Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-16
THE TRUMPET HORSE,
rFron the French.l

From the french.
And after George had told us how he had
been married at % by his aunt the Baroness
de Stub: /, said Paul, was married by the
trumpet huse. l was nearly in my forties,
and J found myself so peacefully anchored
IN the ways of old bachelorhood that, with
the utmost sincerity on all occasions vowed
by all the gods would never risk myself by
running the great hazard of marrying But
/ counted without the trumpet horse. 1t
was in the latter part of September, .SG4.
I had Just come from Baden, and it was my
intention to pass only twenty four hours in
Paris. l had invited four or five of my
observation-disclosures, Bernheim, Valreas, and
Fondeville-to come down to my place in
Potion for the meeting. They were to arrive
the first of October and there was only
week in which to put things in order at
Roche-Targe. A note from my head hunts
man reached me in Paris, and this note
brought me disastrous news: the dogs were
all we'll but out Of dozen hunters | had
down there, five during my soiourn in Baden
had become i'll or lame, and | found myself
in the necessity of stocking up my stables.
I made a round of the dealers il the Champs
Elysees, who showed me for hunters fine
collection OF Old woTn-out horses-lowest
price 5000 francs ! had had bad luck at
trente ct quarante, and l was not IN the
hum0r to spend in this manner zoe or 500
louis in one morning.
Ii was a Wednesday, and Cheri was hay
ing his autumn sale. | went to Ponthleu
street III the course of The day and in the cata-
Jogue | found: Excellent hunters; jump
well; have hunted under lady" etc, ETC.
bought eight horses and they only cost mo
5000 francs. Among the eight" said to
myself, there viii be four or five that will
go @nd be good enough to send as relays"
Among these horses there was one which,
l must confess, l had bought on account of
his coat, which was beautiful The catalogue
did not attribute any especial aptitude for
hunting 10 him. 1t simply said ''Brutus,
saddle-horse, rather over age, very well
trained He was large dapple-gray horse,
but I don't think had ever seen a better
dapple-gray The black and white of his
coat were so well mixed. The black was
well distributed over the white. L left the
next day for Roche-Targe, and the day after
early III the morning a servant informed me
that the horses had arrived. l Immediately
went down to see them, and, first Of all, !
looked at Brutus. l had been thinking of
him continually for forty-eight hours-that
devil of q gray horse-and now l had an odd
desire to know what kind of a horse he was,
and for what he was fit.
l had him brought out Of the stable first.
y groom led him out quietly. The hsrse had
long teeth, deep hoilows over his eyes, and
IN fact, all the signs of a respectable age; but
lie had q powerful shoulder, a large, broad
breast high witherS, a fine neck, well-se
tail, an irreproachable back, and carried hi
head well And it was not all this whicl
ell
admired above ali was the air with whicl
Brutus regarded me, and with what an atten
tive, intelligent, curious eye he followed N,
movements and my gestures My Yer.
words seemed to interest him singularly. II
bent his head toward me, as if to hear better
and before had finished speaking neighe
joyously, as if to answer me- They Shove
me the other seven horses; examined Their
rapidly and with an inattentiye eye. Thes
were horses just like all other horses. Brutu
had certainly something odd about him, an
was impatient to take little ride aroun
the country in his company. He above
himself D be saddled, bridled and mounte
like :. horse who knew his business, and the
we two went off together in the most peac
ful way.
held him ct first by the snaffle, and Br1
tus went at a small pace, his neck little sti
and his head a little heavy; but as soon as
made him feel the curb he started up with !
markable ease and rapidity, tossing his hes
and champing his bit. He then took slow
pace, light and uniform, raising his feet big
In the ali, and beating the ground with Il
regularity of a pendulum.
Cheri's catalogue had not lied. This was
well-trained horse: in fact, he was rather t
well trained l had him trot and then gallo