Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-01

dressed for ride. ona a.c,r.+,nr,
she galloped happily out Of the valley
to the tune of an old ballad. She rode
as a woman should, astride her horse
and not madly clinging to It In the pre-
posterous ancient fashion. She had
known horses from early years, in
which she had tumbled from her pony's
back in the stable yard. and she knew
how to train horse to a gait and how
to master a beast's fear. and even
some of the tricks Of the troopers In
the Fort Alyer drill she had surrep
titiously pncticed in the meadow back
Of the Claiborne stable.
It was on Tuesday that John Armi
tage had appeared before her in the
pergola. 1t was now Thursday after
noon. and Chauvenet had been to see
her twice since. and she had met him
the night before at dance at one OF
the cottages.
Once free OF the settlement shs rode
far and fast until she was quite be.
You'd the usual routes Of the Springs
excursionists; then In mountain by
ways she enjoyed the luxury of leisure
and dismounted now and then to de-
light in the green Of the laurel and
question the rhododendrons.
Jules Chauvenet had secured the hills
all day and explored many mountain
paths and inquired cautiously Of the
natives. The telegraph operator at the
Storm Springs inn was a woman. and
the dispatch and receipt by Jules Chau-
venet Of long messages, many of them
in cipher, piqued her curiosity. No
member Of the Washington diplomatic
circle who came to the Springs. not
even the shrewd snd secretive Russian
ambassador, received longer or more
cryptic cables. With the social diver
sions Of the Springs and the necessity
for making show Of having some le-
Ultimate business in America, Jules
Chauvenet was pretty we'll occupied,
and now the presence Of John Armi-
tage in Virginia added to his burdens.
He was tired and perplexed, and 1t
was with unaffected pleasure that he
rode out Of an obscure hill path into a
bit of open wood overhanging curl
GUS defile and came upon. Shirley Clai-
borne.
The soil was soft, and his horse car
ried him quite near before she heard
him. A broad sheet of water flashed
down the farther side Of the narrow
pass, sending up pretty squirt OF
spray wherever 1t struck the jutting
rock. AS Shirley turned toward him
he urged his horse over the springy
turf.
"a pity to disturb the picture, Miss
Claiborne! A thousand pardons! But
I really wished to see whether the fig
ure could come out Of the canvas.
Now that I have dared to make the
test, pray do not send me away"
Her horse turned restlessly and
brought her face to face with Chau-
venet.
STEADY, Fanny! Don't come near
her, please this last to Chauvenet,
who had leaped down and put out his
hand to her horses bride. She had
the true horsewoman's pride in caring
for herself, and her eyes flashed angri-
" for a moment at Chauvenet's prof
fered aid. A man might open a door
for her or pick up her handkerchief,
but to touch her horse was an alto
gether different business. The pretty,
graceful mare was calm in moment
and arched her neck Comfortably under
.k~>A> - ~
"Beautiful! The picture lis even
more perfect matlemoisell&"
Fanny issbest III +. sction~and splen-
did. when, Oh. gyms away. She hasn't
run, s&U stiHhst 1athink zshe IL
.afhain1allil Is adhanN