se by. It was she who had sung this little song, you
see.

"Oh, dear me! I thought I was all alone," she sighed.

"So did I," said Puss, "until you woke me."

"Were you asleep?" asked the pretty girl.

"Asleep and dreaming," answered our small hero.

"So was I--I mean I was dreaming," said the pretty girl, in a low voice.

"Yonder stands my Good Gray Horse. Would you like to ride with me?"
asked Puss.

"Yes, indeed," replied the girl, quickly. "Take me for a jolly gallop."
And the next minute she and Puss, Junior, were racing down the road.

THE RUNAWAY

"MERRY are the bells, and merry would they ring;
Merry was myself, and merry could I sing;
With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free,
And a merry sing-song, happy let us be.

"Merry have we met, and merry have we been,
Merry let us part, and merry meet again;
With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free,
And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be."

"Whoa!" cried Puss, Junior, pulling in his Good Gray Horse.

"You've given me a lovely ride," said the pretty girl. "It is more than
a mile from the mill. I live just over there," pointing to a cottage on
the hillside.

"Shall I take you up to the gate?" asked Puss. "No, I'll get off here,
thank you," she replied, "and I shall never forget how nice you've been.
I was quite unhappy before you spoke to me at the old mill pond."

"Merry have we met, and merry have we been,
Merry let us part, and merry meet again,"

said Puss, stretching out his paw.

"How well you remember my song!" said the pretty girl, waving her hand
to Puss as he rode away.

[Illustration]

He had gone but a short distance when he heard the clatter of hoofs.
Looking back, he was startled to see a horse and wagon come tearing down
the road.

"A runaway!" he exclaimed, quickly drawing to one side. In a few minutes
the frightened horse rushed by. In the wagon was a little old man,
clinging tightly to the reins and with great difficulty keeping his
horse in the middle of the road. In an instant Puss set off in pursuit.
Pretty soon his Good Gray Horse drew close to the wagon. "Don't give
up!" cried Puss. "Hold on tight!" The little old man did his best, but
by this time his horse had become unmanageable and, turning suddenly to
the right, dashed up a steep bank. With a snap, the harness broke and
away went the frightened a