The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-31

 "come, Dowse, no more 'palavering, as Red Mike would probably say. Make me fair offer, or let it alone. Say thirty, < 6cnt take ycny horse"
 "Twinty, yer honor. Not a sixpence morel couldn't do it. It wud go agin me conscience to the wife an the chider. An whin ye see Black Beauty, it's proud yell be to give me the ould chestnut an fifty poun' to bootr
 Of course spurned this proposal with righteous indignation, aud offered in my turn should Black Beauty be the choice bit Of horsehesh described, to give old Dobbin in exchange and thirty pound to boot"
 Equally of course, after the stereotyped amount of haggling and splitting six pences inseparable from an Irish bargain, we haIved the difference, and decided upon 40 as the utmost limit of gener osity lo which our duties to our respective "wives and childer" would allow us to go, my " childer" being an unknown and entirely fictitious quantity introduced into the conversation by the exigencies of the moment.
 AS the bargain was finally struck, we entered the town. I di.mounted, ad- ministered farewell caress to old Dob. bins dropping head, and saw Dowse the gypsy, ride of in the direction of Rath- collin.
 No, my friends, no. My story does not end thus. was not so raw and in- experien ced as you are beginning to sur- mise.
 Dowse, the gypsy, did not ride off with my horse never to return. On the con- trary, he insisted on depositing with me as security for his reapoearance a Bank of Ireland note tor 62o. This he ex- tracted, greatly to my astonishment, from a greasy, unwholesome-looking, evil smelling leathern purse. I confess should have been satisfied without fur ther guarantee for his good faith than that aff,rded by his honest ugly face, but he professed uneasiness lest some un- foreseen accident should endapger his life and my property. So gave way.
 With light heart 1 walked toward the open market-pl4ce where the fair was held, passing the too odorous pledge through the fragrant cufls of smoke issu. ing from my cigar. The fast approaching triumph over my tyrant, Charles, sup piled me with mental pabulum of the most delicious kind.
 This old reprooate was reported by Buttons to have affirmed that he would not be surprised if Masther John wor to come back wid no more than a tsn-poun' note in his pocket for ould Dobbin, an fifty poun' out of it for an ould screw as wouldn't so much as pay its own buryin' expensesi" As examined the different representatives of the noble race set forth for sale, with the dispassionate criticism of man already suited, congratulated myself heartily on my good luck.
 There was only one animal in the fair worth second glance as far as matching my own black mare, Sharon, was con- cerned, and she was too young. ] might have been deluded into buying her, and thereby, if possible, sinking lower in old Charles estimation, f,r she seemed to me to be perfect animal, fall of blood and fire. But thought of my treasure, my Black Beauty, and refrained.
 The fair contained little of interest to me, so sauntered away to the house of my brother-in-law. found Arthur and his charming young wife at home, and spent the rest of the day very pleasantly.
 The former prcf.,sed his regret on hearing that l had parted with old Dob, bin, horse he had always admired, re- spected rather Respect was the sen;i- ment invariably inspired by old Dobbin! He further expressed his congratulations on my extraordinarily good fortune in so easily lIrhtInQ uOOn a 6rsf rate suh Stitute And finally, his regret that urgeut busi, ness would take him up to town next morning, aud debar him from the pleas. ure of accompauyins me to K,llnaballew park, distant about mile from my pres- ent quarters.
 "Very sorry indeed, old fellow" re- piled, for hAtter myself I've secured rather a nice article. However. if he's in condition, you'll see him on Friday at the hunt, weather permitting"