Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-02-15
On the Wings
Of Pegasus.
BY MARTHA COBB SANFORD.
Copyright. 1897. by NJ. NJ. Cunningham. f;

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"A foine day f'r II canter. miss"
commented genial Mike as Marcia.
one hand on his shoulder. the other
on the pommel. sprang lightly into the
saddle.
Heavenly agreed the girl, but the
wistfu expression In her eyes belied
her gayety.
"Wud yc he goin' alone qucried
Mike skillfully adjusting the folds OF
her riding skirt.
at looks that way" laughed Marcia.
unless meet Iochinvar on the high
way.
Il was only thinkln'. Pegasus is pref
ty fr-risky the day. OWN to shtandin'
so long In the shtall. He's loikely To
run wild We. Miss Marcia. But av
coorse II Misther Lock pardon. miss.
I f'git the rist av Is name-ls goin' TO
meet ye''
Marcia interrupted him with merry
laugh.
"oh. Pegasus and will get along
all right. How his coat shines No
one ever took such good care of him
as you do. Mike. He'd win the blue
ribbon at any horse show"
Mike grinned approximately and tip
ped his cap.
Now don't We he dom any Jumpin'
Miss Marcia" he cautioned. rs Mar
ella her proud chin held high gave
Pegasus smart flick with her silver
tipped crop and trotted of along the
smoothly raked drive.
"phwat r-rud wud We he takin'. Miss
Marciaf" called the admiring groom
after her.
THE Tanglewood road. guess"
Marcia answered back over her shout
der
There really was no guesswork about
It. Since certain memorable day
nearly IL month ago no other road had
held for Marcia any charm-and yet
for three long weeks she had persist
emily taken another direction.
Now. as she turned toward the high
way that led into the old winding road
her thoughts galloped ahead OF her
horses hoofs. and already In lmagina-
ton she had brought Pegasus to a
halt at the edge of the wood and was
watching. spellbound. man and horse
take jump after jump over the mead
ow wall
How she longed to try Il herself.
Pegasus vaulted beautifully. she knew
She had seen him take the bars many
n time when out at pleasure But she
had promised her father that she
would never attempt It. That was the
condition. IN fact. by which Pegasus
was her very own possession.
Then she remembered with thrill
how Pegasus had suddenly started and
before she could control him had fol-
lowed the lead OF the other rider and
bounded with the grace OF II greyhound
over the meadow wall The unexpect-
edness of II had quite taken her breath
away But. oh, was there ever any
sensation so exquisite?
Before she could recover from her
surprise the unknown rider had gal
Hoped up beside her and dispensing
with even an apology for his lack OF
conventionality. exclaimed "A mag
nIficent performance. Please accept
my compliments"
And she, conscious OF the rising col
or In her cheeks. had answered smil-
ingly
THE praise belongs all TO Pegasus.
| didn't know he was going to do IT,"
How incredulous the man had looked,
You mean?" he asked doubling his
senses.
THAT never took jump before.
My horse followed your lead. was
never more astonished In all my life"
I'm that case allow me 10 pay my
compliments over again" the man had
then said. looking at her with undis-
guised admiration. Pegasus has a
wonderfully clever rider"
And then-Marcia blushed 10 recall
tshe had spent the rest OF that glori-
GUS morning In taking vaultlng lessons
from an unknown riding master. And
II further truth be told she had let the
accident OF one day dictate the pro-
gramme OF the next. But after that
discretion had come 10 the rescue. aud
romance was forced 10 beat reluctant
but absolute retreat In other words.
every day for three long monotonous
weeks Marcia had resolutely avoided
the vicinity OF Tanglewood road
But today she had closed her ears to
the proSalc arguments Of prudence
and literally given rein 10 her fancy
The air was as crisp and the sky as
blue as on that other day. Her heart
thumped with excitement.
"Faster, Pegasus. faster she urged.
touching the horses shining TANKS
with her crop. We're almost there"
When the edge OF the wood was
reached she drew rein and with eager.