Hoof Beats 



"Well, I'm hanged," he murmured to himself 

 and cantered briskly down the road. 



Striving took off his coat and put it over the 

 other's shoulders in spite of protest. She was 

 shivering. He took both her hands in his. 



"You won't be angry, will you?" she asked. 

 **0f course, you must get there in time. " 



"Angry, of course not — not with you. Why, 

 think of it, I might not have seen you at all." 



The girl looked away. 



"Perhaps," she hesitated, as if it were difficult 

 to say, "perhaps you'll come again and hunt some 

 day." 



Striving brightened. 



"Of course." 



He did not release her hands. 



The Master was coming down the road leading 

 a shaggy farm horse attached to a rickety buggy. 



"Hello," he shouted, "jump in, you two, and 

 drive hard. You can make it. Jane, you've got 

 a high fever, your cheeks are red as poppies." 



The girl and Striving glanced at each other, 

 then at the Master, and laughed happily. 



"Oh!" the latter intoned knowingly, "I see!" 



The girl sprang into the vehicle, picked up the 

 whip and the lines. Striving followed quickly. 

 The horse started and the Master rode alongside. 

 82 



