Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-06-28
Copyright. 1908, by Ruby Douglas

tated the change from sleigh to wagon.
Il wish / hadn't come, l wish
hadn't come" beat incessantly in
Gormley's brain to the steady clop-clop
of the horses feet. 81 had no business
to do it, Burgess Is n boor. He never
forgets his money nor remembers his
manners. What got into me, | Won
derT' and much more of the same sort
of self deception, for Gormley knew
perfectly why he was Drawing the nip
ping cold and Burgess thrusts. Moth
ing but sudden death could have kept
him away. Sylvia Gerrish was there.
But the Joy Of being near her was
dashed by the thought that Burgess
was nearer still-beside her, In fact.
To secure that coveted place their host
had boldly ordered his rival to the
front seat
ANY man with red blood in his veins
could scarcely blame Burgess for his
maneuvering. The girl was bewitch-
ing little figure, mufiled in furs, a CO.
auettlsh red tam-o shanter setting of
her piquant face and mischleyous eyes.
Burgess had never seen her look pret-
tier, and he glowed with satisfaction at
his neat disposal, for the drive at least
of his rival.
Meanwhile the sweet tempered CORN
ley, by nature almost too submissive,
was near to being reused. He was
lashing himself in bitterness OF spirit.
1t had always been So Fate had made
him the football Of Rex Burgess, even
in schooldays, Burgess was big and
brave and handsome, while he was
slight and pale faced. The boys had
niclnamed Gormley Molly" because
he had once tainted Mt the sight OF
blood. Burgess father was the wealth
lest man In Slocum, and every cent Of
the money would one day belong to
Rex, for he was the only child.
Regardless Of the merry chatter and
the snatches OF song from the others,
Gormley plunged deeper into his mel
ancholy reflections. He, puny clerk In
q dry goods store, 10 aspire To Sylvia
Gerrisli's love aaninst one SO favored
off t-v-4.-rp.i- mon u5-f5urErss. -
His cheeks burned. too, when he
thought OF the others contemptuous
reference to "cavalrymen." Frankly,
he admitted, 1t was ridiculous that he,
molly" Gormley, should have martial
aspirations. Yet when the state mill
tary board had offered Slocum the
equipment for a troop OF cavalry for
the national guard Gormley had been
unanimously chosen captain. And he
was the man for the place. Ic could
ride. 1t had always been the sport in
which he excelIed. He knew the "mon-
key" drill OF the United States cavalry
as he knew the alphabet.
They talk OF Cossacks and Bedouln
Arabs and Indians and the way these
savages handle a horse, but the man
who follows the yellow guldon Is n lit
tie the best horscman of them all. And
Captain molly" Gormley. Troop A.
First cavalry. state troops. rode IKE u
regular whether IN the saddle, hare
backed over tho Isnlles or standing.
each foot planted firmly on the back of
d galloping horse. Besides the first
qualification of Il cavalryman he had
the other requisite for an officer, the
gift OF command, and even West Point
can't touch that. So despite .ne fact
that mis- body QYailed Ut the sight of
blood Gormley's spirit sang with tho
notes OF the bugle whom Troop a, two
long Gtraght lines Of men and horses
moving beautifully In unison, passed
In review at camp.
The thought Of his creatcn--he had
made Troop A the pride OF the national
guard in the two years 1t had been or
eanlzed- gradually lightened the gloom
which had overspread Gormley's spir-
Ms. He reflected with considerable COM
fort that Burgess could not ride we'll.
The big fellow did not understand
korseg ANA feared them. The bully In
him crept out, too, on horseback. He
thought It merely discipline to jerk tho
head OF his mount cruelty and without
reason. Burgess was not member OF
Troon A. Maybe this ding at cavalry
men" had been due to envy.
Even the possibility that Burgess en-
We'd him was balm 10 Gormlcy's sore
heart. And II he could only plan 1t 50
as TO sit by Sylvia on the bomewnrd
journey now his cup OF Joy would ts
full 1t was n mighty bound from tho
depths Of despair almost TO the pima
cle OF bliss In one short half hour, bus
Gormley was young, and youth has
hope for heritage,
lnsensIbly tho young man was at
tractod by the beauty OF the night.
The FURNISHED moon glistened on mil
lions OF tiny floating frost crystals up-
I'll they sparkled like diamond dust.
70 tho westward the black roadway
unrolled before them like velvet
ribhon Ronver creek crossed beneath
II hundred yards away. from the
lowland bordering the creek the road
had been graded TO q height OF hfty
feet, and tho cmbankment was mar
row. steep and dangerous. railing
on each side hodged in the roadway.
Tonight nothing was visible below
that railing. A mist, white and soft
as cotton wool. rose from the swampy
low ground and rolled in nolscless bill
lows TO the height OF the road. The
| advance OF the Gathering wagon and
Ats occupants into this Aonvlng white
silence seemed almost uncanny. II
was ns sea which might rise and
engulf them.
The others were similarly impressed
It would seem, for the talk was some
what qulcter The team after three
miles OF brisk movement was getting
warmed up and danced splritcdly The
driver took fresh grip Of the relns
for careful work was needed, especial
ly at night, In crossing Beaver creek
fats. He pulled strongly to bring the
horses TO walk, then lungcd back
ward suddenly. The right rein had
! broken near bis hand.
I Whnt followed for the first paralyzed
moment wns like scene from n horrid
dream tb Gormley. There was con
fusion OF shouts and shricks from the
wagon box behind. The horses were
crowded TO the left Of tho road by the
-ar-e.