bara saw where his attention was, and resentment thrilled her.
"Friends? Never! Frank Layson, I believe I hate you!"

"Oh, very well," said he, plainly not too much impressed, "if you want
to be unreasonable, why, of course--"

The girl was frightened at the length to which she had permitted her
ill-temper to carry her. "Oh, no, Frank," she hastily corrected, "I
didn't mean that. Of course I am your friend."

"Thank you, Barbara," said he, with a calmness which was maddening to
her. "I am sure we understand each other, now." And then, still further
maddening her: "I must go now, and look after Madge and dear Queen
Bess. I never should forgive myself if anything should happen to the
girl. But nothing will. See how splendidly she rides!"

The girl upon the horse, as if conscious of his anxiety about her, now
turned her mount back toward the field-end where the onlookers were
loosely grouped and came toward them at a slow and gentle canter--a gait
which none had ever seen Queen Bess take before, when a stranger was
upon her back. She leaped from the mare by Layson's side, and Neb, ever
anxious for the welfare of his equine darling, began work without delay
at rubbing Queen Bess down.

"Reckon you'll never forgive me," Madge apologized to Layson, "but I
just couldn't help it. Never even saw a mare like her, afore. My pony's
no-whar alongside of her. I felt like an angel sittin' on a cloud an'
sailin' straight to heaven!" She turned and petted the black beauty.
"Oh, you darling!"

"Got to take her in, now," Neb said, preparing to lead the mare away. He
spoke apologetically as if the girl had rights which, now, should be
consulted. He had never made a like concession in the past to anyone
except his master.

"Go 'way, go 'way," said Madge, taking the reins from his black hand.
"Ain't no use o' leadin' her--you jest watch her foller me!"

She looped the reins about the mare's arched neck, started off, and,
without so much as flicking her long tail, Queen Bess fell in behind,
obedient to her cooing, murmurous calls.

Frank laughed. "If," he said to the whole party, "you wish to have a
look at the mare's quarters, I think Neb will now admit us."

All but the Colonel started toward the stable, but he hesitated, looking
toward Miss Alathea. While the others had been spellbound by the girl
and horse, he, the most enthusiastic horseman of them all, had been
divided in attention between them and the lady whose notice he
a