The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1914-04-16
THE SILvERMEAOE
HUNT
Winning the Prize In an I'm
expected Manner.
By CONSTANCE DARCY mAckAy

| : By CONSTANCE DARCY MAcKAY 3
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It was a clear. bracing day toward
the list Of November. and from the hill
which was crested by the old Lauder
dale mansion could be seen sweep of
country touched by varying colors-
the russell aud crimson Of oak and ma.
pie. the green Of undulating fields ana
hills broken here and there by tho
gray Of stone walls. the clear flashes
Of brooks or stretches Of open road.
"What air. cried Grattan Richards.
tossing back his head and taking q
long Whit.
"And what a day for hunt"' ech.
oed Rex Tellingford. looking past
Richards to where Emily Lauderdale
was chattering to a group Of men in
red coats. checking in her horse as the
hounds struggled to be of, straining
at their leashes. with every one In
such good fettle it ought to be great
old race" she laughed. tucking a
strand Of blue black hair beneath her
riding hat.
The eyes of Richards and Tellingford
met with an understanding CLEAN.
Each was cognizant Of the others
thoughts-that whoever brought back
the brush that day would win a prize
of far greater value. Both men knew
that their future happiness depended
largely on the mornings run. for EN-.
lily was a horsewoman from the tip Of
her riding boots to the ends of her firm
gauntleted fingers. She set immeasur.
able store by cross country rides. dar.
ing leaps and hairbreadth escapes. To
say man could not keep his saddle
was equal in Emily's mind to saying
he could not keep his head.
Though think there are virtues
equally as great as cross country rid
ing" smiled gentle Elizabeth Lauder
dale. whose love Of outdoor excitement
was neither so deep rooted nor of such
long Inheritance as Emily's.
Emily shook her head.
Dear Aunt Elsie" she answered,
"you don't in the least understand, and
I'm sure could never explain. It's
bred in my bone. that's all. II had
lived in the olden days I should have
had tournament-rushing of horses,
clashing Of spears. splintering of ar
NOR! That's what I call q wooing!
No mere ambling up to demand your
heart and hand! And, as l. find it hard
to decide between Grattan Richards
and Rex Tellingford, why. fair field
and fair play. and let the best man
win"
Something Of this headstrong resolu-
ton stirred in the girl as she turned
suddenly in her saddle and glanced at
the two men. Assured triumph glowed
on the face Of Richards. Stern deter
mination was written on Tellingford's.
She gave little nod of satisfaction.
They were we'll matched. these two.
The other members of the Lauder.
dale house party were not unaware of
the drama that was being played be-
fore their eyes. and it added to the zest
OF the morning as the signal was
given. the dogs unleashed and the
cavalcade swept gaylv down the hill.
Look Mt that girl!' ,gasped Mrs.
Royce Thompson. novice. who pound
ed in her saddle. "She's actually
But the rest was lost. for Emily was
already in the distance. galloping- ut
breakneck speed. while at her heels
followed Richards and Tellingford.
The rest of the hunt streamed after
them. Luck seemed to favor Richards.
His mares feet scarcely touched the
earth. She took fences and burrows
like u winged creature. Tellingford
was not SO fortunate. At the brink Of
a stream he was forced to pause and
fasten his saddle girth. Partly from
excitement and partly from annoyance
he fumbled with it longer than he had
intended. and when he raised his head
the others were already far atield.
Emily Lauderdale and Richards still
In the lead. The hounds had scented
their quarry and were in full cry.
Tellingford considered. There was a
crosscut that he had tried once before.
1t lay through bitches and brambles
and was intersected by five bar fences.
Still. anything at II pinch. and he would
back FleetfoOt against every mare in
the county. He congratulated himself
on this decision some moments later
as FleetfoOt went forward ut pace
that justified her name. Her course
now lay across wide meadows filed
with lush grass and starred here and
there by purple asters and skirted by
low stone walls til whose crumbling
chinks vines twisted and across whose
loose stones squirrels skipped and
chartered.
Bravo. old girl!'' cried TelIinRford.
bis hand on Fleetfoot's glossy neck.
gently urging her forward. At that
moment there reached him sharply and
piercingly the bitter cry of a child.
TellingfOrd drew rein. By the wall.