The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-22


You mustn't" he said Its all
right for me. 1t doesn't make any diff
ference. you know, about me, but the
pace is too hot for a woman to ride
like that"
The face was a little pinched and the
color gone. 1t was the hardest day for
years and hounds had never checked
at all.
III follow you I said l would on
the train" the answer came. This time
there was no laughter. They went
more slowly through a deep plough,
both horses laboring. then out over a
low stone wall and on to solder
ground again.
The brook comes next" Striving
heard a rather small voice call, and
smiled and rode ahead.
Take it down there" he command
ed, pointing, I'm going here" 1t was
near the fallen tree.
Then he sat down deep in the saddle
and struck hard with both heels. The
mare did not slacken her speed at all
but seemed TO fly off the bank. She
landed with her forefeet on the other
side and fought like cat for a foot
ing She won, and was out and
standing trembling on the other side
Striving turned in the saddle and
waved TO the girl TO go back, but the
gray was already outstretched in the
air, wild light in his eyes, his head
high. The next instant he had struck
short of the opposite bank with his
forelegs crumpled, and the stream had
caught both and rolled them under.
Striving was of his horse in a fash.
Down stream a heavy root projected
H. NaA : T,,1 ,1v1,A
them. The girl was out of the saddle,
but holding tight to the pummel.
Striving was not a good swimmer, but
he went in without hesitation and in
a moment had the girl in his arms.
The gray was keeping his head out Of
water and paving madly for a foot
ing on the bank which was lower and
more solid here. Striving called to
him and the horse responded madly.
Then with one wild effort all three
came out together, dripping and ex-
hausted. The gray stood shaking with
fright for a moment, and then gal
Hoped crafty away. In the distance
the brown mare Joined him and the
two raced across the open fields.
Striving laid the girl on the ground
Her eyes were closed. He chafed her
hands and called to her in sudden fear
Her eyes opened and searched his, then
her head fell back on his arm.
oh, why did you do it?" Striving
pleaded. 1T was no place for a wom-
an to ride"
The other smiled a little weakly.
Il said =" she gasped a little
for breath and her breast heaved, II
said l would follow you, you know
and /, that time | doubted you. I'm
sorry"
Striving smoothed back her hair,
which chung damp to her forehead.
He bent nearer Il don't know who
you are, but you are a nervy little
beggar."
The other smiled somewhat wanly.
80 are you" she said.
Their eyes met again. Striving
looked away and his arm trembled a
bit.
There must be farmhouse some
where about. Well get a trap and
drive. They'll be frightened when they
see our horses come in"
He picked her up in his arms with
out waiting for consent and began to
walk. The girl did not speak and he
carried her in silence. After a little
she asked to be put down, and Striv-
ing held her by the shoulders for a mo-
ment to steady her, for she swayed
dizzily. At last they reached the road.
Striving drew out his watch.
"One o'clock. Where are WEI" he
asked anxiously.
The girl started.
"Oh, your case! l forgot. You'll
never forgive me. Go, leave me now,
you can make the two o'clock train"
l.
He couldn't leave her in the road like
that.
Isn't it odd, the whole thing, the
way we met and all?" He thought he
saw the color coming back into her
cheeks.
The girl nodded.
Yes, isn't it? / didn't know you and
Jerry knew each other. Jerry's a
corker, don't you think?"
oh yes, Jerry and l are old
friends"
I'm so glad. He'll be galloping this
way blowing his horn like a crazy man
as soon as he sees my horse. We're
pals you know"
Striving felt his heart choking his
throat.
You love Jerry" he asked a trife
painfully. "and Jerry loves your"
"Of course"
The girl looked at Striving. Striv-
ing was staring ahead.
Its always like that, isn't it,"
How do you mean?"
"Oh, nothing"
The note of horn carried down the
wind and they stopped to listen. The
sound of a running horse was quite
clear-the rhythmic beat of hoofs on
the country road.
Jerry He'll be so relieved to find
me all right. you know. I'll tell him
what you did. He'll never forget It,"
A man in a scarlet coat appeared
around the corner Of the road urging a
big half-bred chestnut with a pair of
long hunting spurs. All at once he
saw the two in the road and pulled up
so abruptly that il threw the horse to
his launches in the road.
''Phew," he calculated. mopped his
forehead with his sleeve. and stuck his
horn into its leather case on the sad
die.
"Phew! Jane, you've scared me out
IL