Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-12-16
CAPT. T0DD'S HORSE.

u BU FTGt III. DTAgEy sdlu 1ipL.
Todd, !" | want i regular clipper-bnilt
hess | don't want stiffness and breadth
of beam ~ much AZ want 4 good
clean run. want i hoss TO show oil
with.
We'll. sir, said the doctor, patting
ON the pcck vieious-l looking animal
which liz held hy tire bride, " if you
want i smart horse, ] can't recommend
ii better animal than this. Just look at
those heels Hi, don't 20 near 'em. As
told you | have three horses that
want 10 sell but if you want mare
that will ~, this mare is just the ami
NAL you want.
You sce, said the captain, conf
dentially, | don't know much about
horses I'm q seafaring man. Fol
lowed Tie sea. man and boy, nigh thirty
FIVE years Vow Pm going to settle
down on shore, and I'm looking around
tar 4 wife. don't mind telling you that
I'm sorter eourtin' the Widow Bum.
Now, tie widow ii mighty fond Of a
good fas horse, and there's another fel-
ler, sam Bliss perhaps you know
him that's shinin' round the widow,
too Sans got frs' rate hoss, and
takes the widow to ride q good deal.
Now il don't get something better
than Sans rot | won't stand any show,
FL ,hr widow will b. sure to ride most
with the man that's got the fastest
huS4, don't You see.
The doctor nodded ahirmatiyely.
see" liz said, !" / see. Well, now,
think the mare will suit you. She's Il
knowing beast Just see how her ears
are Laid back, listening IL you lind
hef getting lazy, just touch her mp a
little with the whip and she'll climb, |
c,n tell yon
Well, said tile captain, I'll she's
ail Won say shc IS, bring her around to-
night and turn her lnlo my pasture.
md Is morrow II hitch her up in my
H. buggy, and give her trial.
The next afternoon Capt. Todd ran
lis new buggy ont of the barn, and
throwing Il halter over his arm, sum
manrd Bill Tskc and proceeded the
pasture where the doctor had left the
mare tire previous evening.
BlI Ivke was tile captains right
h.snd man lie had sailed with the
eapiain Ill lis life, ana now that the
former had retired from active duty,
Bll had retired with him, and under
taken Il learn tire art IL farming. In
appearance liz WAS like what the Inn
nlultnl Bunshy might have been, and
lie was not much the inferior OF that
worthy III taciturnity ar oracular wis
Dom
The captain and his factotlm cir
eumnaylgatpd tire pasture and "hore
down upon the mare perSuasivcly
from tile wlndward Rut the intelli-
gent nnimal saw them coming and flat
tened her ears The captain was
within reach, when she threw up her
head, changed ends, and cantered
away e. the other end Of the field.
The captain swarc q round oath and
divide his fore, :. Bill Fykc was seen
Il coast around the fence while the
eaptain Inv "stl and on iii the oiiing
But Il w.is i game that She understood
hest So trnttcd leisurely around the
pasture, keeping tantalizing ont Of
reach, and resisting Ill the blandish-
nlents offered her in the shape of
wheedliug words and ears Of corn.
The captain and Bill rykc bot fell to
swearing, and followed the beast
around Tor IN hour. At last, with con
snmate gcneralshin, they succeeded in
earncrng hrr. and as She tried 10
rush between them, both sprang at her
name
The captain was successful and hung
IN like grim death. but Rill Tyke
failed tn secure !, satisfactory grip, and
WIS kicked head over heels into a
blackberry hush. whence lie emerged.
torn and bleeding, and swearing worse
than ever Is L. the captain, he was
dragged hundred yards before he
managed 10 j" hoard her, hat last he
found himself on her back. tearing
across the pasture and bounding foot
II every jump. The mare made
straight fir lie bars, went over them,
AMI tinally came to halt III the captains
danrNard. The captain slipped of in
III xhansttd condition, and drove his
new purchase into the harm
The operation If harae>sing was one
requiring I'LL the scnmansh:p Of both
the captain and Bill ryke to success
fully perform The uses of the various
straps, buckles and Delaying pins T"
We're thc subject Of several animated
discussions before the harness was
finally adjusted. When all WAS COM
pletc Bill lykc~ cruiscd around the
wagon several times. and observed that
the darned thing was all right, any
how
Then, said the captain. Just put
tie ald boat anchor intath buggy with
about three fathomS If stout line. and
you get IN behind Darn We he con
tinned. addressing the marc if W
play \ trick like that again, I'll fix We ="
Bill marched oil To the too house
and returned carrying III old IRON kee-
Lock and coil Of inch MANILA rope.
III one end III this Inc lie fastened this
anchor. Tile other, IL the captains
direction. lie tied hv double hitch i'm
the rear axle If the wagon.
Nowt' said the captain. Jump in.
Rlll, Hi max, the old vixen hum
when We ret the widow ill.,
II The captains great delight the
why Mas IL home, and surveyed the
new turnout with admiration. The
harness, She thought, looked some
What peculiar. hut She didn't know
much about such things. OF course
he would - toride How kind of the
captain. What beautiful horse.
She WAS not long in getting ready. for
expedition /, such times was one Of the
widows many virtues. The captain
helped her in, AMI the mare trotted
placidly OIL. while Bin Tykc sat behind
with his legs hanging over the stern
81 the wagon
II was delightful drive.
The mares head was turned away
from home and she behaved herself
much better Than the captain expected
Tie sim was setting rs they turned about
70 20 home, and as the evening shadows
began 10 fall the captain began to grow
tender. Gradually his arm slipped
around the widows waist
Promptly she removed it.
captain Todd she exclaimed, "you
must not; | cannot allow it"
She glanced back ut Bill Tyke, who
still sat dangling his feet over the tail
board in the most blissful unconscious
ness.
''0h, don't mind him." said the cap
tain. He don't see nothing"
1T isn't that, said the widow, blush
ing. "but-I suppose l ought to tell
you--in fact, don't know as | had