The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1916-09-28

could. Now, then, once morep
Again she wheeled the horse and
cantered away, only to turn him
and ride for the fence once more.
Gray in his interest quite forgot
himself. He vaulted the low wall
that separated the orchard from
the field and ran forward.
Don't try it!'' he cried warning
ly. cts too high! He'll never do
it in the world!"
The girl turned to look at him
coldly. Then she smiled.
ooh, yes, he will" said she. Gail
he needs is little confidence"
F'Don't try again." said he.
She raised her eyebrows. 81
can't stop now," said she. "He must
90 over that fence now that ne
knows it is what I expect of him."
'Then let me put him to it," said
he.
The girl looked surprised. "Aren't
you the philosopher friend of the
Renwicks?" she asked.
81 am," he confessed. Involun-
tarily he Strengthened his stopping
shoulders. "But even philosophers
sometimes ride" said he. ''Fd like
to put him to the fence if you don't
mind"
Instantly the girl slid from the
saddle.
"Do so by all MEANS" she sug-
gested. "I've been trying it all the
morning, and l confess Pm begin
ming to doubt my ultimate success
with him."
Gray looked at her pretty flush
ed face and her sparkling eyes.
"And if l succeed what reward
do I get:" he inquired boldly.
The girl laughed. "You may
have a canter with me up to Bald
hill and back" said she.
Gray sprang into the saddle. A
man in a sidesaddle is not par
ticularly graceful figure. But there
was light in his eyes and a gen.
eral determination in his whole
bearing that went far toward max
ing up for his lack of grace.
Three times he put the horse to
the fence, each time with no sue
cess. The fourth time he piled the
crop freely.
They reached the fence, and the
big horse rose lightly, cleared the
top bar by a good two feet and
landed easily on the other side.
"Bravo!" cried the girl. "Splen-
did! Splendid. SplendidF And
even the groom ventured an invol-
lntary "Well done, sir!"
"And now," said Gray, his eyes
glowing with eager light, 81 shall
claim that canter with you. Shall
we go now?'
He slipped from the saddle and
helped her to mount.
"You will take Peters horse"
she said, turning to the groom.
Come on"
Up the field they galloped gayiy
together, swung into the road and
headed for Bald hill. Back in the
orchard woodpecker chased a MIN
bic grasshopper over the pages of
work of German philosophy.
Just as they reached the bend
near the summit of the hill they en-
countered Renwick and his party in
the two road cars coming down the
road.
Mrs. Renwick stared in wonder.
Her husband chuckled openly.
Gray lifted his hat, utterly with
out embarrassment, and, with the
girl at his side, went on up the hill,
both IN high spirits.
"To think of it!w exclaimed Mrs.
Renwick some two weeks later. "Ar-
thur engaged to that Carlton girl!
Why, she can't draw breath with
out talking horse, and that's all she
can talkl She doesn't know thing
about philosophy"
Renwick looked out the French
window to the drive beyond, where
Gray was helping decidedly pretty
young woman to her horse.
"For my part, Agatha" said he,
with deep conviction, Il am might,
ily rejoiced. 1t shows that for all
his intellect he has a decidedly hu-
man streak in him."