Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Ill MRS. SHERWOOD prepared herself first of all by powdering her nose. This simple operation, could it have been seen by the "respectable"members of the community, would in itself have branded her as "fast." In those days cosmetics of any sort were by most considered inventions of the devil. It took extraordinary firmness of character even to protect one's self against sunburn by anything more artificial than the shadow of a hat or a parasol. Then she assumed a fascinating little round hat that fitted well down over her small head. This, innocent of pins, was held on by an elastic at the back. A ribbon, hanging down directly in front, could be utilized to steady it in a breeze. "All ready," she announced, picking up a tiny parasol, about big enough for a modern doll. "You may carry my mantle." Near the foot of the veranda steps waited Sam at the heads of a pah, of beautiful, slim, satiny horses. Their bay coats had been groomed until they rippled and sparkled with every movement of the muscles beneath. Wide red-lined nostrils softly expanded and contracted with a restrained eagerness; and soft eyes rolled in the direction of the Sherwoods—keen, lithe, nervous, high-strung creatures, gently stamping little hoofs, impatiently tossing dainty heads, but nevertheless making no movement that would stir the vehicle that stood "cramped" at the steps. Their harness carried no blinders; their tails, un- docked, swept the ground; but their heads were pulled into the air by the old stupid overhead check reins until their noses pointed almost straight ahead. It gave them rather a haughty air. Sherwood stepped in first, took the reins in one hand, andoffered his other hand to his wife. Sam instantly left the horses' heads to hold a wicker contrivance against the arc of the wheels. T...