The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-01

be honest with lady, and tell her that
there was one objection to the horse
he WASH exactly handsome; but he had
points enough to make up for that,
especially as a lady's horse. In par
ticular, he was very kind. Corona S
faith in the commercial value of beauty
having received shock, she was in
clined to look up the horse who owned
to being not exactly handsome; so she
and Mary drove to the neighboring
village, known by the beautiful In
dian name of Carriesquall, to see the
homely horse.
He proved to be, indeed, no Adonis;
but he looked, as his owner averred,
kind. In fact, he did not look much
but kind. if one told the truth. He
was big. burly, gray and serious. He
had philosophical air, and regarded
Corona with the manner of one who
could teach her few abstract truths,
if he thought it worth his while.
"Well, SIR" said Corona, ''we have
horse. Is this he?"
This lis he." was the proud reply.
There isn't better horse in all Car
riesquall for lady's horse than that
there horse. He's just as kind"
whats his name?" asked Corona.
well. we call him the Old Army.
But you ken call him most any thing
you choose-after you've bought
him."
"Was he in the army?" cried Mary.
'How interesting! Was he wounded"
.'He was left for dead" said Old
Army's master, solemnly. His master,
which was Major-G General, never ex-
pected to get him home alive"
But he did?" asked Mary, breath
lessly, quite forgetting herself.
Yes, marm. He did That there
is the very horse. And he's as kind"
He looks kind" observed Corona,
tenderly.
''How old is hep
Truth compels me to state that it
had not. up to this moment, occurred
to her that the military career of Old
Army in the Civil War could have any
disadvantageous connection with his
age. To put it delicately, was it not
one in which she herself shared? Had
not she, too, lived out the war? And
did it seem other than year before last
since she bade Tom goodbye in the
dark, on the piazza at their fathers
house? Handsome boy! How brave
he looked, with that quiver in the lip
that kissed her! And was it more than
last year that she caught him to her
heart again? Safe, safe, safe, thank
God and fought it through! No. She,
too, had ''been through the war;" and
to her, too, as to all others like her. it
was living, palpitating present, on
which age could lay no hand. A
quarter of a century since Toms regi-
ment had marched away? A quarter
of ''Killed, Wounded, Missing" in the
blurring, shaking paper every dayP
A quarter of century since"
Hes just as kind" the master of
Old Army was saying very distinctly.
Corona started and begged his pardon.
'.And Mary, did you speak? What is
the price, sir, of this kind and patriotic
horse?' A price was named, but Cor
ona did not listen, did not hear.
She and Old Army regarded each other
closely. She looked into the eyes of
the ancient warrior. She stroked his
cheek tenderly. She wanted him. But
the veteran responded to her gaze with
deep and intelligent look. He knew
better than that. If ever horse tried
to say to purchaser: Don't do it!
You're very complimentary, and ap-
preciate it, but don't you do it!'' that
horse then and there essayed to do
that thing.
''How much did you say?" asked
Corona, coming slowly to herself, and
trying to look like 'sThe Horse and
his Habits" bound in two volumes, at
Old Army's master, who replied that
he had said $3.50.
THAT seems large price for so old
a horse
"Oh! he was only ten come last
March," said Old Army's master. con-
tidently. He amt what you'd call
old yet"
He isn't exactly young, you know"
demurred Corona. politely"
"Wall, l didn't suppose you was
after colt, for a lady's horse. There's |
this about good, mature horse, you
know. He's had the measles and all !
those juvenile diseases. You're sure |
he hasn't got 'em to go through |
again"
Mary hastily said that she thought |
this was a great point.
''How many miles does he make?"
asked Corona, pursuing her inquiries
more vigorously now, by force of reac-
ton from that vision of score of |
years ago. Smoke, blood. butchery,
the arms thrown up in falling, the flag
flung to the bright sky above it all-let
1t pass. Let come, as come it must,
and pass. Through the red and awful
mist how pathetically look out the eyes
of these dumb things that we made
soldiers of, who learned the deadly
skill of war, acquired its valor, bore its
tortures, earned its glory they knew
not how, and died, they knew not whyi
"How fast" proceeded Corona, bring
ing herself violently back-.'how fast
can Old Army go, on an average?"
''Wall, he amt a racer" reluctantly.
Il perceive that. But how much. for
instance, will he make an hour? What
kind of IL roadster is hep
wall, he don't go so very fast. But
he's an excellent lady's hoss. He's
just as kind"
Il don't underrate his kindness.
Rut what want to know. before pur-
chase that horse, is, exactly how much
time you can get out of him."
IF you feed him well?' hopefully.
80. yes! If you feed him very WELL"
'.And don't over-use him?''
Never"
''Give him twelve quarts day and
his hay?"
Certainly. Fourteen, if he wishes