The Colonel was delighted. Her knowledge of his name was flattering. He had forgotten her strange costume the moment his glance had caught her wonderful, deep eyes. "Howdy, howdy!" he said heartily, shaking her hand vigorously. "Why, this is real Kentucky style!" It won't take _us_ long to get acquainted." "Know all about you now," she said. "Great hossman. Colonel, I'll have a race with you, sometime." "What, you ride?" said the delighted Colonel. "Ride! Dellaw!" said she, with, now, unembarrassed animation. The subject was that one, of all, which made her most quickly forget everything beside. "Why, me and my pony takes to racin' like a pig to carrots. Before he lamed himself, whenever th' boys heard us clatterin' down th' mounting, they laid to race us back. Away we went, then, clickity-clip, up th' hills and around th' curves--an' I allus won." The Colonel realized with a great joy that he had found a kindred spirit. "Shake again!" he said to her, after further most congenial talk, and then turned to Frank. "My boy, you're right. She _is_ a phenomenon--a thoroughbred, even if she hasn't any pedigree." Up to this time the ladies had remained somewhat in the background, watching the young mountain girl as the Colonel drew her out. Madge now turned to Frank, but looked at Barbara. "Is that the young lady from the bluegrass?" The girl was hurt and really offended by the stranger's aloof manner. "Looks like she can't see common folks." "That is Miss Barbara." He led the mountain girl toward her. "Barbara, this is my friend--er--Madge." He was, himself, a little disconcerted. The maiden from the lowlands bowed, but said no word. For an instant Madge shrank back, but then she advanced with an unusual boldness. Her spirit was aroused. "Howdy, Miss Barbarous, howdy!" she exclaimed and held her hand out to the handsomely dressed girl. But Miss Barbara was annoyed by the whole happening. She felt that this uncultivated country girl was getting far too much attention. The child's unconscious pun upon her name infuriated her. She did not answer her, but raised a lorgnette and stared at her. Madge was ready with an instant sympathy. "Oh, that's why you couldn't see, poor thing! Spectacles at your age!" Whether she really thought this was the case, not even Frank could tell by looking at her. Miss Holton was incensed. The haughty treatment she had planned to, give the mountain girl had not had the results she had expected. "There's nothing whatever the matter with my eyes!" she exclaimed hastily. "Wouldn't think you'd need a machine to help you star-gaze at folks, then," said the mountain girl. "But maybe it's the fashion in the bluegrass." Frank hurried up with Holton, planning a diversion. "This is Mr. Holton, Madge." "Howdy, sir," said she, and then started in astonishment. "Ain't I seen your face before, sir?" "Wal, I reckon not," said Holton most uneasily. "I was never hyar in these hyar mountings afore."