The Opelousas courier., 1886-12-04
SUSIE DALTON'S RIDE.

We were sitting out on the broas
piazza-grandma and land as Barne.
went by with the horses to water at thu
spring grandma said:
"Why! how much that horse does re
mind me of B.ucher!' / saw by he
peculiar smile that she recalled SOM
pleasant Renaissance of the long ago.
"Do tell mel" I said coaxingly.
Sac laid down the scarlet stocking shs
was Knitting for Pearlie, and let her eyes
wander to the hills, golden with the
October sunlight, as she dreamingly went
back over the long stretch of vars inter
vening.
"Lct me see, it's sixty years and over,
for / was coming on fifteen and Susie was
two years older. Susie was an orphan
with sven brothers and sisters who had
found places among relatives and friends
living with Weymouth Brewster, her
cousin Pauline's husband, who was a
merchant in Limo Rock. She was a
quiet, capable girl, and they set great
store by her. Her sister Sallie had mar
ried during the summer and gone to
housekeeping over in Massachusetts, and
Susie had been longing to go and see her
for quite a while. So when it came a
slack spell on the farm, late in Septcm-
ber, Weymouth told Susie she could take
Butcher a great roam horse-and go
over to her sisters nj day and come
back the next.
sSusie was wild with delight, as she
ran over to get me to come and help along
with the work during her absence. She
did look sweet, to be sure, as she came
out with her batiste dress of soft, silvery
gray, her jaunty velvet hat, turned up to
show the pearl satin lining, with its os-
trich plumes a-nodding in the wind.
You see, that hat was bought on pur-
pose for her in New York, when Wey-
mouth went after goods. There was not
another in town to compare with it.
"Well, the hirei man held the horse
while Weymouth helped her on, an | she
was off down the roaa while we were
calling out good bye to her. Women in
those days mostly rode horseback when
they went anywhere, and Susie went on.
happy as a bird, until she got over the
state line, when her ear caught the sound
of drums and flies, and her horse began
going as though he was a. walking on
eggs. Then Susie remembered all at
that it was general trainin'' day
over in Massachusetts.
"Her horse had boon owned by an
officer Of the troopers for several years,
and always stepped in time to music.
She spied the troopers now on d cross
street making for the min street. IF
they only would pass before she reached
theml She tried to restrain he's horse,
SO thatBhe would not overtake them. but
he heard the martial strains, and as
though the sweet elixir had filed all his
veins with life, he pricked up his cars
and swept on like the Overwhelming leap
Of q cataract, to join them. On he went,
never pausing at the rear of the gfittering
column, on, past the array Of men sitting
so proudly within their sad lilies, on, to
the very front, and there, beside the tall
form Of the gallant captain, he deignel
length to form IN line and sweep on
the martial tread Of inspirin strains
for, 10! he would have his accustomed
placed
Poor Susiel what should she doa
She longed for a moment TO have the
open and swallow her up, as ii did
Of old. There was 4 pefcepi b.e
smile on more than d Lip, as the men
glanced AZ their perturbsd captain, who
was an old bachelor of the most ortho-
1ox knd-rich and ard-hearted-yet
afraid Of all women. when
Captain Drew saw how terribly fright
med Susie was, and that, try as she
would, she could not make that incorrig-
bic horse bulge, he pitied her, and
ssayed to say something comforting
saw, too, that she was very come
! to look upon, and modest and very
astefully dressed. He kept looking
and more. Finally, q bright thought
arne TO hin, and be said, very respect
ally: Miss, II You are willing, I viii
xchange horses with you, IS mine I am
sing for the first time in this way, and
e has NOT become 50 attached to martial
as yours. So, helping sus / ID.
pa exchanging saddles, ho inquired her
and place Of resi- lonco that he
night cone to exchange them again.
We'll, Susie went 90 and had her VS.
out. We all wondered 4 great deal
hen she came back On d strange horse, !,
Vt she rev tried 10 enlighten ID any.
Fcymoalth said, Susie made i very good
n trading horses, md asy Of
aem are at her disposal # she does IS
Ell every time.
But Tho next day when The handsome
Eptaia came diving ap and wesaw SUI
brushes, We knew just IS we'll how
would end III we did HE next NAV
hen NJ saw her stand ssp beside the
Iptain in the little church, wliic The
Ilemn words were said which made