The weekly Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1872-190?, 1873-04-05

ing between US. for l read very distinctly in
his glances that he would say, /, the horse
do but do my duty, and you, the cavalier, dc
not do yours. -
| was more puzzled than angered.
What manner Of beast is this that
have bought of Cheri ?" said l to myself
And why does he look at me in this queer
way?"
! | was on the point of having recourse to
extreme measures-that is, to administer q
shower of well-laden blows with my riding
whip-when we heard another shot-Brutus
and lat which he made one bound, and
only one. All my endeavors to induce him
to go on were fruitless. He planted his
feet anew in the sand, and more firmly, il
possible, than before. | began to get GU,
of patience, ard as consequence to ply my
whip; but Drutus also lost patience, and in.
stead of submitting tamely to the punish
ment inflicted, he reared and pitched and
kicked in the most furious manner imagin-
able But while the battle was at its height
and | was dealing him heavy blows with
the loaded handle of my whip, he found time
to give me look, now and then, full, not
only of Indignation, but Of surprise. 1t was
plain that, while | demanded of the horse
what he refused, he expected something of
me that l did not do.
And how, think you, did this end? To
my shame-my great shame. | was igno-
miniously unhorsed-thrown Brutus, it
seemed, came to the conclusion that moth
ing was to be effected by violence, and that
he must change his tactics.
After a moments pause, which was GER
tainly a moment of reflection, he stood
straight in the air, not on his hind but on
his fore-feet. and that, too, with as much
calmness and address as a clown walks on
his hands. OF course, | slid down over his
head into the sand, which, fortunately, was
torlerably deep.
tried to rise, but one of my legs refused
to do me service; uttered a cry of pain
and fell forward fiat in the sand / had
ruptured one of the smaller tendons of my
right leg, which, though no serious matter,
caused me great pain whenever attempted
to stir. However, l succeeded in turning
over and sitting up, but at the moment
when | began to rub my eyes, which were
full of sand, and to wonder what had be-
come of my rascally dapple-gray, saw a
horses foot descend on my head, then the
foot was placed gently against my breast,
and was stretched out again on the sand =;
this time on my back.
was now exceedingly frightened, and
more, felt that it would be useless to make
any further effort. | therefore remained
quietly on my back, asking myself once
more, what manner OF beast this was that
had bought from Cheri at the same time
| closed my eyes and awaited death, for |
expected to be killed. But, instead of re-
ceiving my coup de grace, l suddenly heard
a strange stamping in the sand, and at the
same time, quantity of dirt and gravel
eyes, and 10 there was Brutus, using all
four feet with wonderful address, endeavor-
ing to cover me with sand. He was doing
his best, the dear fellow, and every now and
then, he would pause to see what progress
he was making; then he would raise his
head, give expression to his dissatisfaction
in low whinny, and resume his work.
This continued four or five minutes, when
thinking me, doubtless, sufficiently covered
he approached respectfully and knelt-got
down on both knees, and seemed actually to
be uttering prayer-while l looked on in
wonder and amazement.
His prayer being finished, Brutus bowed
his head slightly, rose, walked away few
steps, stopped, looked at me, and then be-
gan to gallop round the open space in the
centre of which | was lying. This he did
some twenty times-round-r ound-round
until began to be dizzy from watching
him, when l cried out, Halt! halt!' He
obeyed, but seemed embarrassed to know
what he should do next.
At this moment he noticed my hat, which
had fallen off when | was dumped so I'M
tremendously into the sand, and lay few
feet from me. At sight OF it Brutus seemed
to be relieved from his embarrassment. He
Immediately went toward it, picked it up
with his teeth, and started off at brisk gal
lop down one of the six alleys that l have
mentioned.
Brutus disappeared and I remained alone
Never was man more puzzled-confounded
What the strange conduct of the horse
meant was more than l could divine.
shook off the sand that partially covered me
and crawled on my hands to little spot Of
grass at the corner of one of the alleys.
Arrived there, | made myself as comfortable
as possible, and then cried out at the top Of
my voice, in the hope of being heard by
some one ; but l got no response. The
park. at least where l was, seemed to be en-
tirely deserted. There was only one thing
to do-to wait till some one came that way
l had been full half-hour in this unen
viable position, when ! espied Brutus, {
long distance off, at the end of the alley by
which he had disappeared, galloping TOWARD
me in big cloud OF dust. Little by little
as he came nearer, discovered pony
chase in the cloud then, in the chase, /.
woman, who was driving herself, and behinC
the lady, little groom.
A few minutes after making this welcom,
discovery, Brutus, covered with foam, stop
ped before me, and let my hat fall at m.
feet, saluting me with sympathetic whinny
which seemed to say. /" went for help, sir
and here it is"
But l had no eyes for Brutus, or ears 70
his explanations. My senses were occupied
with the ministering fairy, who spran!
lightly from her little carriage and hastenet
toward me- She, too, on her part, LOOKED
at me very inquiringly, and suddenly We crie'
out in one breath, respectively:
Madame de Noriolis !"
Monsieur de La Roche-Targe.
Now, l have an aunt, and for years, be
tween her and me, there has been con
tinued battle.
"Get married !" she has insisted.
al don't want to marry"
"Do you want young girl! l hav'
Mademoiselle A, Mademoiselle B.
Mademoiselle c., etc"
II don't want to marryr'
Do you want a widow? l have Ma
dame D.. Madame E., Madame F.
and so on"