BARBARA AND BEAUTY
"Barbara, you are eating very little luncheon," Ralph Ewing whispered in
Bab's ear.
Ambassador and Mrs. Morton were entertaining a large number of friends in
the dining-room of the clubhouse.
Maud Warren smiled patronizingly across the table at Barbara.
"Are you nervous about our riding this afternoon?" Maud asked. "Mr.
Heller, do please pass Miss Thurston those sandwiches. She must want
something to keep up her courage."
Kind-hearted Franz Heller hurriedly presented Bab with all the good
things he could reach.
"Thank you, Mr. Heller," said Barbara, gratefully. Her cheeks were
crimson; her brown eyes flashed, but she made no reply. Mollie, who knew
Bab's quick temper, wondered how her sister controlled herself.
A horn blew to announce that the luncheon hour was ended.
"Run along, child," Miss Stuart called nervously to Bab. "Now, do, pray
be careful! I shall certainly be glad when this riding contest is over."
While the guests of the Society Circus were at luncheon the field had
been arranged for the hurdle-jumping.
Inside the green meadow four short length fences had been set up, a
quarter of a mile apart. The girls were to ride around the field on their
horses and jump the four hurdles.
Besides Bab and Maud Warren, four other Lenox girls had entered for this
race. The riders were all skilled horsewomen.
Ambassador Morton waved his hand to Bab as she cantered by him on his
little horse, Beauty. Her friends called out their good wishes. Bab
smiled and nodded. She never looked so well or so happy as when she was
on the back of a horse.
Ambassador Morton cautioned the girls before they started for their ride.
"Remember, this is just a friendly contest," he urged. "We merely want to
see you young people ride. No one may allow her horse to cross too close
in front of another horse. Two of you must not try to jump the hurdle at
the same time."
The six girls cantered bravely down the field.
Maud Warren and Bab rode side by side. Barbara was the youngest and
smallest of the girls, but she rode her little horse as though she were a
part of it.
"Don't sit too closely in your saddle," Maud Warren leaned over and spoke
patronizingly to Barbara.
"Thank you!" Bab replied.
The girls were now riding swiftly across the meadow.
Ralph, Hugh, Ruth, Mollie and Grace left their places and hurried down to
the fence that inclosed the riding ring.
At the first fence two of the horses refused to jump. The other four
sprang easily over the bars.
By the rules of the contest, the girls were not allowed to urge their
horses, so the two riders went quietly back.
At the second hurdle, another horse faltered. This left the riding
contest to Bab, Maud Warren, and a Lenox girl, Bertha Brokaw.
Barbara was as gay and happy as possible. She had no thought of fear in
riding. Beauty was a splendid little horse accustomed to being ridden
across country. The beautiful little animal jumped over the low bars as
easily as if she were running along the ground.
Bertha Brokaw was the first of the three girls to go over the third
hurdle. Bab was close behind her.
Barbara had just risen in her saddle. "Go it, Beauty!" she whispered,
gently.
At this instant, Maud Warren gave a smart cut to her horse and crossed
immediately in front of Bab.
Beauty reared on her hind feet. Barbara and the horse swayed an instant
in the air.
Miss Stuart rose from the chair where she sat. Mrs. Morton gave a gasp. A
sudden terror shook all the spectators. Poor Mollie turned sick and
faint. She imagined her beloved Bab crushed beneath a falling horse.
But Barbara was not conscious of anything but Beauty. As her little horse
rose trembling on its hind feet Bab remembered to keep her reins slack.
With one pull on the horse's tender mouth, she and Beauty would have gone
over backwards.
"Steady, Beauty! Steady!" she cried. The horse ceased to tremble, and a
moment later stood on all four feet again.
In the meantime Maud Warren had cleared the third fence and was riding
across the field. Not a sound of applause followed her. But as Beauty,
with Barbara still cool and collected, sprang easily over the hurdle,
loud applause rang out.
"Bully for Bab!" cried Ralph, shaking Ruth's hand in his excitement.
"What a trick! I didn't think Maud Warren capable of it," protested
Dorothy to her father.
Bertha Brokaw's horse was tired. She did not finish the mile course.
Now again Barbara rode side by side with Miss Warren. Just before the
last jump Bab reined in a little. She remembered the Ambassador's
instructions. This was only a riding match, not a racing contest. No two
girls were allowed to jump a hurdle at the same time.
So Barbara gave Maud Warren the first opportunity to make the jump. But
Maud was nervous; she realized she had taken an unfair advantage of Bab.
Her horse refused to jump. Bab waited only an instant. Then, urging
Beauty on, they rose over their last hurdle like swallows.
Barbara came cantering back to her friends, her cheeks rosy, her eyes
shining with delight.
Franz Heller rushed forward with a big bunch of American Beauty roses.
Flowers were the only prizes given during the day. Barbara slid down off
her horse.
The Ambassador moved forward to shake hands with her; Bab's friends were
waving their handkerchiefs; but Bab had eyes for Beauty only. A stable
boy had come to lead the horse away.
[Illustration: Barbara and Beauty Swayed an Instant in the Air.]
"Good-bye, you little Beauty!" Bab whispered, with her brown head close
to the horse's face. "You are the dearest little horse in the world.
Don't I wish you were my very own!"
Ambassador Morton overheard Bab's speech.
"Let me give the horse to you, Miss Thurston," he urged. "It will give me
the greatest pleasure, if you will allow it. He ought to belong to you
for the pretty piece of riding you did out in the field. Let me
congratulate you. Beauty's compliments and mine to the young girl who has
been her own riding teacher."
A warm wave of color swept over Barbara's face. "I did not mean you to
overhear me, Mr. Morton," she declared. "Forgive me. Of course I couldn't
accept your horse. But I do appreciate your kindness. Thank you for
lending me Beauty to ride."
Bab took her roses from Mr. Heller and made her way to Miss Stuart.
"Child!" protested Miss Sallie, "sit down! I shall ask your mother never
to let you ride a horse again unless you promise never to try to jump
over another fence rail. Oh, what I went through, when I thought you were
about to fall off that horse!" Miss Stuart raised both hands in horror.
"There ought to be a law against riding masters being allowed to teach
women to jump over hurdles."
"But the law wouldn't act against Bab, auntie," declared Ruth, who was
feeling very vain over Bab's success. "Because, you know, Barbara never
took a riding lesson in her life."
In a short time Miss Stuart took her party home.
Ralph and Hugh were to return to New Haven on the night train.
"Miss Sallie," begged Mollie, as they made their way through the crowd,
"there is Mr. Winthrop Latham. _Do_ ask him to come to tea with you
to-morrow."
"But why, my child?" Miss Sallie naturally inquired.
"Please, ask just him, not his nephew, Reginald. Do, Aunt Sallie, dear. I
can't tell you why, now, but I shall explain as soon as we get home."
"Very well, you funny little girl." And Miss Stuart complied with
Mollie's request.
Mr. Winthrop Latham promised to call on Miss Stuart and her girls at
their hotel the next afternoon at four o'clock.