust. Doubtless he was still
going 81. delighted over the trouble he
had managed TO bring about Warbur-
ton knelt at the girls side and brushed
the dust from her skirt She eyed
him curiously. shan't say that she
smiled: I don't know. for WASN'T
there
Meanwhils she made several futile
attempts 90 put up her hair. and as a
inality she braided Il and let Il hang
down Der back. Suddenly and unac-
countably she grew angry-angry at
herself. at James. at the rascally horse
that had brought her to this pass.
Warburton saw something OF his emo
ton in her eyes. and TO avoid the storm
he walked over 90 Dick. picked up the
reins. and led him back.
If you will mount Dick. Miss. he
said. III lead him home It's about
i've miles. should say"
The futility and absurdity OF her
anger aroused her sense of the ridicu-
/ lous; and a smile. warm aud merry.
| flashed over her stained face. II sur
prised her groom.
Thank you. James. You were
right ought not TO have ridden
Pirate. l am punished for my conceIt.
Five miles? IL Will be long walk"
Il shan't mind 20 in the least" re-
piled James. irordinately happy; and
he helped her 20 the saddle and ad-
justed the left stirrup.
SO the Journey home began.
| Strangely enough. neither seemed to
care particularly what had or might
become OF Pirate He disappeared
mentally and physically One thing