The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-05
JOHNNY
BY MILDRED WHITE

turned to the window
Its a glorious day." she said. I'D
like to go out and do something inter-
esting."
The invalid mother sighed.
II am sorry, my dear,' she regretted,
ito keep you tied to me like this, but
you are my reliable What would l
do witho, my little Busy Bee? Claire
and Cleo are such gay and happy but
tert1ies that l have not the heart to
claim their attention. Do you, Bee
dear, ever feel that your sacrifice is
too CREATE"
Sacrifice" jeered Belinda. "Why,
I dote on taking care of you, mother.
Also, l am no social success. Too
much precious time wasted. in my
opinion, looking after the necessary
fxings to make n continually pre-
sentable. But today tempts me out
of this gilded summer inn where shall
l go, mother, while you are reading,
and n%apping?"
Horseback riding would be novel and
interesting" mother suggested. why
not try that? There's a reliable groom
in the stables here, l am told, engaged
for the purpose of teaching or accom-
spanying guests"
what a fine ideal" cried Belinda.
@'I1l go directly"
The gardens of the pretty summer
hotel sloped back to turreted stables.
Belinda noticed, as she passed the gar
age that her sisters automobile was
absent. They were to drive today, she
recollected. with a party, down the
river road. A wealthy young Pitts
burgher arrived at the fashionable sum-
mer settlement, and was being lavish
ly entertained.
Belinda stood in the barn doorway,
looking about for the groom.
"Hello!" she greeted a youth seated
near on an upturned pail. I'D like
to learn to ride horseback. Can you tell
me where to find a groom?"
The man on the pail looked up.
"'1'll teach you," he agreed.
Belinda walked briskly past the
stalls. "Pick a gentle pony" she or
rdered. 81 will probably have a hard
AhhN iahSihS VII, way III
we go to learnY'
Meadow lane is the best place."
said the young man as he was leading
from its stall a black pony. Belinda
considered the groom, as she waited.
MI. Butler, at that moment, entered
the stable.
Il wish to learn to ride" began
Bee.
And l have offered to teach her."
interrupted the r~ead-headed man.
"Tell her that II all right at the job,
Mr.. Butler"
The manager smiled. '"There is no
more capable teacher, Miss Brownlee,"
he advised.
So Belinda mounted her pony.
"What shall I call your" she asked
the man walking at her side.
"ohi Call me Johnny" he replied
indifferently.
Johnny was a painstaking teacher.
Meadow lane, with its sweet scents
and shadowy paths, was a delightful
lesson place.
Johnny" she asked n day. ARE
you Irish? You say things in the fun
niest way, and you've got a Tilt in your
voice."
mo, I'm not IRISH" answered
johnny, "but my grandfather was.
Are you coming again tomorrow? You
are doing fine"
Eyes, I'm coming tomorrow" said
Bee, land the morrow after that, II
[ may. win you be busy soon, teach.
ing someone else, Johnny?"
Never he answered promptly.
when l can be busy teaching you"
But if Mr.. Butler sends you out?"
she questioned.
"Ill quit my job" declared Johnny,
sunless he sends me out with you"
Belinda laughed, and the glow of
her laughter was in her brown eyes
when she sought her mother.
81 don't know" Belinda said, "when
1 have enjoyed anything as much as
these riding days"
"Well, l am glad that someone has
a good time" sighed the invalid, "for
Cleo and Claire have come home dis
gusted. The same dull crowd at the
drive again, they said, and the wealthy
Pittsburgher still not in evidence"
Belinda chuckled. '%Probably,' she
remarked, "the poor man had to run
to cover, with so many fortune-hunting
beauties on his trail"
Johnny" she told the groom, some
time later, 81 I'm really sorry now that
l can ride so well. There is no excuse
for claiming your services. You have
been so jolly and kindly and nice alto
gether that-Im going to miss you,
Johnny"
You are not going to miss me-"
said Johnny decidedly. "As long as
those high Brownlee relatives of yours
let you out once in a while to ride,
Tn going to be there. That is" he
added, 'unless you don't care to have
me, Busy Bee"
"Why" Belinda exclaimed. "Why.
Johnny! The Brownlee relatives are
any very own mother and sisters" Gle
Thought | was sort of maid to the fam
lily, she ~reflected.)
The two young people sat on the
ponies and stared at each other. Then
johnny slipped down from his horse
and came to Bees side.
"Well, | love YOU" he said huskily,
whoever you may be. And l know