Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-04-17

tie sister into the blackboard and took

Marthena Judd never forgot that
wild ride across the prairie. The po-
MES actually paved the air as they
started forth, and then in a spirit II
recklessness they galloped mady for
miles and miles, while Marthena held
her breath and Henry laughed as he
put one arm around her and drove the
ponies with the other hand
Home" cried Henry as he turned
In between two rail- posts and with
a last clatter of hoofs and scatter
Ing Of sand and gravel the ponies
stopped at the broad porch of n pleas
ant ranch house that oveSsooked the
Bitter Tree valley with II glimpse Of
the shining river at the bottom and the
everlasting hills beyond.
Henry made her go straight to bed,
and he carried her supper TO her in
the little room that he had furnished
for her with all of mans clumsy
tenderness.
Larry Barnes went to ChOco with
me, and we picked out the stuff, Larry
said he remembered that blue was
your favorlte color, so we got every
thing blue and white. Larry chose
the pictures. He said the one OF
st. Cecilia there looked like you.
Great fellow, Larry Now, you close
your eyes and go to sleep. Get up
when you like and order what you
want for breakfast from Lee Sing.
Good night"
With Henry's kiss on her brow
Marthena went to sleep with little
smile on her lips and awoke to the
glory OF perfect morning.
After she had lesurely dressed she
went down to the veranda, where Lee
Sing, with many polite gestures, in
vited her TO breakfast. While she sat
there she heard the mad clatter Of
hoofs and saw horse gallOping
around the yard. From the distant
corral came a shout as one, two, three,
more horses leaped the gate and fol-
lowed the first untamed animal Three
cowboys mounted on horses pursued
the runaways. with lusty shouts and
lariats held ready for action.
Marthena wondered vaguely II Larry
Barnes was one of these cowboys who
rode so fearlessy and so gracefully.
She went to the edge of the veranda
and waved her table napkin at the vi
cious black horse that paved the steps,
and he scattered away to fall victim
to the lariat of the most graceful rider
Of them all, bareheaded giant with
blue-black hair and n skin bronZed
like an Indians.
Then Marthena, when 1t was all over
and the horses had been driven back
into the corral, realized that she had
displayed unwonted enthusiasm, She
had not only waved her napkin fran
tically ut the victorious riders, but she
had cheered them on to greater eff
forts, so that she went back to her
seat with scarlet cheeks and shamed
eyes.
step sounded behind her and she
looked up to see the graceful brown
checked rider who had flashed white
teeth at her as he captured the black
horse.
There was strange familiarity
about him that puzzled her.
"Don't remember me, Marthena2 :" he
asked. holding out a big hand
"Oh, Larry-LArry Barnesp cried
Marthena. what have you done to
yourselff | didn't recognize you"
II hope the change IL for the better"
said Larry gravely.
at IL. Oh, IL isw cried Marthenn,
with such evident admiration In her
tone that both Of them suddenly laugh.
ed outright In the pure Joy Of youth
and perhaps In the discovery OF some
thing that both OF them had lost.
"Henry's gone to Chico" said Larry
sitting down ON the railing OF the
veranda, "and no has delegated me to
give you your first riding lesson
Cherry Is the prettiest little pony you
ever saw, Marthena, and Henry and |
picked out the saddle the other day,
and
THANK you for helping Henry
choose the things for my room" said
Marthena gratefully. And she won
dered why Larry blushed so furously
and changed the subject. She felt very
kindly toward him.
well. Sis" said Henry that night at
supper, you look as rosy as can he.
How do you like the sagebrushT'
Its heavenly cried Marthena so
heartily that Henry laughed aloud, and
Larry, who had been invited to supper,
blushed deeply.
"Then you don't want To go back TO
SharonT teased Henry.
"Neverw exclaimed MarthenR "Tll
tell you when do, Henry"
"Pll wager that will be never" said
Henry. but he said II TO himself 80 that
no one could hear He had read the
signs Of renwakened interest In the
bctraylng eyes of his sister and Larry
Barnes, and he was very glad Larry
was capital fellow, and Aunt Hep
sey's letter about Lionel Forbes had
been dlsquieting.
Three months afterward Marthena
and Larry came In from n long ride
with the glory OF perfect happiness
shining in their faces. Henry, stand.
Ing on the veranda smoking his pipe,
smiled tenderly as they came mp the
steps
blessings. my chlldrenr' he said
heartily, for he had read that day In n
paper from Sharon that Lionel Forbes
had married n girl from the city, and
he knew that Marthena would receive
the news with Indifference.
Marthena. standing In her little bed
room that night amid all the pretty
blue and white furniture chosen by
the two men who loved her devoicdly
smiled through her tears as she knrlt
down to say her prayers.
"Its wonderful she murmured
ITS marvellous how the path Of duty
leads one 10 love and hnDpinessi
MONEY TO LEND.
1V1 have the following
anna ca 0o0 90 Sn0 90 Q0n 60 EHn