The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-01-02
so rudely? Anything profitable or in

so rudely? Anything profitable or in
teresting"
I'm afraid not. Do you think win
ming is all of life?"
"Isn't itT'
"No," he cried. "There Is the use of
strength, If one is strong, to support
the weak He paused abruptly, con-
scious of the triteness and futility of
his words, with the shyness of the man
who, self conscious without conceit,
fears to uncover his ideals before un-
sympathetic eyes.
"Oh, John Dunmeade," she replied
impatiently. "you're so disappointing.
with your schoolboy platitudes."
He made no answer; the quick red
rushed to his face. And why should
she interest herself in his ideals? A
long, troubled silence fell between
them.
"John," she said suddenly, was it
necessary for you to criticise and quar-
rel with my father?"
~ did not criticise him." he respond
ed quickly, land there is no quarrel
that am aware of. We merely diff
fered in opinion on a business matter,
each believing he was right"
"Will you tell me why you think him
wrong"
He found his lips sealed. 81 haven't
criticised him." he said gravely, "and
I can't begin now, especially to his
daughter"
The afternoon was spoiled. Into her
face had come a look almost of hard
ness, like the swift shadow of a cloud
absence of which had given her the
sweet, frank girlishness. What had he
to do with this girl to whom luxury
was matter Of course? Why did her
impatience with his ideals trouble
him?
"Let us go home," she said.
They went to the horses. From the
beginning Crusader behaved badly.
BE carefulp he cautioned her, as
they turned into the public road.
''That horse wants to bolt"
81 told you he lacks common sense
sometimes" she laughed.
AS though to illustrate this saying
Crusader now began a series Of short,
cramped plunges, rearing and tossing
violently to loosen the steel thing that
cut into his mouth.
She brought her crop stingingly
down on the horses flanks. Crusader
broke her grip on the reins, took the
bit between his teeth and, head low
cred, raced madly down the hill.
John did not stop to consider the use
lessness of risking his own life too.
His arm rose and fell continuously as
he tried to beat more speed into his
horse to close the rapidly widening gar
between him and the flying Crusader.
A turn of the road took her out of his
sight. Thereafter to the end of the
mad chase she was always just beyond
the next turn. He was not a good
rider, and the wonder was that as he
swung at top speed around the curves
In the snaky road he was not unseated
Mghtning's legs doubled and stretched
| with rapidity never before and never
again attained in his placid life, but to
John the space between the pounding
staccato hoof beats seemed endless
The blood thrObbed heavily in his tenn
pies, at every turn he closed his eyes
fearing to see a still, broken figure be
fore him. Yet to him just then life
meant to find-what he must find.
BY miracle the descent was accom-
| plished without mishap. The road raI
on level for few hundred yards
then began long gradual climb of the
next hill. Lightning's steps Jagged
At turn in the road just below the
crest he came upon the painting Cru
sader standing with head meekly low
cred. Seated on the roadside wal
Katherine coolly Eutting up her hair.
Lightning stopped of his own accord
Johns blood rushed to his heart. leav