She reined the spirited young black horse in and sat jauntily on the side-saddle. Her color was high; she wore a pretty riding-hat, a close-fitting gray habit, and her eyes were sparkling from the exhilaration of the gallop along the level road. "Take my life, but for Heaven's sake spare my money!" she retorted, with an ironical laugh. "I think I have some news for you," he said, approaching and testing the girth of her saddle. "Sit still and let me draw it tighter." "News," she said, with the eagerness of a child, as he pulled upward on the strap, "for me?" "Yes, for you. I knew you would be interested in the bill before the House and Senate, and so I asked the Governor to write me if it went through." "Oh, oh! and did you hear?" She leaned closer to him, her lips rigid with expectation. "I'm afraid there was a hitch after all. The taxpayers are so opposed to spending money." "It went through like greased lightning," he smiled. "Your name and suggestions were mentioned in every speech that was made in both houses." He saw her face fill with delight. She put the butt of her riding-whip to her lips, and her breast heaved high and sank, quivering. "Oh, isn't it splendid--splendid?" she exclaimed. "Thanks to you, Dolly--you, and no one else." "No, no, it was growing all along. I only helped a little, perhaps. But it doesn't matter who did it; it is done. They will build the schools." "And you and I will help with suggestions, won't we?" He looked at her, quite timidly. "I mean, of course, that we have learned some lessons in the house we are now building. We have made mistakes here and there that may be avoided in the future." She said nothing, and he was sure that she purposely avoided his tentative stare. She bent over the horse's neck, ran the thick glossy mane through her fingers, and gently patted the animal's shoulder. "Jarvis, you must tell me something about this horse," she said, firmly. "I'm going to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." "You want to know his pedigree?" He was staring sheepishly. "Well--" "No, I don't, and you know I don't. My father said that you wanted the horse kept in the stable at home in case--in case any one had to ride over here to communicate with him. But no one uses him but me, and he has to have exercise or he will be ruined. It is almost all that I can do to control him now. He breaks into a run the instant another horse passes him. Father said yesterday that he did not understand why you wanted us to keep him at our house." The blood mantled the young planter's brow. "They say an honest confession is good for the soul," he stammered; "and, Dolly, the truth is that I sent the horse there simply for you to ride. You love riding and need the exercise. You are so peculiar about--well, about some things--that I was afraid you would be offended, but I hope you won't refuse this. I do love to see you on a horse. You ride as if you were born in the saddle."