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

resleased air brakes at small station.
the shed of which projected over the
train and made further reading i'm
practicable. Striving drew out his
watch and noted that they were twen-
ty minutes behind the schedule, threw
the printed brief Of the Surrogate
Court of Appeals ANONYMOUSLY upon
the floor of the car and shut his eyes.
When at last he opened them the train
had moved out of the station and the
car was light again, but he did not
pick up the brief. He saw that some
one had taken the chair ahead of him.
1t had been empty before. Over the
top appeared a derby hat, that was all.
1t amused Striving to study character,
he had found the dress and luggage
of travellers often a good index, but
here all to be seen was the top of
derby hat and no luggage at all, so
he turned again to watching the scene
without 1t was growing more beau.
tiful every moment,-large open roll
ing country, not too fiat, not too billy,
just exactly right he thought,-for
hunting.
He leaned toward the windows and
rested his elbows on the sill, his chin
in his hands, staring. The chair ahead
turned slightly and from under the
derby hat pair of eyes regarded him,
but Striving did not notice,-he was
riding to hounds. 1t had come back to
him with a rush, years of it, hard rid
ing, straight riding, and slight flush
appeared on his now rather pale
cheeks.
They we're passing through a beauti.
full valley. At one place stout post
and-rail fence guarded the tip of a
ploughed field on the side of a hill.
At the bottom a broad stream ran
swiftly. The approach to the fence
was good, solid turf.
Splendid" Striving murmured,
"but, the deuce, look at the drop and
the plough soft, too" He clenched
his hands.
who cares, who cares, we can do it.
Keep your hooks well under you and
your head up. Now! well over, Gypsy,
and ware the brook. Go it lightly,
through this plough, you'll need all
your power soon, the brook looks
nasty and wide. Now for it where that
old tree is down.
Don't" a voice whispered, mot
there, not there, the bank gives way,
and it's twenty feet across"
Striving started. The chair ahead
had swung around and was pointing.
Ride to the right, to the right
where the willow is. Ride hard and
give him his head when you're there
Never" Striving did not look
around I'm sure hounds went across
there. We ride as the crow flies, where
that old tree is down. If it's twenty
feet wide Wen swim"
The train r11uaIaIod aarncc
and fifty feet below the stream flowed
rapidly.
There, there's the place, know 1
can do it. The landing looks good
from here
Striving stretched out his arms, his
fingers tightly gripped. He was riding
the brook Then instantaneously it
passed from view.
You see, you see," he cried, not
looking around, Il knew could do it.
A ripple of laughter replied and
Striving swung swiftly around. The
laugh still rippled and Striving turned
bright red. He could feel the hot flush
creeping up to his hair, he wasn't
quite sure whether he was more en-
barrassed or angry.
Look here, what did you say?" He
swung the chair ahead around. He
faced pair of blue eyes and white
teeth that flashed a habit, and pair
of smart-looking boots.
"Oh!"
The ripple still rippled on.
81 beg your pardon, I'm so sorry. I
saw your hat, you know, and thought
you were a man." he made a move
ment as If to rise and bow, but a hand
touched him and the ripple ceased.
Don't move" the voice cried, COR
you'll miss the best of all. We're
coming now.--to the 'lane'i"
THE lane!"
"Of course. the lane'i I thought
everyone knew the lane. There now,
Just behind that house. In and OUT
you know, and four foot six each way.
oh, but | loved the way you rode the
Darlington Brook, no one ever jumped
it there before!" The eyes twinkled
and the lips were compressed to keep
the laughter back. Striving threw
back his head and laughed, laughed as
he hadn't done for years.
And now for the lane!"
Come on the girl replied.
They were both riding now and had
forgotten the rest of the car.
Fearful rate we're going" Striving
smiled. The train was making up time
The girl laughed.
"Frightful. we'll never get out of the
lane alive. You see, there ii is. right
there, don't you see, just this side Of
that house. That's Farmer Twillin's
house. He detests to have us go
through. Now you ride there, just
where the top rail is down. It's the
easiest place, we always put the nov
ices over there!"
She glanced at Striving out of the
corner of her eye. He did not observe
the fun that was there. He was watch
ing the lane.
"I'll not" he protested. There's
where | go, where they've put in a
brand new rail. A fall will do me
good. You go where the rail is down,
that's the place for woman"
"I'Il not" the girl replied in turn;
eff you go there, | co. and the fun
died out of her eyes and she bit her
lin with her teeth. To both the thing
seemed extraordinarily real.
The lane was approaching fast and
nai+ber smoke Then like lightning the