Year: 1874

only succeeded in getting both in an
inextricable confusion. Then she chung
in terror to them with both hands, on
which the irritable Crusader fought
himself into confused canter, which
developed itself into smart gallop,
dashing past the astonished Withers,
and stampeded.


Our friend, the Major, had arrived at
the meet that morning, and was con-
siderably chagrined not to find the OBJ
ject of his intentions present. "The
stiffest bit of country for miles around,
too" he said to himself. "What can
she be thinking of ?" His determine
tion of the morning was still in his
mind, and he longed for an opportuni-
ty of putting it in practice. Oh, for
the sight of the well-known blue habit
and iron-grey steed The Major was
destined to have his aspirations graft
fed in an unexpected manner.


He had been riding line of his own
for short distance, and was separated
from the rest of the field by the breadth
of a pasture, when he heard the quick
repeated rattle of horse going at full
gallop in the road on the other side of
the high hedge, parallel to which he
was riding, and in another moment he
saw through the twigs the horse he had
looked in vain for at the meet tear past
him at mad speed, the blue habit
streaming back as the wearer swayed
in the saddle, holding the reins in both
hands with the convulsive grasp of fear.


run away, by Jove !" said the
Major, turning Zerlina's head without
the least hesitation at the quickest.
Two or three intense, short strides-a
rise, and crash of twigs-a rattle of
horse-hoofs as they patter on the hard
road, as Zerlina just manages to save
her knees and nose from damage by
clever recovery, and then the Major, as
cool as if he had been hopping over q
gutter instead of one of the ugliest
drops in his experience, set her going
in pursuit.


The fact was, the Major was in that
state of exaltation that every soldier
feels on coming into action. Quick as
lightning he saw the coming situation,
and braced himself to take advantage
of it, and as he crept nearer and nearer
to the fugitives he felt his confidence
rise in his horses powers and his own.


About half mile from the place
where this stern chase commenced,
where the road was crossed by another
at right angles, stood an inn called the
Cross Keys. The Major knew this and
also that on the other side of it the road
dipped down into rather steep hill.
He had got up some twenty yards near
er when the inn appeared in sight, and
keeping on the turf at the side of the
road, that the noise of his approach
might not add fresh speed to the run
away. called on Zerlina smartly for
decisive effort.


In front of the Cross Keys there was
triangular patch of sodden turf, and
as Crusader came upon this he slacken-
ed his speed very slightly; the Major
dashed alongside and seized the reins
near the bit in his right hand the
horse, which was not vicious one,
stopped after few struggles, as he felt
lady, falling forward in heap on his
neck, would have tumbled to the earth
had not the ever ready MAJ jor leapt from
his saddle and caught her in his arms.
1t would have made capital picture
the two horses standing steaming and
painting, and the Major staggering I'M
der the weight of the senseless damsel,
whose chin hung over his shoulder
while her hair, released from it's bonds
in her wild fight through air, stream
ed down his scarlet-colored coat.


With some difficulty the Major car
ried his lovely burden into the porch of
the Cross Keys.


"Show me private room, and get
me glass of brandy" were the orders
with which he stopped the mouth Of
the astonished landlady.


ola Poor dear young lady p said
that female, in a voice of sympathy, as
she brought the restoring fluid. "Can
do anything for her, sir ?"


"No, think not" said the Major
decisively. "Leave her to me. I've
had some experience in cases of this
kind" and thrusting half-a-crown into
the woman's hand he shut the door in
her face.


swell, how she could ha' married
he |" said the woman to herself, as she
returned to the bar. She evidently
thought, from the Majors want of sym
pathy, that he must be the husband of
the sufferer.


The evening glooms were just closing
in, and made the little back parlor look
more and more dismal and dingy. The
Major raised the clinging vail sufficient
ly to thrust the edge of the glass be-
tween the lips of the patient. Present
ly the color came back to her face, she
drew long gasping breath, and felt
for her pocket-handkerchief. It was
in the pocket of her saddle The Ma
jor instantly placed his snowy cambria
in her trembling hand. Then she over
flowed.


The Major waited little. Then he
ventured to take the hand that was not
occupied with his pocket-handkerchief,
and said in tone of respectful ten
derness.


"Dont-pray don't give way so |
You're quite safe now assure you"


Sob, sob.


eff you knew how every sob you ut
ter rends my" ("vitals," the Major
was going to say, then he thought of
"breast, and finally substituted)
"heart, you-you wouldn't keep on 80. !"


Sob, sob.


You don't know how have hoped,
have longed for moment like this; to
hold your hand in mine, to feel that
we are alone together, that you do not
repulse me, that 1 am permitted" kiss
es her hand, that you do not forbid
me-" Business as before.


Sob, sob, sob. "When WiU she
stop ?" thought the Major.


" You do not answer speak to me-
or hear me while I tell you what I have