The Washington herald., 1907-03-31

the Polnt-de-Point, you know, and he's
most internally serious about It. Never
saw dear bruy. in my life, so moody.
really believe that he's getting ill.," She
swung her riding whip, and smiled at the
horizon She did not notice that Ryder s
face had flushed, and that he scowled;
ahich for him, was unusual.
BY the way. she continued. i asked
him the other day Why he was schooling
so much, and the strangest look came
over his face. Sis he said. Sis, If you
knew how much depended on this school
ing. you'd be serious. too Imagine get
ting so serious over a Point-tO Point.
Why. the men here are making a business
Of sport. It's disgraceful."
She had not noticed how curiously Ryder
looked, as she had told this story about
her brother. Miss Fanshawe however,
had seen the flush on his cheek and the
curious scowl on his usually unruffied
brow. Woman-like. she suspected the
cause, for woman-like she had watched
the little game Of hearts that was going
Oh IN quiet Warrington. Had she not
been Interested, more interested than she
ever dared TO admit, she would not have
cared But this comedy was fast becOm-
ing, for her, a tragedy. She was i'm
mersed more deeply IN the life Of others
than she was aware Of She was, like all
of US. dependent for her future happi-
ness upon those around her. and with
them there was being played the same
old game OF destiny that had been played
for centuries
so Sans been schooling in the early
morning, has he?' said Ryder noncha-
iantly. Sorry he's giving himself so
much trouble, he's going TO be beaten.
For"
Yes interrupted Miss Fanshawe
They say that his mare has two splihts
IN her forelegs, and she's sprained IN pc
OFF hind hook Isn't that 50, sis?"
Miss Scarlet rose Indignantly Well
If you aren't the two greatest prevari-
Gators in the world" she snapped Just
wait until tomorrow afternoon and YOU
will see whether the mare is sprained or
not Come, Dot, Pm going home. And
tossing her head into the air. she walked
over to the stable for her horse.
Miss Fanshawe rose 70 follow. but
turned and laid her hand on Ryders arm.
It trembled slightly as she spoke;
do be careful tomorrow over that
second stone wall" she said. It's five
feet. with a rail on top, and the take-on
is just-awful"
Ryder looked down at her with a pat
ronizing smile. but he saw something in
her eyes that startled him. He turned
away and jumped down from the porch.
"Oh. that's all right he murmured.
I've been over them and gauged the dis
tance II isn't anything for Sister Susan.
Really yknow. she's an awful game
little piece. She can take fl in her stride,
y'kncw. Right In her stride
And. as his two visitors rode out Of
the gate and turned their two horses
toward the village. Ryder sat down
heavily in the broken rocker on the
piazza. took of his clean. Immaculate
Panama. and famed himself When
Aunty Junc came out 10 announce lunch
con. he was still sitting there. rocking
uneasily. Deed / declar, believe dat
massa's truly and sholy in love" she
said TO herself Il never seed him ac' 50
curious in nah life befO'" And as she
heard him tossing 10 and fro upstairs.
that evening. she was even more sure
that something was the matter with
"Massa." But Ryder was worrying about
the stone wall II really was tough
proposition for a steeDiechase rider
But by o'clock next day. when the
crowd began 20 collect on the plateau
outside of Warrington IN order 20 watch
the annual P0int-to-P0int steeplechase of
the hunt club, his nervousness had en-
tirely disappeared. So sure was he of
winning that DE whistled gayly ali the
way over TO the beautiful farm where
the course was laid. The breaking cart
shook him up badly as he bounced over
the rocky road, but racing with Jim
Jumpers tandem was good sport. and as
the latter gentleman finally got his lead
horse snarled ~ in the traces. as a re-
suit Of trying TO pass by him, and a
stage coach load of sightseers-Ryd was
in quite d good humor when he arrived
at the course Jim Jumper was miles TO
the rear. leaving a streak of blue epithets
IN the air, as he jounced along behind his
inuactable pair
When Ryder had dressed himself in
Jockeys costume. and had been weighed
in by the bank president of Warrington.
Who was acting as clerk of the scales. he
found himself the target for all remarks
A crowd of countrymen. stable boys, and
field hands crowded around him. giving
advice, counsel I'D Information. You
must look out for the brook Mr.. Ryder. 30
said one Il declare but its ten feet
across by actual measurement, sun. Put
the mare for the middle Of the stone
wall. MT. Ryder said another; the
stones are cracked there. I've been over
and looked it over. sir" Il knows dat
mare WELL" hazard stable boy Deed
she's best when she has her own way.
Mister Ryder And by the time that
the other four riders were up and ready,
Ryder felt as If he knew every inch Of
the course. Scarlet had not looked or
spoken 20 him. He seemed to be I'D tenn
peTed and sulky whenever Ryder ap-
preached him. and so ne had not attempt
ed to begin the converse ton. A crowd Of
I ladf.e nd f1 riding aIg
clustered about upon the hill. Some had
field glasses thrown over their shoulders
in order 10 watch the races more closely;
others were armed with kodaks which
they snapped freely upon the heteroge-
neOus multitude. II was q gala dav for
the country. and the whole sport-loving
population Of these fertile foothills was
there. Every farmer who could beg, bor-
row, or steal a conveyance had come TO
see the races. for the Virginisn loves a
good steepiechase as well as old his Eng
lish forbears when they first emigrated
10 the new continent
Looking carefully over the sea OF faces
Ryder discovered Lady Hope Greville.
Her brOther-dressed in very loud
checked suit-stood near by. vigorously
swapping the shutter of kodak. num-
her five. Lady Alice looked charming. A
veil floated back from her sailor hat. Her
face showed that she was interested in
this new and inspiring scene. For wo-
man of her temperament II was most sat
isfactory. She loved horses, she loved
sport, she loved racing. It was a perfect
day and the animation of the picture de-
lighted her. Besides. she knew somewhat
of the conditions of the Point-to Point.
Somehow or other the bet between these
two fine, manly, Virginia gentlemen had
come to her ears. It pleased her greatly
to know that there was such ancient
chivalrous spirit In these humdrum times.
What she thought of the two contestants
for her good aracas- and which She e.