The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-31

...re not to wait luncheon on the mis- * Ares. aa' ;;ss'a he ready at tgo." Iwhiled away an hour or two with the .;d of new magazine and a first-rate luncheon, then took my departsre As it wss. had delayed too long. It vas -,oviug dusk before reached home, and feared Nora might be anxious, knowing ,hat had intended to ride my new horse Bu. Black Beautys nervousness had toned 3own to a pTaiseworthy steadiness, and he vent quietly on through the gathering darkness.
 Old Charles came hobbling round as arrived safely at the door, and began in- stautly to examine Black Beauty by the Eeht of the stable lantern. With novel, vtt delicious thrill of dawning self-respect ;n his presence, listened calmly to his halEcondescending, half-commendatory remarks: "Ay, foine, sthrong build rood shoulder seems about the hoighih mebbe he'll make match for Sharon, sf,her all, Masther John "Afther all," evidently bore reference to his previous skepticism. Therefore
 merely said curtly: "Give him a good iced of oats, Charles, and bran mash
 And see that his rack is well filed. He's
 done his twenty miles to-day, and done
 them nobly." Turning away, congrat-
 ulated myself upon the new-bor sense
 of authority with which had issued my
 orders. As the old man disappeared into
 the darkness, heard him mutter with an
 undisguised chuckle:
 May the saints and blessed Vargin turn deaf ear to me dyin' prayers av iver heard the like of thatl An does Masther John want to find him the morns morn bust up like COW in clover bed, wid bis bran mashes, an his oats an his hay2 He he l Masther John do bate all, he do!'
 This course soliloquy brought the hot blood to my cheeks, but all else was tor gotten as Nora rushed into my arms, and greeted me with even more sffus;on than was her won't.
 "Oh, John, dear, was getting so nerv- ous, but when heard dear old Dobb pin, kpew you were all right"
 "Old Dobbin 1" echoed. What do yoa mean, my dear2'
 "Ah. know" smiling archly. "And I'll tell you nowl That was just what l was hoping might happen, and cannot help feeling glad you could net sell him Oh! was listening so anxiously, John dear, and was so delighted when heard him coming. Dear old Dobbin should know his step among a thousand"
 "A feminine exaggeratioo, my dear! " lreply calmly, catching the drift of her remarks. "You would know his step among thousand, doubtless, in theory Practic ally, you do not know it among frn ae1- irregular beauty, Black Beau:y, as his name tells you (oy the way, must change his name-lt is too hackneyed) and, as l anticipate, perfect match for Sharon"
 Her face fell, then frightened again. " John, you are only in fun, are you no! ? It is really dear old Dobbin 2"
 "No, my dear, mol" 1 answer her pleadings shortly, and with the air of a man whose patience is exhausted. No, my dear that was my new horse, and hope you will like him as much as do Dobbin was all very we'll, but no more to be compared with Black Beauty than the white COW isl And now, Norrie, can you give me cup of tea before 1 go up to dress, for it vas dismally cold riding home, and am half frcz en
 As usual, the conversation was pleas antly terminated by the well timed re- quest A woman is never so we'll pleased as when ministering tc the wants of her husband, particularly if that ministration takes the form of providing him with meat or drink.
 The next d ay but one, Friday, was that determined By long precedent as the Killnahallew hunt day. The meet was to be on the Rookery "lawn," i C, the large field in front of the house, which is so called in thii part of the country, even if only grazing field
 resolved to ride Black Beauty. Nora tried to dissuade me, but was firm. When he was brought round to the hall door, she contented herself with feU general words of praise. attribute this lukewarmness to a natura al feeling of blt- terness agsins; the usurper of Dob ain's place, and did not try to combit it; or possibly 1t was due to a sudden accession of nervousness caused by my rashness in hunting horse of wh om knew so little
 Before had ridden hundred yards, repented my frmness. Black Beauty was evidently feeling rather used up and out of spirits, as the beit horse may some times. blamed myself for not having given him m ore than one day to recruit in before riding him in public. It was too late to turn back now, as the hounds were just throwing of.
 A splendid fox at last broke cover, the pack started off in full cry, and Black Beauty walked up considerably as we gal loped along. But then the veriest cart horse could do no less, and his spirits soon fl ,gged again. There was some ex- cuse for him! A sudden change h 4d come in the night, and rapid tha~ =>ess in.
 Of course Reynard picked out the worst possible route! And of course we were soon toiling painfully over muddy s~smps and thick, tenacious clay. Sill Back Beauty held his own, and bravely did his