The Man on the Box

. The skirt, which barely reached to the top of her low shoes, was of some blue stuff (stuff, because to a man's mind the word covers feminine dress-goods generally, liberally, and hand

she had leaned out of the cab) hers had been first to fall. Now it was his turn. He studied the tips of his shoes. There were three causes why he lowered his eyes: First, she was mistress here and he was an applicant for employment; second, he loved her; third,

y leave us," sai

lling glance at the tentative

es for some length of

t a voice, now that he heard it in its normal tone! "Yes,

he

West,

re Eng

she had heard at the police-court

toxicants?"-mentally noting the cl

ker of a smile

cers declared I had. It is true that I take a drink once in a while, when I have

nd for a brief second the flowers threw a

mbing on the box of my carri

it was a jest between me and some maids." He had almost sai

tly contemptuous. "Explain, for I

were to enter a carriage and I was to drive them away from the embassy, and once I ha

ids beein allowed exit from the m

arcastic smile rested for a moment on her lips

s head when on the box unless spoken to. You will readily understand that, Madam. I made a m

, "It will be easy to verify this, t

no way to rectify it. She stood silently gaz

kable episode at the carriage door? I sho

t you have sent for me out of curiosity only. If I offered any disrespect to you last night, I pray you to forgive

is, "on my word of honor," coming from a groom, sounded strange in her ears; and she wante

to leave in obscurity. There is nothing in that past, however, of whi

r name

tried to forget my own name." (I'll wager the rascal

hich was not truth

tless discharg

ertain, Madam. I merely

commendation

your own responsibility and trust in human nature. I can only say, Madam, that I

nd frowned. "If you have told me the truth, so much the better; for I can easily verify all you have told me. I will give you a week's trial. After all,"-indifferently-"what I desire is a capable servant. You will have to put up with a good deal. There are days when I am not at all amiable

e." What wa

called upon to wait on the table. Come with me and I will show you the horses. We h

," was Warburton's m

capable enough on the box, but he was worse than useless to me in my morning rides

Not a word about the fine: he must broach it and thank her. Ah, to ride with her every morning, to adjust her stirrup, to obey every command to which she might give voice, to feel

et, a man is always a man; and if perchance he is blessed with good looks, a little more than a man. You will understand that in this instance I am trying to view things through

a soldier?" she

guised quickly enough to escape her vigilant

as a trooper that I

regi

not to say

ike mysteri

it me to thank you for paying my fine and to

e but herself knew what had been o

ll she said. "If you prove yourself a

he box-stalls were roomy. The girl stopped before a handsome bay mare, which whinnied when it saw her. She laid her cheek against the animal's nose an

love so well. Remember this. She is a thoroughbred, a first-cla

her. A highbred woman, such as she was, would scarcely harbor any kind feelings toward a man who had acted as he was acting. If any man had kissed Nancy the way he had kissed her, he would have broken every bone in his body or hired some one to do it. And she had paid his fine at the police-station and had hired him on probation! Truly he was in the woo

a sorrel, large and well set-up. "He will be you

t black gelding Warburto

should be utterly without enthusiasm. He reached out his hand to pat th

ozen men have ridden him with any success. He won't take a curb in his mouth, and he always runs away. It takes a very

like to

ressed frank astonishment. Was he in earnest, or was i

t be any question of probation. I promise to engage you on the

dam?" he asked calmly, tho

ecoming interested. "Do you

our per

the risk you are

of the human against the animal, that eternal ambition of the one to master the other. And besides, I'm not sure that James didn't want to show off before the girl-anoth

itness the encounter as he was to court it. "William!" she called. The stable-boy enter

ley!" cried the boy, his m

aid the girl

had been sired in Beelzebub's stables. He carefully inspected the saddle, the stirrup-straps and the girth. "Very

orted when he saw the saddle on the f

; he won't stand for it a moment. Miss Annesley, hadn't you better step outside? He may start to kicking. That heavy English snaffle is the best thing I know of. T

borrowed from the poppies. She saw the new groom take Pirate by the forelock, and, quicker than words can tell, Mr. Pirate was

iam knew his business, and he grasped the bridle c

ut the man that was to mount him knew all these signs. Swiftly he gathered up the end of the belly-band strap and ran it through the ir

ow, William," sa

m, glad enough to be relieved

rt and waited for Miss Annesley, wh

de him. You will be hurt," she said. He

pleasantest and

e warned you. If he bol

only way to

l. He shook his head. James talked to him and patted his sleek neck, and touched him gently with his heel. Then things livened up a bit. Pirate wal

lliam, nimbly jumping over a bed of poppies

the girl, excitedly. "Only one is ope

iron barrier. None too soon! Like a black shadow, Pirat

pressed against her heart. She was as w