Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-29
the carriage, which was to take them,
Duval included to the Eastons' Christ

the carriage, which was to take them,
Duval included, to the Eastons' Christ
mas eve dance.
Betty had not put on cloak nor
hood-her hair fell In tumbling curls
over her bare shoulders. Outside 1t
was splitting snow, and there was q
thin white skin on the ground. But
darting into the hall she snatched
down long horseman's cloak, then
ran through the front door, down the
snowy steps and on toward the stables.
At first her sole impulse had been
flight. AS she ran purpose shaped
itself, a mad one to be sure. but suit
ing her present mood. 1t was to
mount Bonnybell. her grandfather's
darling, ride back, fling challenge at
the old man-and beat him in fair
race, in spite Of carrying weight.
She knew Joe would be down at
the crossroads waiting for a message
from her. He should ride with her
together they would distance the
angry colonel, even though his mount
we're Sir Archy, next to Bonnybell, his
pride. She knew he would dare do
it.; the Hawksworth blood did not
know how to be afraid. But Duvad
and grandmamma might Interfere at
any rate, they should have the
chance.
While this was beating it out IN
Betty's brain by help of Betty's heart,
she was in the stall, had scrambled to
Bonnybell's back, never thinking OF
saddle, hardly even stopping to put
bride in place Of halter. She had
heard her grandfather shouting
angrily after her. At first he had
waited on the steps-now he was
stamping down the walk to the stables
Just as she was clear Of the outer
door she saw him. lantern In hand, a
fine, almost a pathetic figure, ruddy,
white haired, erect, with yet little
RIGHTEOUSNESS Of movement.
In spite of 1t she flung at him her
challenge-the last words over her
shoulder as she sent Bonnybell
stretching away.
1--WE will wait for you at the GROSS
roads, :" were the last words, followed
by reckless laugh.
Youth Is cruel often for want OF
thought. as age is cruel in Its hard
insistence. The colonel loved Betty
beyond everything but his own way.
Betty loved her grandfather better
than anything but Joe. Nature takes
her course in spite Of wisdom, OF any
thing.
/, Joe, in cold blood, would never
have eloped with anybody's grand
daughter, least OF all the coloner's.
But how shall man under thirty, red
blooded, madly in love. say nay to a
creature Of snow and fire, who filings
herself upon his breast crying breath
lessly: Eve have to ride for IT.
honey! It's now or never!'
Ride they did, Joe in front, Betty
wrapped In the horseman's cloak,
clinging behind him. While they
waited, Joe had put his saddle upon
the mare a thoroughbred. coming
four years old, In whom the colonel
felt he had world heater. And espe-
cially a conqueror for Ladylove, the
Desha filly, who had beat Bonnybell
by an eyelash only in the local derby
the season before. The mares were
half sisters, by famous foreign SIRE
tout Of dams tracing to Lexington.
Sfr ArcIfy, the pursuer, was as well
bred, but in different lines. He had
years advantage in age, and mad been
pampered and petted as rarely ever
horse was, notwithstanding he had
been kept in training.
And he had rider. In his day
the colonel had been in q class by
himself. He knew still all the art
any mystery he had still the cour-
age, the sympathy, the soul that wins
on courage. Deadly angry though he
was, he had a thrill of Joy In this re-
bellious slip of his own blood. !.
"The breeds not running out, thank
God-no matter how this turns out, !
he said to himself as he pounded
down the road, the skim of snow
muffling family the sound OF hoof-
beats.
In spite Of the muffling Joe heard
them and smiled. Even anger can't
make the colonel lose his head" he
said. "He's not going too fast at first.
Sweetheart, we must do our best.
Whatever happens-well face 1t to-
gether-even if it is a couple of bull
let's
Eyes. Together-for life or death, z
Betty murmured. her face lightly
pressed against his shoulder.
Then she sat clear of him. They
were off she would not hamper him.
It was enough that he carried her
weight in the race for love and life.
She did not know if the colonel were
armed-he was angry enough for any.
tting-of that she was certain. But
he had, in sort, accepted her chal-
1enge. If they won the race he was
too square a sport not to forgive
them.
It seemed hopeless chance. The
colonel was welterweight, but Sir
Archy was up to it. Then he was
older than Bonnybell, likewise In
harder condition. She had been
eased a bit-allowed to run at grass,
whites, and fed sugar and apples
Betty's heart misgave her as she re-
called how often she had thus pam.
pered her pet. Now she stopped the
least bit to pat the mares flank and
say clearly:
"Bonny-win for us this time, and
= IN