Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-03-21
CHAPTER u.
Meriwsther and Theodosia,

legs were long and straight. His boots
were neatly vanished, his coat well
cut, his gloves of good pattern for that
time. His hat swept over mass of dark
hair. which fell deep in its loose cue
upon his neck. His cravat was immac
ulate and well tied. He was good
figure Of man. a fine example of the
young manhood Of America as he rode
his light, firm hand half unconsciously
curbing the antics of the splendid ami
NAL beneath him-a horse deep bay In
color, high melted, mount fit for a
monarch-or for young gentleman OF
Virginia little more than hundred
years ago.
It was not the horse of a monarch
the young man bestrode. None the less
it was the horse Of one who insisted
that his stables should be as good as
those Of any king-none less, If you
please. than Mr.. Thomas Jefferson,
then president of the United States OF
America. ~
This particular animal was none
other than Arcturus, Mr.. Jefferson's
favorite saddler. 1t was the duty as
well as the desire of Mr.. Jefferson's
private secretary to give Arcturus and
his stable mate, Wildair, their exer-
else on alternate days. On this sum
mer morning Arcturus was enjoying
his turn beneath his rider, who, for
sooth, was more often in the saddle
than Mr.. Jefferson himself.
Horse and rider made q picture In
perfect keeping as they Jared on to-
ward the little used forest road which
led out Rock creek way. Yonder, a few
miles distant, was a stone mill owned
by an old German. who sometimes
would offer a cup of coffee to an early
horseman. Perhaps this rider knew
the way from earlier wanderings
thither on other summer mornings.
He advanced into the wood until all
sight of the city was quite cut off from
him, until the light grew yet DINNER
along the forest road, in places almost
half covered with leafy canopy, until
at length he came to the valley Of the
little stream. He followed the trail as
it rambled along the bank toward the
mill through scenes apparently famil-
lar to him.
Abstracted as he was, he must have
been alert, alive, for now suddenly he
broke his moody reverie at some sound
which he heard on ahead.
1t was the sound of a voice that the
young cavalier had heard, the voice Of
woman. apparently woman in some
distress. What cavalier at any time
of the world has not instinctively leap
ed forward at such sound? In less
than half moment the rider was
around the turn Of the leafy trail.
She was there. the woman who had
cried out, herself mounted and now
upon the point of trying conclusions
with her mount. Whether dissatisfac-
ton with the latter or some sudden
fear Of her own had caused her to cry
out might have been less certain had it
not been sure that her eye was at the
moment fastened not upon the frac-
tious steed, but upon the cause of bis
unwonted misbehavior.
The keen eye of the young man look
ed with hers and found the reason for
the sudden scene. A serpent some feet
In length. one of the mottled, harmless
species sometimes locally called the
blow snake. obviously had come out
into the morning sun to warm himself,
and his yellow body, lying loose and
uncoiled, had been invisible to horse
and rider until they were almost upon
it. Then naturally the serpent had
moved his head, and both horse and
rider had seen him. to the dismay of
both.
This the young man saw and under
stood in second even as he spurred
forward alongside the plunging ami
NAL. His firm hand on the bride
brought both horses back to their
launches. An instant later both had
control of their mounts again and had
set them down to their PAGES In work
manlike fashion.
There was color In the young wom-
ans face. but it was the color Of cour.
age, Of resolution. There was breeding
in every line Of her. Glass and lineage
marked her as she sat easily, her sup
pie young body accommodating itself
handsomely to the restrained restive-
ness Of the steed beneath her. An aris-
tocrat you must have called her had
you seen her in any chance company.
At first they did not speak. A quick.
startled look came into the face of the
young woman. A deeper shade glow
ed upon the cheek of, the cavalier. red
dening under the skin-a flush which
shamed him. but which he could not
master. He only kept his eyes straight
between his horses ears as he rode
after he had raised his hat and bowed.
II am to thank Captain Lewis once
more" began the young woman in a
voice vibrant and clear, the sweetest.
kindest voice in the world. 1T is good
fortune that you rode abroad so early
this morning. You always come ut
need"
He turned upon her, mute for time.
yet looking full into her face. 1t was
sadness, not boldness, not any gay
challenge, that marked his own.
Can you then call 1t good fortune?"
His own voice was low. suppressed.
"'--h- not t',cr'''
"..a Iii Ct i O! n'n. a :ao-' 80