Democratic messenger., 1906-01-13

wide straw hat shaded her golden hair
and clouded blue eyes. As she passed
the bayfield,. midway between her ia
thers farm and Jim Bradley's. Jim
himself stepped to the road and notion
ed her to stop. She reigned the rough
bay colt up with difficulty and pushed
her lovers hand away when he laid II
Oh 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 viii be free TO
marry Agnes. since you seem 10 like
her 80 well. You can ride with her
every day. You are free now. for that
natter
She knew II 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 his jaw set lie had seen
Marion In temper before. He tried
TO explain.
But, dearest. she only overlook me
on my way 10 town. IL 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 neighbor?
Where's the harmt You know whom
love. dear"
'She's always after you. She's In
love with YOU She
NO, 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 he
reasonable. Let me lead the brute
home. and IL you must ride and get a
sunstroke. get IL ON safe horse" His
mastcrful air Of possession irritated
her as much as IL ordinarily pleased
her.
Il don't love YOU. hate you. Come
on. Prince" She gave the rclns little
slap, and the colt danced and snorted
wildly. Jim caught him by the bridle
lie spoke with rcpresscd anger
We'll. 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 sadded half
dozen times. and know your father
does not allow you TO ride him. though
you are an old hand at horses. Aud
You know perfectly well that Agnes is
nothing but II friend She cares moth
o.. .. 49, xs,.lff
That's IL 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 20. say
Il 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 Il moment as II to
obey his command TO dlsmount. 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
ngain She gave Prince cut that sent
him out OF Jim's reach with one bound.
''Goodby" she called. You are free.
wouldn't marry you II you would
have to be dead and come to life again
before ! would say love you"
The horse was Off 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 10 be. she
seemed TO have him under fine control.
She could tame anything but her own
temper; IL was n 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 10 him. He was the
stronger. and. while al times she re
scented his power over her. she also
glorled In It. This was the worst she
had ever done-dehed him. broken her
promise 10 marry him. risked her life
TO wiring his heart.
He 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 were all In
the fields 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-
tlon. the wind In her face. cooled the
girls anger little and made her
ashamed She thought with pang
that she had gone too fur this time
that she could never make II up with
Jim now she had been 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
from the A Il C's up Jim had always
had a fOndncss for her. Her wrath
rose again. and she twltched the bride.
Prince was tired and beginning to be
a bit suIky and nervous. With horse