"It is, is n't it?" said Carteret. "It's the luxury of riding." He looked at the "That is astounding," said Lamppie, broken board in the fence and smiled "truly astounding!" sweetly at Lamppie.

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commissioned to look for a lady's hunter. ing a letter. He looked up as Carteret Lamppie was buying a horse for Miss came in. Heminway when you sold him Isabella.” “It is all right,” he said. “We are for

Scott's jaw dropped. "I did n't sell him given." the horse as much as you did,” he said. "To what do you refer?” asked Mr.

"That is, of course, untrue," replied Mr. Carteret. Carteret; "but I am afraid that Lamppie Scott handed him the note.

“ It is a takes your view of it."

very sweet and noble letter," said he. “She Was her letter severe ? asked Scott. appreciates our innocence in the matter." Carteret shook his head. "That is what “From Elizabeth ?” asked Carteret, as scared me,” he said. “It was sweet and he took it. gentle. I suspect that she wants me to ride Scott nodded. that horse."

“She says she wants to keep the mare, Scott laughed. “So you did n't go ?” much as one might preserve an historic he asked.

battle-ground or the sword that slew a "I went to Lenox instead,” said Car

king." teret. “I was there three days. The second Carteret read the letter. “She asks you day a man came up from Newport who is down to Long Island for Sunday,” he said. attached to the French embassy. He had Are you going?” his arm in a sling and his knee in a rubber “I am,” said Scott. bandage. He had been hunting Isabella. She has asked me also," said Carteret. I left and went up to Bar Harbor. When "I found a note from her when I got the boat got there, they carried somebody home.” ashore who had n't been visible on the trip. "You are going, are n't you?” said It was what's-his-name--you know him- Scott. one of the secretaries of the British em- "I am in doubt,” said Carteret, slowly. bassy. He is a good man on a horse. He “I am suspicious. I have known Elizabeth had been breaking Isabella for Miss Hem- Heminway for a good many years. She is inway. He told me all about it. Isabella forgiving and noble, but I think she would caught him with a back roll and loosened like to see us riding Isabella.” his ribs. This chap said that two horse- “Rubbish!” said Scott. “She can't tamers belonging to some of the Latin le- make us get up on a horse we don't want gations were also laid up as the result of to ride, and she can't trick us into it, bebreaking Isabella to oblige Miss Hemin- cause we know the mare. She might have way. I left Bar Harbor in a day or two her painted, but she can't put back the and went up to town. In the club I met piece out of her ear." Crewe and the British first secretary. “No,” said Carteret, uneasily; “I supThey were talking about a young Spanish pose not. But Elizabeth is a woman of man who had been witching Miss Hemin- some intellect. I would n't mind the spill, way with his horsemanship. He had con- but she would have a crowd around, and I cussion of the brain, and they doubted don't fancy being made a Roman holiday whether he'd pull through."

for Lamppie and a lot of Dagos." Carteret paused.

"You 'll go,” said Scott. “Is that all ?” said Scott.

“I suppose I shall have to,” said Mr. "I think it is enough,” said Mr. Car- Carteret. “Are we going to have any teret. "It has strained diplomatic relations lunch ?” with the powers, and though it has thinned out many undesirable admirers, it has CARTERET and Scott arrived at Miss Hemruined our prospects."

inway's on Saturday afternoon. Miss Hem“I am afraid that it has not helped you," inway lived with an aunt, or rather she had said Scott. “I am sure that Lamppie re- an aunt live with her. Her character and membered that I warned him not to buy the fortune fitted her to lead a somewhat origimare."

nal life and to assume much of the indeCarteret looked at Scott with contempt. pendence of action of a man. She had her

"I 'm coming to lunch," he said, and own hunters, driving-horses, dogs, zoologirode off.

cal garden pets, to say nothing of a large When Carteret arrived, Scott was read- and ever-diversified corps of personal at

a

tachés. All these she regulated according his elbow, and at the same moment Carto her own views.

teret nudged Scott with his. Carteret and Scott had an extremely “Look," whispered Scott; "they have happy time. They were the only guests, tried to paint out the blaze on her face and and the subject of Isabella was not intro- her two white stockings in front.” duced. Once Mr. Lamppie's unfortunate “Yes," said Mr. Carteret, - his eyes accident slipped into the conversation, but were very quick, —"and they have tried to Miss Heminway laughed, and looking sew up the notch in her ear.” meaningly at her friends, said: “I am will- The point of one ear was drawn together ing to let bygones be bygones: Are you?” in an unnatural fashion, and close inspec

Carteret and Scott laughed delightedly tion showed that a piece was gone from the and said that they were more than will- tip and the edges were sewed together. At ing. What pleased them especially was the short range the chestnut dye on the mare's double meaning of the remark, which they face and legs was apparent to eyes accustook to imply that Lamppie was a bygone tomed to horses. thing in Miss Heminway's estimation. "She 's very good-looking," observed

Both walked with her, singly and to- Crewe to Miss Heminway. gether, on Sunday morning; but in the after- “I like her,” replied Miss Heminway. noon their joy clouded. Almost a dozen She 's devilish good-looking,” put in people came to luncheon, and as many Lamppie. more appeared soon after. As a natural “The question is,” said Miss Heminway, consequence, a kind of horse show ensued "will she jump? I don't want her to try on the side lawn where the jumps were. anything high, but I should like to see her Among those who came was Lamppie. ridden over the bars at about three feet. His collar-bone had knit and his shoulder Danny Foster," she continued, “is the only was out of bandages, but he wore a silk boy at the stable I let ride her, and he is handkerchief about his neck as a sling in away this afternoon, so that somebody with which he rested his arm. He answered all good hands will have to ride her for me.” inquiries as to his condition cheerfully and There was a heavy silence. in detail, but he seemed to receive neither Miss Heminway looked at Crewe. the sympathy nor the notice of Miss “Won't you?" she said. Heminway.

