The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-10
'He was left for dead" said

''1es, marm. He did. That there
is the very horse. And he's kind"
"He looks kind" observed Corona,
tenderly. "How old is he?"
Truth compels me to state that it
to her that the military career of Old
Army in the civil war could have any
disadvantaseous connection to 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 good.by
i'll 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 hlm to her heart again?
Safe, safe, sale, 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 q
living, palpltating present, on which
age could lay no hand. A quarter OF
century since Toms regiment had
marched away! A quarter of cen
tury since she watched the list of
"Killed, Wounded, Missing" ii, the
blurring, shaking paper every day A
quarter OF century since
Hes just as klnd''-the master of
Old Army was saying very distinctly.
Corona started, and begged his par
'don-and Mary, did you speak?
"What is the price, sir, of this kind
and patriotic horse?:" A price was
named; but Corona did not listen, did
not hear. She and Old Army regard
ed each other closely. She looked in
TO the eyes OF the ancient warrior.
She stroked his checks tenderly. She
wanted him. But the veteran re-
sponded to her gaze with deep and
intelligent look. He knew better
than that. Ii ever horse tried to
say to purchaser: Don't do it;
your very Complimentary, and | ap-
preciate 1t, but don't you do it!'
That horse then and there essayed to
do that thing.
GLOW much did you say?" asked
Corona, coming slowly to herself, and
trying to look like "The Horse and
His Habits" bound in two volumes,
ut Old Army's master, who replied
that he had said one hundred and
eighty dollars.
"That seems a large price for so old
q horse"
"oh! he was only ten come last
March" said old Army's master con-
tidently. "He amt what you call old
yet"
"He isn't exactly young, you know"
demurred Corona poll, -ly.
"Wall, l didn't suppose you was
after a colt for a lady horse. There's
this about good mature horse, you
known. He's had the measles and
all those juvenile diseases. You're
sure he hasn't got them to go through
again"
Mary hastily said that she thought
this was great point.
"How many miles does he make?"
asked Corona, pursuing her inquiries
more vigorously now, by force OF reac-
tion 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 it pass. Let it come, as come it
must, and let it 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 it's tortures, earned it's
glory, they know not how, and died,
they knew not why!
"How fast" proceeded Corona,
bringing herself violently back-"how
fast con Old Army so,on an average"
'Wall, he aim racer, reluctantly.
81 perceive that. Blu. how much,
for instance, will he make an hour?
What kind of a roadster is he?"
Wall he don't go very fast. But he's
an excellent lady's hoss. He's just as
kind"
II don't underrate his kindness.
But what I want to know, before |
purchase that horse, is, how much
time you can get out of him?"
off you feed him well?" hopefully.
ooh, yes! Ii you feed him very
we'll"
"And don't over-use him?"
"Never"
"Give him twelve quarts Q, day and
his hay?"
Certainly. Fourteen, if he wishes
it, and can work for it,
"Wall, slowly. "Wa-al," family.
''He's an excellent lady's boss. And
he's rs kind But he amt SO much
on speed as some hosses is. Fact is,
he wont t."
"Well? He WON'T
"Why, the fact is, he won't trot at
ALL"
"There's been a horseman here to
see YOU" said Puelvir. ''Three of
them. Isent the fust one off myself"
"Why, Puelvir!'
"Well, l did. He had @ sort Of
shiny, SIXTY, graham-Aour colored
horse he said he was sure you'd buy.
So I asked the grocer when he came,
| and he said he critter had the gan
ders. He said he'd known him ever since
him and the horse were babies"
Didn't he say the glanders, perhaps
Puelvir?"
"No'm." said Puelvir, stoutly.
"This horse had the ganders; Pm sure
OF 1t. So took it upon myself totell
him it wasn't your reception day, and
you couldn't see fashionable callers.
So he went away. He swore at me,
too"
"Swore at you, Puelvir?"
'Ies. He said was darn'd old
fool. Idon't knows | blame him. l
hadn't got my switch on, and ] think
do look little mature mornin's.
The next one, he come to the front
door and sot down in the parlor, do
my best. He said he'd wait for you,
n there he sot. He had q span he
wanted you to buy, told him you
couldn't keep span, because you
hadn't only me. and | couldn't take
care Of two; it would interfere with
the cookin'. He asked eight hundred