The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-03-27
Theodosia Burr

upon the point or 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 1t
not been sure that her eye was at the
moment fastened not upon the frac-
unwonted misbehav1or.
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 notified, 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 WON
ans face, but it was the color Of cour-
age, Of resolution. There was breeding
in every line Of her Glass and lineage
marked be- as she sat easily, her sup
pie young body accommodating itself
handsomely to the restrained FESTIVE
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. "It is good
fortune that you rode abroad so early
this morning. You always come at
need"
He turned upon her, mute for time,
yet looking full into her face. It was
sadness, not boldness, not any gay
challenge, that marked his own.
"Can you then call it good fortune?"
&C. 1owvv
"Why not, them"
''You did not need me. A moment
and you would have been in command
again. There was no real need Of me.
All, you never need me!'
sYet you come. You were here had
the need been worse. And, indeed,
! was quite off my guard. must have
been thinking Of something else"
("And / also"
"And there was the serpent"
Madam, there was the serpent!
And why not? Is this not Eden? /
swear it is paradise enough for me.
Tell me, why is it that in the glimpses
the sages give US Of paradise they no
more than lif. the curtain and let 1t
fall again?'
captain Meriwether Lewis Is sin
gularly gloomy this morning."
'Not more than I have been always.
How brief was my little hour! Yet for
that time I knew paradise-as ] do
now. We should part here, madam,
now, forever. Yon serpent spelled dan
ger for both of u.s."
"For both Of us?" .,
"No, forgive me. None the less,
could not help my thoughts--cannot
help them now. I ride here every morn
ing. / saw your horses hoof marks
some two miles back. Do you suppose
I did not know whose they were"
"And you followed me? All"
II suppose did and yet did not.
If did knew I was riding to my
fate"
She would have spoken-her lips half
parted-but what she might have said
none heard. He went on.
II have ridden here since first saw
you turn here one morning. / guessed
this might be your haunt at dawn.
have ridden here often-and feared
each time that might meet you. Per-
haps I came this MOI ming in the same
way, not knowing that you were near,
but hoping that you might be. You
see, madam, speak the absolute truth
with you"
"You have never spoken aught else
to any human soul. That know
"And yet you try to evade the truth !?
Why deceive your heart about it, since
have not deceived my own? ! have
faced - out in my own Eet>-, I'D :
have, I trust, come off the victor-at
some cost !"
(To be Continued.)
Anna Terrell, age five, OF Yonkers,
was run over while playing in the
road in front Of har hOna 0nd in :