The Parker post., 1915-06-12
With EARS8Y'S help
BY F. w. SULLIVAN.
(CoDvright.)

THE situation has it's merits, I'll
admit" l replied, glancing happily at
the radiant girl
We were seated side by side in the
little tWo-wheeled vehicle known as
donkey-cart | tried earnestly to dis
entangle the leaping landscape to dis
cover our Whereabouts.
And you have tried to convince me
that an automobile is the only means
of seeing the county" she remarked
scornfully.
It's the only means of seeing it i'll
one place." l ierked out. If those
trees would only stay put for minute
| might enjoy it more"
The padded board that passed for
seat back struck me sharply beneath
the shoulder blades, for the three
lundredth time.
"Oh, it's all in getting used to it,
Dick, was the patronizing reply.
Same as a broncho," hazarded.
foiling the seat back triumphantly by
leaning forward Eloise did not deign
% answer this fippancy.
We had left Northampton shortly
after luncheon to drive along the road
hat circles the bay on the south shore
Of Long Island After two weeks OF
pleading, interspersed with glorious
rides in my humble roadster, | had
finally agreed to become Eloise's guest
for the afternoon behind Earsby, on
one condition--that the duke should
be left behind
This in itself was regarded by con-
servative observers as a triumph in
itself, seeing that the duke-a real
one at that-had been the girls con-
atant companion of late during most
Of the hours between sunrise and mid
night
His Grace of Twizdale was not a
half bad sort in his way but, | often
asked myself, how could he love Our
Lady of Joys as / did, who had been
TO school with her in pinafores and
hoped vainly for SO long?
Where are we now?" | asked.
On our way home, my fine humor-
ist," replied Eloise triae icily. i
suppose you are glad"
only because youehave an engage
ment with the duke at half-past three,
] replied, 'and ought to be on time.
You reminded me Of the fact yourself
before we started out
Eloise colored a trifle and | cursed
my bluntness.
The duke will keep" she said
dryIy.
He wasn't picked when we left, :"
| suggested, but you can't tell what
he has been doing since.
Please confine your witty observa-
tons to the landscape, Richard"
warned ElOise stiffiy.
SLOW down your mule and | Will,
/ retorted with an equal amount of
spirit
The conversation languished after
this, and the afternoon appeared about
to become a failure.
We approached a little grove and
sufTeptitiousIy looked at my watch.
It was Just three o'clock, and | judged
we would not disappoint the duke.
resigned myself with a twinge of bit
terness.
AS we entered the cool greenness OF
the little arbor, Earsby dropped from
his racking canter to walk and in
the very center of the shade stopped
short, pulling at the reins to loosen
their tension.
Get up!" commanded Eloise
sharply.
The brute twitched his ears and
turned his head so as to observe us
with a kind of asinine insolence. His
expression was SO far from compli-
mentary that l took it as a personal
affront
Here let me have the reins,"
commanded, and took them from
Eioise
Kn0tting the ends, l beIabored the
animal with considerable energy and
precision Earsby turned his head to
the front, whisked his tail and slew &
.ay that was resting on his seventh rib.
After that demonstration of marks
manship paused.
Perhaps a switch will do the busi-
ness BETTER" suggested Eloise, and
Immediately got out and cut one from
the nearest tree. Again | attacked
the stubborn animal, but only succeed
ed in raising a cloud of dust
Earsby yielded great sigh of com
fort and commenced to nibble the
grass at the side of the road My
herculean blows might as we'll have
been raindrops.
Stop" cried Eloise. when ! was
about to swoon with fatigue Il think
love will do it. never did believe. in
using brute force with animals"
mo, keep it for humming- birds"
said l. heaving the splintered club into
the underbrush
Eloise again chose to disregard my
words and descended from the cart.
She slipped her fingers beneath the
bride, patted the neck Of the creature
and talked gently, but firmly, to him
Then she started to lead him; but she