The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-10
BUYING 4 HORSE.

had been mentioned aloud, before she
found herself in the heart OF a new
world. 1t might be succinctly called
the Horse World. The delights OF the
iireslde, enticements OF the June sky,
fascination OF the ocean, the delicate
SHIFT and play OF summer life, receded
from her consciousness like plates in
a magic lantern. Her brain cells ce-
came stenciled with the language and
literature ofthe turf Anxious to pro-
ceed upon her rash venture with some
degree OF intelligence, she had made
herself the possessor OF a book called
''The Horse and His Habits" When
anybody called-as somebody did at
the rate OF six or seven day-with q
horse to sell, she consulted this use
tul volume. She received the impress
sion that horse was the most deli
cate creature, and subject to the rich
est stock OF bodily infrmities of any
specimen of organized life known to
on. present civilization. An infant or
woman was nothing to it, Beyond
this one idea, which rapidly assumed
the dangerous proportions of the
"fxed," in Corona's mental life
at this period, it cannot be said
that she brought away much availa-
Bile knowledge from "The Horse and
His Habits" She perused the book
sturdily. Tom did not come. OF
course Tom did not come-he was in
Idaho, 1T was something about bear
sklns-so she clung to this intelligent
volume bravely rs the sole defense be-
tween herself and that delicate sense
OF honor well known to belong to the
Jockey, considered as q class. Who
has ever solved the riddle? What is
there about horses which should be so
injurious to the human conscience
Why should q horse make n man O.
commercial rascal, rather than glue,
or cracked wheat, or dry goods. or
soapo
One horsein particular pleased Coro-
nav very much. The owner had come
every day with it, and stayed. He had
stayed very much. He had fastened
his horse to the clothes post, beginning
on Monday, when the lines we're up,
ard outstayed all the other bids.
Corona, with feminine respect for the
pertinacious in pursuit, admired the
perseverance of this man and hated to
hurt his feelings by refusing to take
his horse.
Her friend Mary had come over to
stay a few days (Mr. Sinuous said she
might. This was the more praise
worthy in MIR. Sinuous because he him
self was not invited), in order to help
Corona through this trying period.
The two ladies drove together from
morning to night, experimenting with
the different applicants, in the lazy,
delightful country fashion that makes
horse-hunting rs a high art u pleasure
unknown to towns. Through mur-
muring lanes where the bees fastidi-
ously tasted the barberry blossoms,
over the brilliant beaches, and deep
into the scented woods, Mary and
Corona rode and rode. They rode the
Old horses, young horses, sound
horses, sick horses, horses that went,
and horses that wouldn't go, and
horses that went more than was ex-
pected of them, horses that ran AWAY
with them, horses that limped, horses
that stumbled. horses that coughed,
horses that took bits between their
teeth, and horses that wouldn't 20 up
hill without a lump OF sugar. There
WAS one-but only one--who kicked
the dasher down when he met the first
summer boarder, III an imported shade
thodoX meeting house and ornament.
ed with muslin suntlowers.
For some reason sufficient to the
reader of ''The Horse and his Habits, ~
none OF these animals seemed suitable
for the needs OF her family, and she
returned with q weakening heart to
the horse tied at the clothes post since
Monday morning. His owner was
quite sure that he would fill the bill.
1.-THE billg" asked Corona. "Fil
what bill? We haven't come to the
bill YETI
'Pardon, num-" said the man
reldening little.
Corona looked ut him vaguely. She
was still deficient in coarse talk. Sht
explained that she wanted q gooC
family horse.
She was assured that this was 6
perfect specimen OF the kind of thing
Sound?
Sound as sense! Hadn't al out
about him.
Corona did not know what an out
was. She thought it might be some
kind OF a new disease. SO she con
suited "'rhe Horse and His Habits
before replying.
':lt isn't in my book, she whispered
to Mary. alt may be one OF those
new aggravations developed By the
epizootic. But as long us the horse
hasn't got it, l don't see that ii
matters. Do you2"
"Why-no-no. | shouldn't think ii
did" said Mary, conscientiously.
They went out again and examined
the horse. He was very handsome
horse.
Was he kind?
Kind as terrier. pup.
Afraid OF the cars?
Cars! He wasn't afraid Of the Last
Trumpet.
How many miles an hour?
Ten, week days, and twelve and 6
half if you wanted the doctor. Easy
'But we never do want the doctor,
objected Corona thoughtfully.
Was he easy bitted?
You could drive him with hair pir
and piece of sewin' silk.
His price?
Two hundred and fifty dollars.
Lowest price?
Lowest price; that was fifty dollars
less'n any animal with his point.
would bring anywhere else. But, seein
she was a lady-sort ofas you might
say unprotected, no men-ne'd lei