Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-28

to the dreams Shirley Claiborne pcs boraor,;es+ hono.
 "'''' 7" " '' and aspirations and to the books she had read, and she galloped happily out of the valley to the tune of an old ballad. She rode as 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 beasts fear, and even some of the tricks of the troopers in the Fort Myer drill she had surrep- .titiously practiced in the meadow back of the Claiborne stable.
 It was on Tuesday that John Armi- tage had appeared before her in the pergola, It 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 she rode far and fast until she was quite be- yond 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 ond 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- gitimate business in America, Jules Chauvenet was pretty well occupied, and now the presence of John Armi- tage in Virginia added to bis burdens.
 He was tired and perplexed. and it was with unaffected pleasure that he rode out of an obscure hill path into a bit of open wood overhanging curi- ous defile and came upon Shirley Clai- borne.
 hn ca<k rI H i, hnr - 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 spurt 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 bridle. She had the true horsewoman's pride in caring for herself, and her eyes flashed angri- ly for a moment at Chauvenet's prof. fered aid. A man might open 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 contentedly under the stroke of Shiriey's hand.
 Beautiful. The picture is even more perfect, mademoiselle"
 Fanny is best in action and splen- did when she runs away. She hasn't run away today. but I think she is likely to before get home"
 She was thinking of the long ride which she had no intention of taking fin Chauvenets company. He stood un- covered beside her. holding bis horse.
 "But the danger, mademoiselle! You should not hazard your life with run away horse on these roads. It is not fair to your friends"
 You are a conservative. monsieur. should be ashamed to have ( run away in city park. but what does one come to the country for?"
 What, indeed. but for excitement? You are not of those tame young wo- men across the sea who come out into the world from q convent frishtened