The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-05-18
CHAPTER XII.
THE FIRST RIDE.

The next morning W6rburton was
shown into a neat six-by eight, just
off the carriage-room. There was a
cot, running water and washstand,
and boot-blacking apparatus. For
the rest there were few portraits of
fast horses, fighters, and toe-dancers
(the adjective qualifying all three! J
which the senator's sporting groom
had collected and tackled to the walls.
For Appearances sake, Mr.. James had
purchases cheap trunk. Everything
inside was new, too. His silver mill
tary brushes, his silver shaving set,
and So forth and so forth. were in
charge of a safe-deposit storage COM
pany, alongside some ones family
jewels. The only discriminating things
he retained we're his signet-ring and
his Swiss timepiece.
Have you had your breakfast, sir"
asked William. the stable-boy.
Eyes, my lad Now, as Miss Annes-
ley has forgotten it, perhaps you will
tell me of just what my duties here
will consist"
"You harness, ride and drive, sir,
and take care of the metals. | clean
the feathers and carriages, exercise the
horses and keep their hides shiny. If
anything is purchased sir, we shall
have to depend upon your Judgment.
Are you given to cussinr?"
"Cussing?" repeated Warburton.
eyes sir Mss AM nc,a-t 1ro,,'t
stand for it around tn, stables. TIE
man before YOU, c.r, could cuss mos.
beautifully; and l think that's why he
was fired At least, it was one reason.
Warburton smoothed his twitching
mouth. Don't you worry, william;
it's against my religion to use profane
language"
William winl,ed there was an an
swering wink, and the two became
friends from ira, mtlnunl on.
"I'll bet yod didn't say T. thing to
Pirate, yesterday, when he bolted over
the wall with you
well, believe l did address a few
remarks to Pirate which would not
sound we'll on ,ress-! araGe; but so
long as it wasn't within hearing Gis
lance, william, suppose 1t doesn't
matter"
No, sir; suppose not"
Nov, what kind of a master is the
colonel?' asked Warburton strapping
on his English leggins.
We'll, it's hard to say just now. You
see, I've been with the family ever
since | was six. The colonel used to
be the best fellow ever knew. Always
looking out for your comfort, never
an undeserved harsh word, and always
a smile when you pleased him. But
he's changed in the last two years."
How"
He doesn't take any interest in the
things he used to. He goes about as
If he had something on his mind; kind
of absent-minded, you know; and for
gets tomorrow what he says to-day.
He always puts on good face, though,
when Miss Betty is around"
"Ah. What night do l have off?"-
of a mind that a question like this
"Chiu SOuhu SHulhCully pIOLCoolOhdA
in Williams ears.
Sunday, possibly; 1t all depends on
Miss Annesley, sir. In Virginia nearly
every night was ours. Here it's differ
emit" William hurriedly pulled on his
rubber boots and gloves, grabbed up
the carriage sponges, and vanished.
Warburton sat on the edge of the
cot and laughed silently. All this was
very amusing. Had any man, since the ,
beginning Of time, found himself In
like position? He doubted 1t. And he
was to be butler besides! It would be
something to remember In his old age
Yet. once or twice the pins Of his con-
science pricked him. He wasn't treat
ing Nancy just right. He didn't want
her to cry over his gracelessness; he
didn't want her to think that he was
heartless. But what could he do? He
stoed too deeply committed.
He was puzzled about one thing,
however. and. twist Il as he would.
he could not solve II with any degree
Of satisfaction. Why. after what had
happened. had she hired himy II she
could pass over that episode at the
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