The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-28
On the Wings
OF Pegasus.
By MARTHA COBB SANFORD.
Copyright, 1907, by M. M. Cunningham

Ou lHe pOuIAels SpIauS ASHuJ AAtO LILO
saddle
"Heavenlyg' agreed the girl, but the
wistful expression in her eyes belied
her gayety.
'Wud ye be goin' alone" queried
Mike, skillfully adjusting the folds Of
her riding skirt
1T looks that way laughed Marcia,
unless / meet Lochinvar on the high
way.
ST was only thinkin', 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 ay
coorse if Misther Lock pardon, miss,
L fight the rist av is name-is goin' to
meet ye"
Marcia interrupted him with merry
laugh.
"Oh, Pegasus and will get along
all right. How his coat shinesl 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 appreciatively and tip
ped his cap.
Now don't We be dom any jumpin',
Miss Marcia" he cautioned, as Mar
ella, her proud chin held high, gave
Pegasus a smart flick with her silver
tipped crop and trotted of along the
smoothly raked drive.
'Phwat r-rud wud We be takin', Miss
Marcia? 2" called the admirfng groom
after her
'The Tanglewood road, l guess
Marcia answered back over her shout
der.
There really was no guesswerk about
it. Since a certain memorable day
nearly 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 tNa high
way that led into the old winding road,
her thoughts galioped ahead Of her
horses hoofs, and already in magma
ton she had brought Pegasus to
halt at the edge Of the wood and was
watching, spelIbound, man and horse
take jump after jump over the mead
ow wall
How she longed to fry 1t herself.
Pegasus vaulted Beautifully, she knew.
She had seen him take the bars many
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 greyhound
over the meadow wall The unexpect-
edness of it 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
loped up beside her and, dispensing
with even an apology for his lack of
conventionality, exclaimed: "a mag
nifcent performance! Please accept
my compliments"
And she, conscious of the rising col
or in her cheeks, had answered smil-
ingiy.
1.-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 I never took a jump before.
My horse followed your lead. was
never more astonished In all my life"
I'm that case allow me to pay my
compliments over again." the man had
then said, looking at her with undis-
guised admiration. Pegasus has a
wonderfully clever rider,
And n-Marcia blushed to recall
itLshe had spent the rest Of that glori-
GUS morning in taking vaulting lessons
from an unknown riding master And
If 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 to the rescue, and
romance was forced to 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 prosaic arguments Of prudence
and literally given rein to her fancy.
The air was as crisp and the sky as
blue as on that other day. Her heart
thumped with excitement
Easter, Pegasus, faster" she urged,
touching the horses shining TANKS
with her crop. Were almost there"
When the edge Of the wood was
reached she drew rein and with eager
shining eyes looked out expectantly
over the brown meadows. There was
no one in sight Well, she would have
one jump anyway.
Pegasus was as keen for the sport
as Marcia herself He took the wall
handsomely-no only once, but again
and again. Then, gate Of bars far
Their down in the wall catching Mar
cias attention, she decided to put her
horse at that. IL was higher than the
wall and would be glorious to fly over.
Just as Pegasus sprang for the leap |
the sound of hoofs galloping hard be-
hind her caused Marcia to look back.
She recognized Mike on her fathers
saddle horse, and the next moment,
how she never knew, found herself
hurled high over Pegasus head.
AS luck would have it, she landed On
heap of dead leaves blown by the
winds against the flank of the wall
and so was only badly stunned. When
at length she recovered consciousness
some one was kneeling beside her and |
bathing her forehead with cold water.
Don't tell father, Nike" she plead
ed family, her eyes still closed.
mo, miss"
Then again after few minutes 81
lence:
Gam l badly hurt, Mike"
mot the ghost of a scratch, Miss |
Marcia. couldn't have picked out a
betther place FIR ye to land myself-a
pile av soft leaves and shtrame Of |
water-r close by. Faith an it's luck
was ridin' wild We the day, Miss Mar
cia."
But how did you happen to follow
me, Mixer"
II was afraid We might not be matin'
that Misther Lock-pardon me FIR FIR
gittin' his name ag'in-afther all. Did |
Pegasus run wild We, missF How came
We to be jumpin' p
A faint color stole into the girls
cheeks.
"But / can jump. Mike. You should
see me-" she said in a tone full Of
pride In spite of its faintness.
II have many's the toime," was
Mixes unexpected reply.
Marcia's eyes opened wide She RATS