The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-12-03
1Temple Bari
DOWSE, THE Gypsy,
CHAPTER I.

advertisement page of the Killnabal-
lew Reporter, our local paper, in
which the latest agrarian outrage. the
next meet of the county fox-hounds,
and a glowing account of the last
temperance sOiree, trod on one anoth-
er's heels with the characteristic in
congruity Of the minor Irish newspa-
pers.
[ was prepared for the mildly re-
proachful tone of her reply.
IA horse, John! Another horse!
Surely you are not going to sell the
black mare. Why, only yesteld day
you pronounced her perfectr' hard
ened my heart, difficult process for
a young husband of three months
standing.
Well, no, my dear! It's not the
black mare I'm thinking Of parting
with, but old Dobbin. You see"
"Old Dobbinr' she interrupted
hastily with flashing eyes-true Irish
eyes, with world Of lurking fire lat
ent in their greyblue depths, though
mild enough in general. "Oh, John
Not dear old Dobbin surely! Just
think how long you've had him! And
such a steady, faithful, dear old horse!
Not single fault, John; I've heard
you say so. And so safe and easy for
me to driver
Her voice quivered with the pathet-
ic tremor that l well knew and sorely
dreaded. Nevertheless, once more ]
hardened my heart, settled myself
more firmly in my mental attitude,
and proceeded to justify my intention.
mo fault! No. of course; certain
ly not. Nothing that you could fair
ly call fault. But you cannot deny,
my dear, that he is almost superan-
nuated, and would stand poor chance
in race with my fat Berkshire.
. Then look at his color! Intolerable
Light chestnut might pass when we
, had the pair. But now that the young
black mare has been promoted from
the plough-tail to the carriage-vice
Thunderer. defunct-you must con-
fess it really does not look we'll. Why,
even Captain Purcell remarked upon
the startling effect of the contrast
and advised me to change. Blythe
way, my dear" (this in the desperate
endeavor to avert the storm that in
variably gathered at the mention of
the gallant captains name) "by-the-
way, are you sufficiently we'll up in
comparative anatomy to inform me
which portion Of the implement is
that termed in contemptuous parlance
the 'plough-tail?"
1t was in vain.
That hateful man, Nora vehe.
mently calculated. II might have
guessed that that wretch was at the
bottom of your wanting to sell deal
old Dobbin John, if you must hunt
| wish you would refuse to have any.
thing to do with the conceited young
puppies that you meet there, whose
opinions you seem to rate so far above
your ownr'
This was unkind, but I accepted il
amiably, and only queried jocosely,-
"What young puppies, my dear:
Do you allude to the hounds?" Ther
seing my wife look honestly affronted
[ continued: "But seriously, Nora
don't you think it is little unreason.
able to set down all the members oi
the hunt-and some Of them very nice
fellows too-as young puppies, anG
credit them with no end of influence
. over your husband, merely because
!. one of them happens to advise me te
) sell one of my horses, and his advice
chances to chime in with my own
J opinion?''
"That's not all, john" she flashed
out eagerly. Then, suddenly aban.
doning the position as untenable, she
accepted the inevitable with sigh.
swell, John, since, you must have e
horse, don't, please, ask Captain Pur-
+. cell for his invaluable assistance, but
| take old Charles with you to choose
, him."
) Indeed, 1 shall do nothing of the
kind" was my brief response "Old
Charles thinks a great deal too much
! of his own knowledge and judgment
in the matter Of horsefesh, and as
much too little of mine. | shall GER
tainly not constitute myself the laugh
, ing-stock Of the fair by taking with
me boasting, blundering idiot like
old Charles. l know-I hope [ know
"a good animal when | see one,
which is more than he does, I fancy.
But don't fear! [ shall not consult
| I
not child in leading-strings, and [
hatter myself that [ know the points
Of a good horse as we'll as any man in
Ireland"
Then, feeling rather ashamed of my
heat, | went on more temperately,-
II hear that to-morrow's fair is to
be the best of the year. So my best
plan will be to ride old Dobbin over,
sell him there if / can get my price
for him, and look out for substitute.
If I don't find what I want | can stay
over the night with your brother Ar
thur, and come back by train the next
day; but if | succeed in getting the
right sort Of thing, I shall ride him
home the same night. And now I'll
take another cup of coffee, if you
| please"
This was final. and meant that the
subject was not to be renewed I had
been married long enough to know
that If man does not intimate decis-
lively that his say is said, his mind
made up, the best of women will pro-
tract subject ad namseana, and ten
to one get her way by sheer force of
longwindedness. But Nora knew my
ways, and the matter rested there.
The 18th: bright, cold, frosty day
the roads in perfect condition, dry
and hard as IRON | started off in high
spirits, shared by Dobbin, who actual
ly contrived to execute sort Of clum-
sy curvet as we rode down the avenue,
before relapsing into his accustomed
jog-trot. Old Charles watched US
with sardonic grin on his ancient
visage. He wished me good luck in a
tone we'll calculated to express his ex-
treme scepticism as to my powers of
discriminating between good speci-
men of the equine race and an indif-