Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-03-01
SHE CHANGED
HER MIND
By JEANNE o. LOlZEAUx
Copyright, 1905. By Ruby Douglas

Marion rode at an angry gallop. The
dust was thick and the heat intense
even for July-no weather for riding.
The girl wore neat blue gown, and
wide straw hat shaded her golden hair
and clouded blue eyes. As she passed
the bayfield,, midway between her ia
TIERS farm and Jim Bradley's, Jim
himself stepped to the road and motion
ell her to stop. She reigned the rough
bay colt up with difficulty and pushed
her lovers hand away when he laid It
on her arm. She gave him no chance
to speak.
"Now, don't say anything. I shall
ride whatever horse please. See how
quiet he is, anyway. Well, suppose
am killed? Then you will be free to
marry Agnes, since you seem to like
her so well. You can ride with her
every day. You are free now, for that
matter!'
She knew 1t 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. He had seen
Marion in a temper before. He tried
to explain.
'But, dearest, she only overlook me
on my way to town. 1t 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 q mile with q neighbor?
Where's the harm? You know whom
love, dear"
She's always after you. She's in
love with you. She
"No, she is not, but IL 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, be
reasonable. Let me lead the brute
home. and, IL you must ride and get
sunstroke, get it on a safe horse" His
masterful air Of possession irritated
her as much as 1t ordinarily pleased
her.
Il don't love you. hate you! Come
on, Prince" She gave the relns little
slap, and the colt danced and snorted
wildly. Jim caught him by the bride.
He spoke with repressed anger.
well, 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 saddled half
dozen times, and 1 know your father
does not allow you to ride him, though
you are an old hand at horses. And
you know perfectly well that Agnes Is
nothing but friend. She cares moth
ing for me, She's nice girl'-
vThat's it-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 60. say"
81 will not. I shall take you down
and have your father forbid you to
mount htm. Sue is only trying to make
trouble. Agnes never said or thought
q thing like that"
Marion sat quietly a moment. as IL to
obey his command to dismount 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
again. She gave Prince cut that sent
him out Of Jim's reach with one bound.
"Goodby." che called. "You are free.
weuldn't marry you IL you'll would
have to be dead and come to life again
before / would say love your
The horse was Off at an unruly gal
lop. Jim was angry, but his heart
stood still as be watched the little blue
figure riding away so lightly. Untrust-
worthy as he knew the colt to be, she
seemed to have him under fine control.
She could tame anything but her own
temper; it was way she had. Per-
haps her own unruly spirit made the
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 to him. He was the
stronger, and. while at times she re-
sented his power over her, she also
Gloried In It. This was the worst she
had ever done-defied him, broken her
promise to marry him, risked her life
TO wiring his heart.
He watched horse and girl fiy from
him over the level road. Then he
Bhouldered 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 n grand ride past grain lands
and groves and farmhouses, flying past
meadow and bayfield,. The brisk mo-
ton, the wind In her face, cooled the
girls anger a little and made her
ashamed She thought with q pang
that she had gone too far this time
: that she could never make 1t 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 B C's up. Jim had always
had fondness for her. Her wrath
rose again, and she twitched the bride.
Prince was tired and beginning to be
a bit sulky and nervous. With horse
womanly instinct she humored without
yielding to him, let him drink at
roadside trough and turned his head
for home.
AS they reached Fields farm she mo-
ticed preparations for thrashing going
on. The great red thrasher stood walt
ing for the engine, and men and horses
were standing all about the conical yel-
low stacks. Sue came from the house
and called to her to stop, which she did.
to the colts disgust. Sue leaned on the
fence. and the two girls chatted a mo-
ment.
You better get or till the engine
comes, Marion. You might meet 1t.
You've no business on that crazy colt.
1t isn't safe. don't see how Jim al
lows it!' Marion's face famed.
what has he to say? am not en-
gagged to him any more. u
Sue gasped. then, with remorse-too
late, as usual-remembered what she
had told her friend on the way from
town that day.
Marion. you weren't ever fool enough