Why,” said Crewe, “I should be glad Scott observed this promptly.

to, but I 'm ashamed to ride before Carty She is done with Lamppie,” he whis- and Scott, who are distinctly the only men pered to Carteret.

present with truly good hands. Besides, “It looks that way,” Mr. Carteret an- they are stopping in the house, and riding swered. He never was very positive in any your horses is by right their—" he hesitated of his statements about Miss Heminway's and then said —"privilege.” probable acts.

"I don't care," said Miss Heminway: After the company had seen Miss Hem- only somebody get up and ride." inway's fourteen hunters, and a new four No one made a move. had been hooked up and sent around the Come, Carty,” she said sharply, “ride drive, and the ponies had been led out, and the mare and stop this nonsense. You are the St. Bernard puppies and two racoons coy as a girl asked to sing." and the Japanese monkey, Mr. Lamppie Carteret pulled his straw hat over his cheerfully inquired if there were not some- eyes and tapped his leg thoughtfully with thing more.

his ratan stick. “Elizabeth,” he said, “ you " There is one more horse," replied Miss are a fine woman, but you have missed it Heminway. “It 's a chestnut mare. But this time. In the first place, your Titian red I 've had her only a week, and I don't is very badly put on, and your surgery on know whether she will jump or not. How- that ear is abominable; a seamstress could ever, we can see."

do better.” Miss Heminway spoke to her head man, What do you mean?” demanded Miss and in a few moments a stable-boy came Heminway. across the turf, leading a good-looking, “Don't try to force a poor joke," said powerfully made chestn mare. As soon Mr. Carteret, severely. as it came near, Scott nudged Carteret with Miss Heminway turned to Scott.

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“Will you do me a small favor ? " she of smoke. "Lamppie wins by a block," he said.

said softly. "Anything in the world," Scott an- “How do you suppose they did it?” swered, "except ride that mare.” He said Scott. laughed knowingly. A whisper ran through Carteret's reply was interrupted by the group of onlookers, and then a laugh. Lamppie. "I say, Carty," he called out, Miss Heminway turned her back upon “don't you chaps want a turn on this mare ? both Scott and Carteret. Mr. Lamppie was She's a lovely ride; nothing to be afraid standing before her.

of." "Mr. Lamppie,” she said, “if you are not “I am very much obliged to you,” said afraid, will you kindly show my mare over Mr. Carteret. “I'll not ride." that jump?"

"Well," said Miss Heminway, sweetly, Lamppie bowed.

“if there are no more animals and things “I have only one good arm,” he said, to be seen, we might go in and have tea.” "and you know I am not considered much The party went into the house, but Carof a horseman by Carty and Scott, but I teret and Scott disappeared. They went shall be truly happy to try.”

out a back door and proceeded to the He started for the horse, and at the same stables. moment Scott and Carteret started too. It happened that Fredericks, Miss Hem

“ Elizabeth," said Mr. Carteret, quietly, inway's head man, had formerly been em"you must n't let him ride that brute. His ployed by Mr. Carteret. Carteret had shoulder has only just healed.”

given him up much as an orchid-fancier " Please mind your own affairs," said might send a lady his choicest air-plant. Miss Heminway, severely.

When the two men entered the stable, Scott had rushed forward in the attempt Fredericks greeted them obsequiously. to seize Lamppie before he was in the sad- There was a queer look in his eyes, but he dle; but, regardless of what was supposed was very grave because Carteret was grave. to be his injured arm, he scrambled up, and Fredericks,” said Mr. Carteret, kicking his heels into the mare, galloped off. want to see that mare."

"Mr. Scott,” called Miss Heminway, "Very good, sir," said Fredericks, and severely,“ will you kindly not interfere with he took them down the stable to a box-stall. Mr. Lamppie ?"

He opened the doors and showed them Scott turned and meekly rejoined Mr. the mare. A stable-boy was scrubbing her Carteret.

legs with some chemical preparation, and "Look!" exclaimed Miss Heminway. they were becoming white.

“I don't care to look," said Mr. Carteret. “ This part of the job,” said Carteret, His back was turned to the horse. “I don't pointing with his stick to the mare's legs, want to see a murder."

"you did very badly. I should like to But Scott looked. He saw the chestnut know, however, how you got Isabella to go mare carry Lamppie into the wings of the so kindly in so short a time. I consider jump at an even canter, clear the bars in that very remarkable achievement, an easy manner, and come jogging back to Fredericks.” the spectators.

"Thank you, sir,” said Fredericks. He There was a burst of applause.

bowed very low, and his cap concealed his “Has she killed him?" asked Mr. face, but it could not conceal the quivering Carteret.

of his large frame. "I beg pardon, sir," he “Carty," said Scott, “it is all over with gasped, and fled out of the stall, apparently us."

in a convulsion. Mr. Carteret turned around. Lamppie “I am afraid,” said Scott, “ that if we was bowing to Miss Heminway.

were Fredericks we should feel as he does. Shall I take her over again ?” he I want to know, though, what he used.” asked. “She goes like a sweet dream.” Fredericks returned shortly, much mor

“If you will, please,” replied Miss Hem- tified and with many apologies for his inway.

breach of manners. Mr. Carteret watched the mare and “I'm goin' to tell you, sir,” he said, “if Lamppie repeat their performance. He I lose me place. Come this way, sir." lighted a cigarette and inhaled a long puff He led them to another box-stall, which

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