The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-12-24
Temple Bari
DOWSE, THE Gypsy.
CHAPTER II.


dawned upon my unclosing eyes.
To-day's transaction was to impress
upon Captain Purcell the conviction
of . my thorough conversance with
matters equine, and | hoped-but
this was less certain-to install me
into the proud position of master of
my own stables.
At 11:30 A. M. | sailed forth, and
before midday reached the place of
rendezvous. The ''park" was nothing
more pretentious than one huge field,
enclosed, and sprinkled sparsely with
magnificent trees, the grass being kept
closely cropped by numerous sheep.
| had not waited for five minutes
before the sharp ring Of hoofs was
audible. The sound ceased suddenly,
as it reached the park gates. I
looked up, and saw handsome, we'll
groomed black horse, with my own
saddle and bride upon him. My
friend, Dowse, the gypsy, flung him
self from the former
"Musha, yer honor, an it's kilt [
do be wild thryin' to be wild yez before.
But Black Beauty was so full Of his
thricks, leppin an prancin' like kid
that I thought I'd niver get here at
all. An av yer honor wants baste
as is fresher afther a ten-mile ride
than afore he started, here he is stand
in beside yez"
why! you don't mean to say you
have come all the way from Rath-
collin this morning? That is hardly
fair to your horse, Dowse, to expect
him to show off to the best advantage
after ten miles on the hard road"
'Thry him, captin, only thry him.
Throth, an I'll thrust him not to dis
grace his ould masther that r'ared
him." and Dowse passed his fingers
affectionately through the jet-black
name Of the noble animal standing g
patiently by his side. l patted him
soothingly, then measured him with
my eye. Yes! he looked about six
teen hands, and in shape and build
almost as good match for Sharon as
old Dobbin had been.
Poor old Dobbin! / could not re-
press a sigh, but consoled myself by
rejecting that Dowse had solemnly
assured me that he would keep him
himself till he could find for him "as
good and kind masther as the one
I'm gettin' for me own Black Beauty,
God bless him!" and | knew he would
be true to his word.
"And now, Dowse, let me see you
self. That's only fair to you both.
I'rot him and canter him first.
"Troth, an | will; an gallop him
into the bargain, though the ground
do be thrife hard wild the frost for
the iligant hoofs of him. An yer
honor shall see him lep yon fence like
bird on the wing, or the hunter born
an bred as he is
He gave Black Beauty slight cut
with the whip, which the fiery crea-
ture resented by springing forward
with bound like deer's, then, with
snort of defiance, breaking into ii
smart hand-gallop. Up and down,
down and up, trotting, cantering, gal
loping, then taking the low sunk
fence with leap that landed him
half-a dozen yards on the other side
"That'll do, Dowse, that will do!''
| cried in uncomfortable delight
"Why, man," / continued rapturous-
ly, ''if you had had grain of sense
you would have shown his PAGES first
and made your bargain afterwards y
[ shouted these remarks to the
gypsy, who had slipped from the sad
die while still at some distance, and
was buy readjusting the girths. He
now slowly led Black Beauty towards
me, remarking quietly
81 don't wish to go back from my
word, captin. I've made fair profit
out Of the horse, as | don't deny, as a
man must do to live, an for the sake
Of the childher at home, an I'm con-
tent. But it do go to me heart to
part wild Black Beauty, the jewil
Him as r'ared up from foal-from
babby in arms-I may say. He's
followed me from place to place, rum
min afther the cart like a child, with
ne'er rope nor nothin' to tie him,
an it comes hard on me to see the
last O. him. Ay! even when he's
sould to a gintleman like yer honor's
self, who'll thrate him kind, an niyer
touch him wild the whip, 'cept in the
way Of play. Ay, it comes hard, but
I'll do it for the wife an childher."
The soft-hearted fellow stopped for
ward, and actually pressed his lips to
the soft black muzzle Of the gentle.
high-bred creature.
[ was touched, as any man might
have been, by the sight of this mute
caress. To recall the gypsy to the
pleasanter side Of the picture, [ OBJ
served
"Well, suppose, Dowse, as you are
tramping about from one place to
another, and may not be in this part
of the country long"
''Thrue for yer honor! I'll be fifty
mile away the morn's morn" he in
terjected.
''In that case you would like the
money to be paid down on the nail, +"
taking the bride from his hands as [
spoke, preparatory to mounting for a
personal trial Of my future property,
and adding, 'But first let me see if
he is pleasant and easy to ride.
"There's some gintlemen," remarked
Dowse slowly, still retaining a firm
grip Of the restive animals bit, ''as
can tell good baste from a bad un
by the looks O him. An there's
MORE" dropping each word. sharply
and distinctly, ''manin' no disrispect
to yer honor, as can't tell how he'd
suit 'em from seein' baste, but must
get asthride him an feel him as well.
So mebbe ye'd be wishin'-"
mo, no! I think not" [ protested