The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-14
He handed the dainty toy to her.

ALL LWeuLy, IL you hno" JuS'
where to strike. See! if you hit me
a sharp blow just there"-and he
turned his back and pointed to a
vital spot beneath the shoulder blade
lit would be all over with me-"
Enid shuddered.
PUT it down, Dorothy" she said,
involuntarily.
why, you little coward" laughed
Dorothy, Il am not going to kill Cap
tain Leicester or any one else. I like
this" she continued, examining the
carved ivory carefully; at is some
thing out of the common"
will Lady Derriman honor me by
accepting it? I had hoped to have
got it quite %clean," confessed Roger
Leicester; "but perhaps the butler
will be better at such a job than I
am"
Enid had been so busy up in the
picture gallery she had had no time
for any riding lessons. But one day,
when she thought all the party, in
GLIDING Dare-who loved sport-had
gone off to the meet, she was sur
prised by some n knocking at the
door Of her sitting room, which had
been transformed into a sort Of a
studio, and on going to open It, by
seeing the earl before her.
Are you very busy? Will you
come down and have your first riding
1~oeeon he ocked
Enid colored family, and answered,
hurriedly.
"Are you not hunting, this morn
ing, Lord Derriman?"
II did make a start; but Cherry
and I came a nasty cropper; and as
he went awfully lame, I thought I
would bring him home, and devote
myself to you, IS I ought to have
done long ago!"
Enid turned away and pretended to
cover up her picture more carefully.
He little knew how his frank, pleas
ant manner thrilled her, and how
hard she found it to still the beating
Of her heart and to speak quite
calmly.
"You are very kind" she said quiz
city. II will be down directly"
"You have a habit" Gervais asked.
ayes, Dorothy ordered one for me.
I have never worn it yet. II hope
you did not hurt yourself when you
fell just now, Lord Derriman?"
"Oh, mol" he laughed. II am very
tough; it takes a lot to hurt me-"
Enid brushed her eyes with her
hand as he disappeared.
She dressed herself hurriedly in
her habit, and could not help smiling
with some pleasure at the neat re-
Election her mirror gave.
The route they went lay past the
rose garden, a deserted wilderness
now, and the top Of the wood where
Dorothy had sent her that day.
They stopped to look at the coun-
try, and then descened a hill and got
into the lower part of the wood, fhd-
ing, however, a good road for a horse
and cart to pass along. Suddenly
sounds as of some animal in distress
came to their ears.
"By Jove!" exclaimed Gervais,
stopping short, II shouldn't wonder
if that is Bruno caught in a rabbit
trap. Poor beast! be has been miss
ing since morning"
"Oh, go andsee!" Enid said, quickly.
Poor old dog! Don't mind me. I
am not afraid to stay alone"
Are you quite sure?" Gervais
questioned, eagerly. II don't think I
can let him suffer on, and we should
be so long in sending help. Just let
the reins hang on the neck. So; now
Joseph will stand as quiet as a lamb.
I won't be a moment"
Enid sat very still as he disap-
peared. She was listening with pain
to the poor dogs howls and was not
in the least frightened; but quiet as
Joseph was, she was by no mean pre-
pared for the start she got.
No sooner had Gervais pushed his
way in to where the sounds were than
a man crawled from under some
bushes just at her left side, made the
horse swerve and caused her to utter
a cry of fear.
She would have fallen had not the
newcomer seized the reins and put up
a hand to steady her.
Lady Derriman! Just the very
lady I wanted to see. Will yer lady
ship kindly make it convenient to
speak with yours truly this night
about 7 o'clock, just where yer lady
ship saw me the other night? Yer re-
member. I amt got no time now;
he'll be back in a minute. I've been
waitin' and watchin' to catch yer
again, my lady, and I hope yer'll make
it convenient, as unless yer do, Mr..
George Laxon may have somethin' to
say to-"
He ended his rapidly spoken words
as abruptly as he had commenced
them and darted back into the bushes,
leaving Enid rigid with sudden fear
and white as a ghost, from the sig
nificant threat she had understood
him to make. Gervais came out from
the trees and noticed her strange
looks.
Don't be alarmed" he said quick
ly. Poor old chap, he isn't much
hurt, and will be all right in & day
or two. I've tied him to = tree. and
shall send down one of the men fer
him directly. Now you look tired,
so I shall take you home"
He wheeled the horse round and
Enid was carried through the woods,
nYerWhelmed with fear main and