he was young and well-built, though lean of
features, but with frank, healthy eyes. He was
not at all bad-looking. Also she observed that he
was neatly garbed in puttees and knickerbockers,
and she quickly appraised him as the usual type
of Easterner come into the valley to spend the
winter. Then she suddenly remembered her hair.
Woman-like, she hastily gathered it up into a knot
at the back of her head before she answered this
young man smiling up at her.

"Pat never ran like that before," she explained,
a bit nervously. "I was beginning to wonder
what would happen at the railroad crossing. You
checked him just in time. I -- I really owe--"

"Sure he won't charge again?" interrupted the
young man, evidently wishing to avoid any expression
of gratitude on her part.

"I -- I am quite certain," she replied, and then,
after thanking him, slowly gathered up the reins.
But she did not ride on, for the reason that the
other, now absorbed in a cool survey of Pat's outlines,
retained his hold on the bridle. Yet neither
the survey nor the grip on the bridle displeased
her.

"A splendid horse," he declared, after a moment.
"A beautiful animal!" Then, evidently
suddenly mindful that he was detaining her, he
stepped back.

Helen again prepared to ride on.

"Pat is a beautiful horse," she agreed, still a
little nervous. "And like all beauty," she added,
"he develops strange moods at times." Then, her

[[80]]

p079 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p080w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p081

v?