A Dixie School Girl

he wedge to divide her own and Athol's ways, had Beverly been able to "let out a notch," as she put it. Nor had the little broncho been per

nt the rich blood coursing through each pulsing artery, little Apache was enjoying his freedom as much as his rider. In two seconds they were at the top of a rise of ground, down at the further side and out of sight of the oth

o had often ridden fifty in one day with Uncle Athol and her brother? Just a breather. And when there swept through the gateway of Kilton Hall a most exalted, hat

ve been regarded in the light of a distinct sensation. It would never do to forsake too promptly the role of being run away with. There were coaches a

ss the lawn which led to the field her sharp eyes discovered Athol upon one of the tennis courts and closer at hand a lot

e entirely than another, it was the pure delight of skimming over a fence. A five-footer was

to bother him, and her knees told him quite a different story as he swept upon the cinder path, took two hurdles l

hey wo

held one individual whose wits worked as quickly as the star performer's, and there and then shrilled across it a high-pitched, peculiar whistle which they both knew mighty well, and the four-legged one obeyed instanter by wheeling so

g demonstrations of delight and reach his sister's extended hands at the same time, while Archie

e," answered Beverly, with remarkable calmness for one so lately escaped from d

but keep bottled up for a minute, won't you?" he ended as Apache lay hold of his tennis shirt and tried to jerk him

wo coaches really concerned lest the young lady had suffered s

rom Yale and mighty good to look upon (so decided Beverly in the space of one gl

breath to reply the answer

e darkey. Indeed he can do both so perfectly that he actually lives in the characters he temporari

tical mind: It could not out-run Apache. He knew, however, that he must put up a pretty good bluff if he wished to save his kinky scalp upon his return to Leslie Manor, so he set about planning to "hand out dat fool 'oman a corker." Moreover, Petty was inclined to take the situation

I think it's perfectly awful not to ride fa

to manifest more concern, so throwing a well-assimi

minutes fer ter know which-a-way ter tu'n! I aint really believe Miss Bev'ly is in no danger 'twell Miss Petty done got me so sympathizin', but now I'se shore rattled an' I'se gwin' ter find out fer

road simplifie

on Hall was in sight. Then the dusky actor and his mount prepared to make their spectacular entré. Pulling up at the roadside Jefferson threw his cap upon the ground, twisted his tie awry, and let fly the belt of his riding blouse, then dismounting, he caught up a few handfuls of dust and promptly transformed big bay Jumbo into as disrep

Miss Bev'ly, is yo'

che's neck, buried her face in his mane and to all intents and purposes collapsed into a paroxysm of tears, to the entire dismay of Mr. Cushman, and the skeptical "sizing up" of

strung and exhausted. But we stopped her mount ("yes you did!" came sotto voce from Athol) and now we will lead your mistress back to the house where Mrs. Kilton will be delighted to minister to her comfort

stily wiped away her tears, (one can la

rst, but Apache is never vicious, and it was only th

right position and very n

gesticulations, had dismounted and managed

let on, wil

where's the rest of the bunch? There must be so

ime, an' dey's yander on de pike so

to leave the other young ladies back yonder on the road and he's a good bit ups

hem at once. This young lady will be carefully l

ed Mr. Ford, deciding that if Beverly was a sample of the Leslie Manor girls it would be just as well to see

ving room, the boys, and the instructors who had shifted into drawing-ro

Leslie Manor. Meanwhile Jefferson, who had looked after the horses, was holding the floor in the servant's

lf to Beverly, to Archie's ill-concealed disgust, Hope MacLeod advised

now we have never before in all our lives been separated and I get so ho

kindly Mrs. Kilton. She was too wholesome to se

ush up and stow a few of our duds. We didn't stop to sl

ber 70 presentable," said Athol three minutes later,