Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-02-03
CHAPTER XIII.
A RUNAWAY.

A RUNAWAY.
-Four days passed. l might have used
the word sped" only that verb could
not be truthfully applied Never be-
lore in the history of time ESQ our jehu
thoughD did four days cast their
shadows more slowly across the dial
OF the hours. From noon till night
there was madding nothing to do but
polish bits and buckles and stlrrups
and ornamental silver. He would
have been totally miserable but for
the morning rides. These were worth
while; for he was riding Pirate, and
there was always that expectation of
OF the unexpected. But Pirate behaved
himself puzzlingly well. Fortunately
for the jehu these rides were always
into the north country. He was con-
tinually possessed with fear lest she
would make him drive through the
shopping district. II he met Nancy.
1t would be, in the parlance of the day,
all off. Nancy would have recognized
him in beard like a Cossack's; and
here he was with the boys face-the
face she never would forget
He was desperately in love. do
not know what desperately in love is,
my own loves course running smooth
~ enough: but ! can testify that 1t
was making Mr.. Robert thin and ap-
petiteless. Every morning the impulse
came to him to tell her all; but every
morning his courage oozed like Bob
Acres. and his lips became dumb.
dare say that II she had questioned
him he would have told her all; but
for some reason she had ceased to in
Quire into his past. Possibly her young
mind was occupied with pleasanter
things.
He became an accomplished butler,
and served SO well In rehearsals that
Pierre could only grumble. One at
ternoon she superintendent the comedy.
She found thousand faults with him,
80 many, In fact, that Pierre did not
understand what 1t meant, and became
possessed with the vague idea that she
was hitting him over the groom's
shoulder. He did not like It: and
later, when they were alone. War
burton was distinctly impressed with
f1efreS dlSpleaSufe.
You can not please her, and you
can not please me. Bah! Eat ees vat
comes uf teaching a groom table man
ners instead uf stable manners. And
you VII smell Ut horse! I do not un-
derstand Mees Annesley; mol"
And there were other humiliations,
petty ones. She child him on having
the stirrup too long or too short; the
curb chain was rusting: this piece
OF ornamental silver did not shine like
that one. James fetlocks were too
long; Pirates hoofs weren't thorough
ly oiled. With logged patience he
tried to remedy all these faults. 1t was
only when they had had romping
run down the road that this spirit fell
away from her, and she talked pleas
antly.
Twice he ran into Karloff. but that
shrewd student Of human nature did
not consider my hero worth studying;
. grave mistake on his part, as he was
presently to learn. He was handsome,
and the only thing he noticed about the
groom was his handsome face. He
considered It q crime for servant to
be endowed with personal attractions.
A servant In the eyes Of Russian
noble excites less interest than q
breedless dog. Mr.. Robert made no
complaint: he was very well satisfied
to have the count ignore him entirely.
Once he met the count in the Turkish
room. where, in the capacity Of but
Ter he served liquor and cigars. There
was q certain grim humor In lighting
his rivals cigar for him. This service
was test of his ability to pass through
room without knocking over taborets
and chairs. Another time they met
when Betty and the two of them took
long ride. Karloff did notice how
well the groom rode his mettlesome
mount, being himself a soldier and q
daring horseman. Warburton had some
trouble. Pirate did not take to the
idea of breathing Jane and Dicks dust,
he wanted to lead these second-raters.
Mr.. James arms ached that afternoon
from the effort he had put forth to re-
strain Pirate and keep him in his
proper place. Ave yards to the rear
ASothAh6 huPpCucu ouhuoys tHc udy
went by uneventfully. He escaped
the ordeal Of driving her to the Chevy
Chase Club, William being up that
afternoon.
Then Monday came, and with 1t
Betty's curious determination to ride
Pirate.
''You wish to ride Pirate, Miss"
exclaimed James. his horror Of the idea
openly manifest
Saddle him for me,"-peremptorily
II desire to ride him. find Jane isn't
exciting enough"
Pardon me, Miss Annesley." he
said, "but I had rather you would
not make the attempt"
"You had rather l would not make