The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-08-23
liz. #: #
(f(uUm(lo By G?S;,s3ss
= Mackay.
copyrighted, 1907, bv VI. ~. Cunningham.

dale mansion could be seen q sweep OF
country touched by varying c%olors-the
russell and crimson of oak and maple,
the green Of undulating fields and hills
broken here and there by the gray OF
stone walls, the clear flashes Of brooks
or stretches Of open road.
Cad! What air" cried Grattan
Richards, tossing back his head and
taking a long Whit.
".And what Il day for Il hunt!!' echoed
Rex Tcllingford, looking past Richards
to where Emily Lauderdale was chat
terins to Il group of men in red coats,
checking in her horse as the hounds
struggled to be off, straining at their
lcashcs. With every one in such good
fettic it ought to be Il great old race!!'
she laughed, tucking q strand Of blue
black hair beneath her riding hat.
The eyes of Richards and Tcllingforu
met with an understanding CLEAN.
Each was cognizunt of the others
tllouGhts-tllat whoever brought back
the brush that day would win Il prize
Of far greater value. Both men knew
that their future happiness depended
largely Oh the mornings run, for EN-
lily was IL ~horsewoman from the tip OF
her riding boot to the end of her firm
gauntleted fingers. She set immeas-
urable store by cross country rides,
daring leaps and hairDreadth escapes.
To say Il MAJ could not keep his sad
die was equal to Emily's mind with
saying he could not keep his head.
Though l think there are virtues
equally rs great as cross country rid
ing" smiled gentle Elizabeth Lauder
dale, whose love of outdoor excitement
"a neither SO deep rooted nor Of such
long Inheritance as Emily's.
Emily shook her head.
Dear Aunt Elsie," she answered,
you don't in the least understand, and
I'm sure l could lever explain. It's
bred in my bone, that's all. If l had
lived in the olden days 1 should have
had Il tournament-rushing Of horses,
clashing Of spears, splintering Of ar
NOR! That's what l call a wooing!
No mere ambling up to demand your
heart and hand! And, as l find it hard
to decide between Grattan Richards
and Rex Tellingford, why, fair field
mo fair play, and let the best man
win"
Something Of this headstrong resolu,
ton stirred in the girl as she turned
suddenly in her saddle and glanced at
the two men. Assured triumph glowed
on the face of Richards. Stern deter.
mination was written on T%ellingford's.
She gave a little nod of satisfaction.
: They were well matched, these two.
The other members of the Lauder.
, dale house party We're not OF
, the drama that was being played be
fore their eyes, and it added to the yes
of the morning as the signal was Civ
! en-, the dogs unleashed and the caval
cade swept gayly down the hill.
"Look at that grill" gasped Mrs
Royce Thompson, a novice who pound
> ed in her saddle. "She's actually
But the rest of the words were lost
for Emily was already in the distance
galloping at breakneck speed, while a
I her heels followed Richards and Tel
lingford. The rest of the hunt stream
!! ed after them. Luck seemed to favo.
Richards. His mares feet s%carcel,
touched the earth. She took fence!
and burrows like a winged creature
T%cllingford was not so fortunate. A
the brink of q stream he was forced
to pause and fasten his saddle girth
= Partly from excitement and partl,
:. from annoyance he fumbled with |
I longer than he had intended, and whel
i he raised his head the others were al
ready far afeld, Emily Lauderdale ant
> Richards still In the lead. The hound
:. had scented their quarry and were II
y full cry.
! Tellingford considered. There was
! crosscut that he had tried once before
1t lay through bitches and bramble
and was intersected by five bar fences
Still anything ut a pinch, and he woul'
back Tleetfoot against every mare il
the county. He congratulated himsel
t on this decision some moments late
as Flectfoot went forward at a pac
that justified her name. Her cours
, now lay across wide meadows file,
with lush grass and starred here an,
] there by purple asters md skirted b,
2 low stone walls, in whose crumblin|
chinks vines twisted and across who's
8 loose stones squirrels skipped an
> chartered.
"Bravo. old gfri!" cried Tellingford
his hand on Fleetfoot's glossy neck
gently urging her forward. At tina
;, moment there reached him sharply ant
piercingly the bitter cry Of a child.
Tellingford drew rein. By the wall
circling a ditch that Fleetfoot wa,
about to take, lay a small, chubby fg
ure. one hand full Of flowers.
"Pricked himself with brambles,'
thought Tellingford. Aloud he said:
"Cheer up, sonny! Men never CT,
for a scratch" He was for urging
Fleetfoot on again when the ~inertnesl
Of the little heap by the wall smot,
/, home to him. He checked his hors'
and dismounted. An instant later b,
stood with the helpless burden in hi
arms. The child's yellow head reste{
against his shoulder. One small arm
hung limp across his own. With al
understanding almost human, Fleet
foot stood by the wall like a bronz,
statue while Tellingford mounted and
then went slowly back across TIN
meadows toward the road. The child
recovering from his stupor. began d
sob. Telllngfnrd soothed him Will
tender aNrEwnrant.s and was guidinl
Fieottoet IL ssH fir I eG,stSha-.r by tn
roadside when a woman ran down til
path leading to the door, untying he
checked apron as she went. Her bacl
i was toward the approaching trio,