Smyrna times., 1923-01-10
JOHNNY
BY MILDRED WHITE
pyright. ly22, Western Newspaper Union

ike 10 20 OUT anu 10 sOInetnlnS inter |
asting."
The invalid mother sighed
Il am sorry, my dear" she regretted |
ito keep you tied to me like this, but |
you are my reliable What would l |
do without my little Busy Bee? Claire |
and Cleo are such gay and happy but
tertiieS that l have not the heart to
claim their attention. Do you, Bee
dear ever feel that your sacrifice is
too great?"
"Sacrifice!" jeered Belinda. "Why,
d0te on taking care of you, mother.
Also, 1 am no social success. Too
much precious time wasted. in my
opinion, looking after the necessary
fixings to make one continually pre-
sentable. But today tempts me out
of this gilded summer inn; where shall
go, mother, while you are reading
and napping?"
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-
panying guests"
"What a fine idea ~ cried Belinda.
'Ill 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 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.
III teach you" he agreed
Belinda walked hriskly past tthe
stalls. Pick a gentle pony she or
dered. 81 will probably have hard
time hanging on, anyway. Where do
we go to learn?"
Meadow lane is the best place
said the young man as he was leading
from its stall black pony. Belinda
considered the groom, as she waited.
Mr.. Butler. at that moment. entered
the stable.
81 wish to learn to ride" began
Bee.
And ! have offered to teach her, :"
interrupted the read-headed man.
Tell her that I'm 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 ! call you?" she asked
the man walking at her side.
"Oh! Call me Johnny" he replied
indifferently.
Johnny was a painstaking teacher
Meadow lane, with it's sweet scents
and shadowy paths, was a delightful
: lesson place.
johnny" she asked one day. care
you Irish? You say things In the fun
, Iiest way, and you've got lilt in your
voice"
, mo, I'm not Irish," answered
3 Johnny, "but my grandfather was
/, Are you coming again tomorrow YoI
are doing fine"
"Yes, I'm coming tomorrow" sale
| Bee, land the morrow after that, /
: l may. viii you be busy soon, teach
= ing someone else, johnny
Never" he answered promptly
! when 1 can be busy teaching you"
But If Mr.. Butler sends you out?
she questioned.
an quit my job" declared Johnny
!, unless he sends me out with you.
Belinda laughed, and the glow o
her laughter was in her brown eye
when she sought her mother.
= II don't know" Belinda said, "whel
y 1 have enjoyed anything as much a
these riding days"
"Well, l am glad that someone ha
good time" sighed the invalid, "fo
Cleo and Claire have come home dis
> gusted. The same dull crowd at tn
=. drive again, they said, and the wealth
u Plttsburgher still not in evidence"
10 Belinda chuckled. Probably. sh
d remarked, "the poor man had to ru
I to cover, with so many fortune-huntin
l. beauties yOn his trail"
'' Johnny" she told the groom, som
time later, 81 am really sorry now tina
| can ride so well. There is no excus
r for claiming your services. You hav
lie been so jolly and kindly and nice alto
=: gether that-rm going to miss yol
4 Johnny"
Id You are not going to miss me-
n said Johnny decidedly. "As long d
3, those high Brownlee relatives of your
;" let you out once in a while to rid
t. I'm going to be there. That is" h
o. added, "unless you don't care to hay
De me, Busy Bee"