The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-11-09
A COUNTRY RIDE
BY A. ROBERT GRoH.


or farm, or somewhere" mourned
Harry Townsend
, Helen Harsland, daughter OF tho
great rancher, Cyrus Marsland. had
come from her home In Big Timber,
Ar2., just a week before to visit her
!, aunt. She had taken the young men
Of the town by storm.
She was undeniably attractive, Pc
lite. viyacious, sunny tempered, with
rosy cheeks and great masses OF gold
en- hair and daredevil light In her
sparkling gray eyes, she was wom-
an to be desired She dressed tast.
ily and modishly and possessed that
savior faire which made her at home
In the best society Moreover, there
was about her certain poise that
might almost be called ''swagger,"
and an indebtedness that came
from life on the boundless plains Of
her fathers ranch.
"Oh, how l love to see a man that
can sit horse well" she had exclaim.
ed on the occasion OF the first visit
OF Townsend to her and when that
young man was already hopelessly
/ in love with her. She had described
the bronco busting" scenes to him
Townsend couldn't ride at all, and
saw the death Of his hopes right
/ then.
The next day he saw her riding
with Griscom, and his heart was torn
| with anger and, though he didn't real
| lie it, jealousy. He began taking rid
| ing lessons But one cannot become
a good horseman In day, and mean
time he saw her almost daily with
Groseom Griscom could ride, but
! that was about all he could do, And
On this fact Townsend fastened his
hopes. He believed the girl liked
him.
Miss Marsland delighted to ride the
| most spirited horses the livery af-
forded She laughed at Young Town
send when he expressed fear that she
might get an manageable one But
she was pleased, nevertheless, at his
concern for her
Townsend had ridden into the coun-
try one day. He had stopped still
and tried to dismount and rest under
a tree He didn't like TO ride, and
would eheerfully have given 1t up but
for the girl In his mind that had spur
red him on.
He heard a cry, and looking around,
saw q horse coming galloping down
the road in a cloud Of dust The ant
NAL was plainly running away. As 1t
came nearer he saw girl In the sad
die. 1t was Helen Marsland.
As she came nearer the young man
saw the look of fright In her face.
She had lost hold of the reins and
was clinging to the horn of the sad
die.
He didn't hesitate a moment 1t
would be pleasure to be killed try
ing to save her, and Immediately he
was in pursuit. Slowly he drew near
er though it seemed every instant the
animal would throw him. He could 4
almost touch the runaway. The girl I
swayed and fell toward him. With
a great effort he reached ahead and |
caught her with one arm and lifted
her to his own saddle. /
She had tainted. He brought his |
horse to a standstill, lifted her down
and laid her on the green grass by
the side of the road. He brought
water in his hat from a brook and /
revived her. How pretty she looked
with her flushed cheeks on which the
long dark lashes rested.
Her head was on his knee when
she opened her eyes. She smiled at
him ruefully. and in that moment his
paradise was complete, for he read
her heart In her eyes.
THAT cayuse was certainly a wild
one" she said and the slang word
tone. had an irresistibly charming
sound.
He laughed and helped her to rise.
She blushed at the admiration which
showed so plainly for his eyes. Then
she regained her selfuossession.
You are really an accomplished
horseman," she said.
Helen" he said-it was the first
time he had used her first name.
and she dropped her eyes. blushing.
Helen. mayn't ride beside you al
ways?"
She struck the side OF her buck
skin skirt with her riding whip fas-
tened to her wrist. Then she looked
up.
do you think you can keep UP
with me?"
The young mans arms went around
the girl, and there on the quiet coun-
try road, they felt the ecstasy Of
their first kiss.-Chicago Journal.
Apartment Building Birds.
birds build all manner of queer
nests" said nature student. bus
the umbrette builds an apartment.
This bird is OF the stork family. 1t
l.. 1fff1o moro than fGof |