Jane Helen Findlater > Green graves of Balgowrie

THE GREEN GRAVES OF BALGOWRIE
“ Oh no. But why should Harrie not go in¬
stead of me ? ” said Lucie, struck with a fresh
thought.
“ Ah, but you were the first I proposed to in¬
struct,” said Charteris quickly. “ And before the
morning loses its freshness, can we get the horse ? ”
Lucie ran off to write a note to Dr. Cornelius,
praying for the use of Saul (who had succeeded
Barnabas when that long-suffering steed went the
way of all horseflesh), and ended her note with an
ecstatic girlish postscript, “ I am so much excited,”
that made Dr. Cornelius smile. But in the mean¬
time a new difficulty had risen—a side-saddle.
“ What the deuce am I thinking about ? ” said the
Captain. “ The parson doesn’t ride side fashion, I
fear.”
Lucie’s face fell—the cup was to be dashed from
her lips after all. But the Captain was determined.
There was an inn, was there not? he asked—was
there ever an inn without a side-saddle ? So
Silence, when he at last appeared grimly leading
Saul up to the steps, was bidden return to the
village and search up a saddle. “ Fine ongoings,”
he muttered under his breath as he departed re¬
luctantly, relinquishing Saul into the hands of
Captain Charteris.
Henrietta and Lucie had both come out on to
the steps to meet the well-known steed, and Lucie
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