The Girl at Cobhurst

who ought not to be neglected by the ladies of Thorbury. Dora had asked her stepmother to accompany her, but as that good la

s no one came, and as the front door was wide open, she stepped inside to see if she could find any one. She had never been in that great wide hall before, and she was delighted with it, although it appeared to be in some disorder. Tw

This was discouraging, but she was not a girl who would willingly turn back, after having set out on an erran

y came into her mind that perhaps want of life in the particular person she had come to see might be the reason of this dreadful stillness and desertion, and without a moment's hesitation she

s house, she met Phoebe j

u, Miss Dora? Mike hollered to me that a kirridge had come

rley," said Dora. "How is sh

, the very sparrers in the trees isn't as wild as she is. From sunrise this morning she has been on the steady go. You'd think, to see her, that the hens and the cows and the colts and even the old apple trees was all silver and gold a

nd; besides, the idea of calling upon a young lady who was engaged in looking for hens' nests in a barn was an

to the barn. I would a great deal rather do that than wait in the ho

for if she isn't thar, she's as like as not at the ot

s not as old as the house, although it had been built many years ago by Math

nned to accommodate Mr. Butterwood's herd of fine cattle. A little higher up, a wide causeway, supported by an arch, led into the second story, devoted to horses and all kinds of vehic

e impression of vast extent, emptiness, and the scent of hay. She entered, looking about from side to side. At the opposite end of the gre

to have been recently strewn there. The yard beyond was a neglected and bad-looking expanse, into which no young lady would be l

th his back toward Dora. The horse, a rough-looking creature, seemed reluctant to approach the

top boots, in which he strode fearlessly through the debris and dirt of the yard, gave him, in Dora's eyes, a manly air, and she longed for him to t

stand and look at him; his movements struck her as athletic and graceful. He was now so near that she felt she ought to make her pre

y the forelock, as I am doing, and keep her here until I get

ened wide at the sight of the young lady in gray hat and ostrich plumes, fashionable driving costume edged with fur, for the

thought it was my sist

I came to call on your sister. Phoebe told me she thought she was out here, and so I came to look for her myself. A

be far away." And then he glanced at the horse, as i

the barn and approaching; "I mean while you go and get its halter. I am ever so fo

beginning to find out what animals we own, and what they are like. This old mare seems gentle enough, though rather

indeed," said Dora, patting the t

much disappointed to find that out of our four horses, two are unbroken colts, and one is in constant use by the

en you can tie her, while we go and look for your sister. Don't think of

I might shut her in, but I don't think that I shall be

e to find a halter. His ownership of everything was so fresh that he forgot that the lower part of the barn was occupied by the cow stables-which the old mare did not wish to enter, or even approach. He hurriedly rummaged he

mal did not like being held by the young lady, and gradually she backed, first toward the side of the barn, and then out towar

me horses can't bear the smell of kid, but I can't take them off n

f the clean straw, and yet not very far from the wall of the barn. Here she vigorously endeavored t

ed out to the ma

from the ground, and saw Miss Bannister very close to him, tottering on the edge of the straw, and just about to let go of the mare, or step into the mire. Before he could shape words to

ld me,

ut his long arm, and

dirt. Perhaps now I can make her walk up on the clean straw. Come, come," she co

ister," cried Ralph. "It will hurt you

the pulling had not hurt her at all. In

e is open, and in a minute she would be out in the field again. If she will only make a few steps forward, I am sur

f he released his hold, he was sure she would be jerked face forward into the mire, or at least be obliged to step into it; and as for the mare, it was plain to be seen that she did not intend to come an

I saw you bringing this horse into the yard, and you were very determined about it. If I let her go, all your determination and trouble will have been for nothing. I should not like that. Come, come, you obstinate creature, just two steps forward. I have some lumps of su

re was not large enough. He could not help being amused by the dilemma in which he was placed by this young lady's inflexibility. He did not know a girl, his sister not excepted, whom, under the circumsta

ich was so unwilling to come to me. You are very good to hold me so strongly,

," exclaimed Ralph, "and I

bout Ralph's hand, which pressed hers more closely and vigorously than before. There was a

what I knew would happen. The wicked

rer the barn, Ralph still holding her han

istance at all, but she

grasp, and she gent

for you, I do not know where I should have been pulled t

'll have her again in no time," an

e very much to find your sister, and see her, for at least a few moments before I g

the mind of a lady, but Ralph felt a little puzzled. But be the case what it might, it would be charming to go with her through

rley, to have such a wide, cool place as t

e their acquaintance. I have seen them, only from a distance. They are b

, "that what are called common cows are often really better than Alderneys, or Ayrshires, a

e the carriages,-the coupe, the family carriage, the light wagon, the pony phaeton, the top buggy, and all the other vehicles which people in the country need. But, alas! you only see that old hay-wagon,

n a gig, you know, you can go anywhere-into wood-roads, and all sorts of places where you couldn't turn around with anything with four wheels. And how nice it is that it h

now not what," answered Ral

ll, rich tone, and it was echoe

think she must be on the floor above this, for ther

said Dora; "that is just w

with that delightful scent of mingled cleanliness and sweetness which belongs to haylofts. At the back was a wide open door with a bar across it, out of which she saw a far-stretching landscape, rich with varied colors of spring, and through

le, but she was a true country girl, and had loved chickens, barns, and hay from her babyhood up. She stepp

e here and sit with her reading or sewing. She can look out

"I wonder where she can be;" and twice he called her, once directing his voice up toward

ds," she said, and she and Ralph both swept the landscape with thei

le time before. She did not altogether feel that she was alone with him. The thought that any moment the young man'

ingly with the hay-scents from within; but Dora felt that it would not do to protract her pleasure in these things, especially as she noticed signs of a slight uneasiness on the face of her companion. Probably he wa

call, or, at least, have tried to make one, and you must tell your sister that my stay proves

over on purpose," said

declared that w

rist. "Dear me!" said she to herself, "I thought he would have squeezed those buttons entirely through my skin, but I wouldn