The Washington herald., 1915-01-10

exercise.
They went away together.
She's sixteen" the mother was say
ing to her partncr-"s seventeen this fall
can't do d thing with her"
Il get terribly tired Of being dis
ciplined," said the girl to Saltinstall,
with d sigh. Il always wished | was
a boy. For one thing, you'd be left
alone
They went down to the tennis courts.
were challenged by PifTles-Whifles and
the girl child he was at that time rush
ing" and beat them disastrousIv. The
newcomer played like a little savage
with ferocious energy and determina-
ton.
Saltinstall introduced the newcomer
all around, and went back with her to
the piazza. She apparently was not
much impressed. and on her way back
gave HIM her Views Of all kinds quite
literally. She was lively talker-cspc-
cially after he had praised her playing
mimic, quite a natural actress, wild
and tull OF lltc as young fox.
! oh. wouldn't you hate to be wom-
an she burst out
lie encouraged her expression of
opinion.
Aren't they funny-honestly. aren't
they funny: Look at them UP there.
sitting on the piazza, likc-likc educated
ducks. Just sitting there evcrlastingly.
And the longer they sit. the duckier they
get. Don't they, now she inquired
carncStly-"don't they: Oh, I'll never be
like that-ncvcr, never! You sec if |
do
Tho two came UP on the piazza, arm
in arm, the girl talking.
our daughter plays very we'll" said
Saltlnstall, in his stiff way, to the
mother.
The wOmen's council looked her over.
I've been wondering. coming up"
said SaltinStall. Il have several riding
horses that need exercise. DO Won sup
pose YOU could let her ride ono Of them
with me-"
The girl, standing at one side, had
prccIpltatcd herself between him and
her mother.
! oh, do YOU mean it, she cried. Her
face was actually pale with excitement.
And 50 that riding OF theirs together
began.
How old did you say she was" ask
cd Mrs. Bisbee, looking up at the
mOther-when Saltinstall moved away.
Mrs. Bisbee lived opposite the Saltin-
stall house, and had the run of his
grounds-hOwers, vegetables, horses
even. She made herself very much at
home with them.
Saltinstall grinned to himself several
times that night as he sat in his living
room. His eyes would not let him read
indefinitely, and his evenings were pretty
long.
The next morning the rcsentfuI-eyed
factory workers, drifting TO their work.
saw another figure riding beside the ia
miliar grim-faccd man on the black
horsc-a small brown-haired girl, look
ing smaller on her big mount than she
really was.
They rode scdatcly at frst-he was
not sure OF the girls horsemanShip. II
was 4 wonderful morning-grcen and
! yellow; crows calling on the edges of
the woods, and Crimson-breasted robins
listening, and valiantly dragging their
reluctant prey from green lawns Life
boiled up in the child; she patted her
horses neck, moved in her saddle, gave
great sighS of contentment.
"Oh. isn't it great she said-"morn-
ings like this. i makes you feel So
adventurous. Come on, let's gallon.
Come on! Oh, can stay on, all right"
They clattered half a mile down the
road.
Morning has always seemed to me
nounced, when they walked their horses
Doesn't it to YOU You see, my father
and /, every morning, used to have an
. ID ,,-ho I L. H.
ed, of course; we couldn't afford horses
And every morning we went together
somewhere, on an adventure. We plan
ned them in advance He made me a
rope ladder, | remember, and | climb
ed out of the window to meet him-one
time. I've got it now-the ladder"
oh, don't you hate to get old" she
said suddenly; and as suddenly-look-
ing at his face-repented.
I'm always Young" said Saltinstall.
That's my business"
She laughed. without understanding !;
and went on Chattering-giving gen.
eral confession of faith.
Had he read Treasure ISland:' Did
he like travel? Wasn't it splendid to go
new? She thought so. Sic had always
/ l'du OIG lutd. HlG WOIlu ldlllGl DG Il
| disCovcrer-no. an arChaeOlogist, real
! ly: I noted archacologist. She always
! had. ever since she was child. And
! she still intended to be ono She gen
orally did what she made up her mind
! to.
/ From that time on, there was curl
Gus change. The man who was cXiled
to youth. who played grimly alone, now
touched the laughter and enthusiasm of
/ real youth again. Morning after morn
ing the incongruouS pair came riding by
| again, as the world OF men went out
to work-the girl crowding ahead, the
man slightly Lehind watching her with
/ half smile on his face Afternoons
| they played together at the country club
quite usually. 1t never occurred to him
that the thing couldn't last forever Or,
if it did, he quickly forced himself to
forget it.
But there were those who never for
get-who must not forget 1t was the
apprentices-Speculating, wond in G
over the approach of the chief venture
OF a wOman'S life-whS moved first
Whatever Saltinstall might think, or
rather not think. about the freezing OF
the clock upon the hour of childhood,
their instinct taught them better
So the apprentices watched, half
! friendly and half hostile. The veteran
bachelor, the rich man of the town,
was taken at LASTLY one of their own
age! There was a certain sporting pride