Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-05-17

northward, as she did not want to pass
Richards house. Her mother saw her
ride off in the storm and wondered if
the girl was going crazy, but was too
late to call after her. At first Ginger
wheeled and refused to believe that
she was expected to splash her dainty
hoofs through such pools of mud and
water, but after a few snorts Of pro-
test Edith convinced her with the Quirt
that this wind and rain were really to
be faced, and the little beast settled
into a spiteful trot.
Edith rather rejoiced in buffeting the
storm. The rain and wind cooled her
hot cheeks, and the open air relieved
the unbearable tension of her nervous
ness. For the first time since the trou-
bic with Richard she allowed herself
the unrestrained luxury Of tears. Here
out in the open, with the sting of rain
drops in her face, she was free from
prying eyes. She did not need to keep
up her pride, and she could be as
wretched as she really felt. She did
not look about her, but rode mile after
mile, letting the mare take her own
course.
After riding an hour or so she no.
ticed that the storm abated and look
| ing up, saw that the clouds were less
| dark. Here and there was a CLEAN of
blue, though the warm wind still blew
, intermittent drops into her face. She
drew her collar closely about her neck
and pulled her cap over her eyes and
code on with her own thoughts.
At last an idea came to her Why
not phone to Richard-just call him
up and talk to him in the old way
about nothing in particular and, II he
made ii easy for her, ask him to
come to see her that evening? Strong
in this new resolve, she looked to see
where she was and realized that after
a long detour they We're about IA mile
below Richards house. which they
must pass. She could not go back, for
it was probably near evening. The
sun threatened to break through the
clouds near the horizon. The rain had
entirely ceased. She felt tired. but
happier and quiet after the relief of
tears.
Then she remembered a way through
Richards fields that they had often
taken. She would have to pass bad
slough, but that could not be helped.
He must not see her in her present
plight. She realized that her face was
swollen and her eyes red with weep
Ing and that she was covered with
mud. Her hair was flying wildly
though the dampness always made 1t
the curler She turned into the pas
ture after dismounting to open heavy
gate, and as she rode along she re-
moved her cap and, transferring her
hairpins to her mouth, let the reins fall
on Gingers neck while she shook out
her long hair and prepared to coil it
more closely. But Ginger gave sud
den jerk and in calling Whoa tire
pins fell from her mouth into the mud
and water. Then she laughed long and
heartily and gave the wind its will
with her hair No one would see her
anyway.
AS she neared the slough she felt
very warm and unfastened her habit
at the throat. Ginger was plunging
and snorting through the mud and
SlOppeu once WITH JERK llldt dlluOSt
threw the girl from her saddle. The
wind caught at her dress. and before
she realized it the two luckless letters
were spread out in the mud. 1t was
no laughing matter, for Richard would
be sure to find them, and the mud was
so deep she could not possibly dis
mount She drove Ginger as close to
them as possible and was leaning
over reaching for them so attentively
that she did not see Richard till he
rode up almost against her.
Her eyes met his, defiantly conscious
of her floating hair and her"soiled face
and above all the teltale letters. She
wished her writing was finer-she
could see that hateful ~ love you"
from where she now wasl He lifted
his hat and was getting down to hand
her the letters when she stopped him
Richard Copeland, you go right
away. Don't touch them. l will get
them myself"
you can't. You'd get stuck in the
mud. Let me-"
''If you do. Tll-hate you"
'You do anyway. and, besides, won't
look at whatever 1t is you seem to