"Well, well, there is no need of that! You may ride as far as the

river's bank and back again in time to escape, if you choose!" said

Mrs. Condiment, who saw that her troublesome charge was bent upon the

frolic.

And Cap, seeing her horse approach, led by one of the grooms, ran

up-stairs, donned her riding habit, hat and gloves, ran down again,

sprang into her saddle and was off, galloping away toward the river

before Mrs. Condiment could add another word of warning.

She had been gone about an hour, when the sky suddenly darkened, the

wind rose and the thunder rolled in prelude to the storm.

Major Warfield came skurrying home from the mill, grasping his bridle

with one hand and holding his hat on with the other.

Meeting poor old Ezy in the shrubbery, he stormed out upon him with: "What are you lounging there for, you old idiot! You old sky-gazing

lunatic! Don't you see that we are going to have an awful blow! Begone

with you and see that the cattle are all under shelter! Off, I say,

or," he rode toward Bill Ezy, but the old man, exclaiming: "Yes, sir--yes, sir! In coorse, sir!" ducked his head and ran off in

good time.

Major Warfield quickened his horse's steps and rode to the house,

dismounted and threw the reins to the stable boy, exclaiming: "My beast is dripping with perspiration--rub him down well, you knave,

or I'll impale you!"

Striding into the hall, he threw down his riding whip, pulled off his

gloves and called: "Wool! Wool, you scoundrel, close every door and window in the house!

Call all the servants together in the dining-room; we're going to have

one of the worst tempests that ever raised!"

Wool flew to do his bidding.

"Mrs. Condiment, mum," said the old man, striding into the

sitting-room, "Mrs. Condiment, mum, tell Miss Black to come down from

her room until the storm is over; the upper chambers of this old house

are not safe in a tempest. Well, mum, why don't you go, or send

Pitapat?"

"Major Warfield, sir, I'm very sorry, but Miss Black has not come in

yet," said Mrs. Condiment, who for the last half hour had suffered

extreme anxiety upon account of Capitola.

"Not come in yet! Demmy, mum! Do you tell me she has gone out?" cried

Old Hurricane, in a voice of thunder, gathering his brows into a dark

frown, and striking his cane angrily upon the floor.

"Yes, sir, I am sorry to say she rode out about an hour ago and has not

returned," said Mrs. Condiment, summoning all her firmness to meet Old

Hurricane's 'roused wrath."




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