Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-11-19
5cHAPTER x.-continue.,d.


at nine in the morning, and II you feel
so inclined you may ride with me"
she informed him at the close Of their
preliminary chat. He thought it over
for "a moment as he held the wire. It
seemed to be an assured fact that
the enemy was far away, it certainly
was too bad to keep an active girl
like Doris shut up IN; the house any
longer when she craved the open air,
and It certainly would be a delight to
again 90 galloping at her side. Any
way he would have his revolver handy
and nothing could get near them by
daylight without being riddled, there
fore 3Sss. X a s $l
And il you won come with me I
will go alone, she threatened in the
midst Of his meditations as she be
came tired Of awaiting his answer.
of course that settled it. e .j. ss.5 II.
Il am only too eager to accompany
you. Z, 3.sI rs 4.
Indeed! can imagine your eager
ness from the imp tuous way in which
you accepted the invitation. Why, l
did not wait over five minutes before
reminding you that Il was still listen
I ing. If I woke you up, apologize"
Il was not sleeping, ! was merely
thinking Somehow cannot think
much and talk at the same time as
some people seem to be able to. do.
Lucky for them they can though
otherwise they would not think much, b
he added with q grin. But the attempt
\ ed sarcasm was evidently lost on
Doris for her laugh came tinkling over
the wire.
+ Now ! wonder whom you can mean
by that, for goodness knows II never
utter q word except when I happen,
to think OF something 4 want to say.
Then I may expect you to call at nine
in the morning :" 5 ~; n s4i
555Si' ''Y gu may VI 81
Very well, will tell you the rest
of the gossip that I have picked up
over the phone then And with that
she rang on abruptly as she usually
did when she had had her say and left
him to pursue the affairs Of business.
4 Promptly at the hour: appointed the
next day he rode sing le-footing up to
the block before her house. Mounted
on handsome chestnut horse with
four white stockings, riding splendid
4ly, Doris admitted to herself that she
was proud Of his appearance as he dis
mounted and took her bride reins as
she swung herself into the saddle, for
Doris was of the west where all wom-
en- who ride horses at all are wise
enough to ride them astride. Then
with a clatter OF hoofs they were on
down the road galloping side by side,
vagrant, wisps of the girls shining.
hair swapping in the breeze like tiny
pennants, her parted lips showing the
4 tips Of her even white teeth, her eyes
frightening with the swift coursing of
7 her blood, her spirits effervescing, ra.
diant, happy. once more. And March
seeing all this sighed the sigh Of an
ardent lover as his thoughts few on to
well, to whence do every ardent
lovers thoughts take flight when he
rides by the side Of her who inspired
them?
Close beside them the mountains
grim and vast lowered up SO steep
that q mountain sheep would have had
to choose his way with care-Titanic
walls thrown up in prehistoric ages
5 to mark the end of the dominion Of
the plain and the beginning Of the
land of snow-clad peaks and abyssmal
gorges. Above them the marvellous
sky stretched into infinity, unmarried
by speck visible to the human eye,
upon their head the rays Of the sun
fell warmly, but the air was crisp and
sparkling, sweet to the nose and lungs,
invigorating, celebrating. Miles be-
hind them lay the peaceful city, silent
in the Sunday morning save for the
faint tolling Of bells. It was a day,
an hour and a place to make one
tingle with the Joy Of wholesome ex-
ercise, the sweetness Of youth and
health, the gladness of living. Doris
laugh, low and contented, was seldom
still.
They had ridden rapidly in round