Plentywood herald., 1928-12-27

grounds of the park, but the moment
they reached the fields, with one quick
last look at him, she was off Whether
she meant to give him breakneck chase,
or whether the wine of autumn had gone
to her head, Giles did not know But
when, in the first burst, he had tested
the mares wind, this chase of her was
sheer delight
Through glades. across the open, IN
bracken up to the hooks, over fallen tree
trunks, down a steep incline into q mead
ow past herd of solemn, disappearing
deer, over treacherous stubble, till, Just
as he thought he was up to her, she
slipped away by a dangerous turn round
group of willows.
Youth and Mischief incarnate but
something deeper than either of these,
too. He came up to her finally and
leaned, almost angrily, over to take her
rein. But with cut of her quirt that
just missed his hand by an inch, and a
wrench, she made him shoot past, then
reared almost perpendicularly in her
tracks pivoted her animal, and was off
again like an arrow shot from a bow,
back through the trees, lying forward
under their log branches along the neck
of her horse Then out from under those
trees she sped downhill: right down, she
went, full tilt, and after her raced Giles,
straining backward, fear clutching his
senses at the sight of the girl and horse
before him, expectation of his own mare s
falling with every stride. Mingled with
his fear and anger was grudging admira-
tion; never had he witnessed such dar-
ing, yet beautifully poised, cross country
riding.
At the bottom of the hill lay a stubble
field and Anemone switched round at
the bottom OF the incline and shot off
to the right.
Giles thought exultantly: Now I've got
herl She can't break back up that hill
and there's no cover for mile My mare
can easily outstrip the horse she's on
Then he saw, not fifty yards in front
a high twisting fence separating the
fields, and across its top, straight, ran
a barbed wire; and-great Godl she was
going full at 1t! She was going to take
it, jumping her horse in the sunl
Shouting frantically,, he wheeled his
mare outwards in an endeavor to head
her off. But she only raised her whip
struck the bay over the flank, and rode
straight on. Giles saw the demon gather
his feet and spring-then, in midair
twist convulsively and pitch downward
rolling over, as Anemone, flung forward
and free of the kicking hoofs fell crump
| led and still on her back.
| For a moment he felt nothing; he onl,
saw Dlle tWlSleu renee, Jne Drown SUD
BILE, the blue sky, her upturned face.
| When he reached her he found he
quite still, her eyes closed tightly, bu
he felt that she was conscious: so h,
| Just held her, his lips pressed to he
tumbled boys hair. Then suddenly he
head fell back and her lips met his ant
clung for one long, wild moment. Thel
her eyes fluttered open and she said
I'm not hurt in the least, only fully al
over. Is Shaitan all right?"
He lifted her abruptly to her feet, thel
went over to the dazed horse who haA
struggled to his feet. He did not speak
There was a CLINT in his narrowed eyes
a grim white line about his rigid mouth
And Anemone, dusting the stubble iron
her habit and pushing her hair up be
meath her hat, knew that he was yer
angry.
"Has-has Shaitan cut his kneesp" sh
asked unsteadily.
The horse was unharmed save for
few minor scratches and q cash abov
the right forefoot where the wire ha
caught him.
4 She went on, little pleading note 4
her low voice, Please don't be SO angr
with me. / meant at first to pull ur
then ! thought, II I jumped he Nigh
feel frightened for me-5o / did. / didn
see the wire or think of Shaitan and tn
sun. Please don't be disagreeable Just be
cause I'm not hurt. You kissed me whe
you thought / was"
Il Still with the grim line about hi
mouth, he turned abruptly and stoo
looking down at her.
Then he said curtly, II didn't kiss yol
I held you the way did because fel
I. you were badly hurt and / wanted