The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-03-17
calm voice, Milicent's own, saying:
"Didn't the Comet do that cleYerlY?"

calm voice, Milicent's own, saying:
Didn't the Comet do that cleverly?"
Slowly the cloud passed from my eyes,
and there before me sat Milicent on the
Comet as quietly and as much at her ease
as though nothing had disturbed her,
though the pony shook and trembled
in every limb. As she afterward de-
scribed the scene: II gave the Comet
plenty of rein while we were in the air,
that he might see what he had to do,
sat well back, and the moment he
landed got his head up; the clever little
pet did the rest himself"
Not then, however, did I hear this
tale. In second I was off my horse,
snatched Milicent from her saddle, and
all the feeling so long repressed poured
forth like a flood. There beneath the
cloudy heavens told her how 1 had
loved her from the first moment that
I saw her, and pleaded for word, a
sign, look, even, of encouragement.
Nor did plead wholly in vain. In her
own pretty way, amid smiles and blush
! es, Milicent gave me the pledge sought,
and promised some day to be mine.
How long it was before a distant growl
of thunder recalled us to earth l never
knew, but at length Milicent pushed me
gently away and turned to look at the
Comet, who all this time had stood
like lamb. 1t was wonderful, but
beyond few ghtscratches, the pony
had sustained no injury, though SO near
had he been to turning over that the
deepest scrape was on his forehead. Only
Milicent's GOODNESS and the pony's agil.
ity had saved her. 1t will hardly be be.
lieved, but before we had reached Man.
hattanville the irrepressible mustang
was as lively as ever, and apparently
more determined to allow me no chance
with Milicent. He ran for mile down
St. Nicholas avenue, rushed round the
corner at One Hundred and Twenty-fifth
street, and before Milicent could pull
him in had reached the park, and was
tearing down the East drive. Misguided
pony! he did not know this was his last
day of triumph. Before many days had
passed Mr.. Dickel was persuaded to &C
cept him, together with a considerable
honorarium, in exchange for good
looking black thoroughbred of unexcep-
tionable manners, which still carries
Mrs. Vanderheyden when it pleases her
to display the prettiest figure and most
graceful seat in New York in the park,
as of old.
Here, kind readers, ends the tale of
Milly's mustang, properly, in the old
fashioned style, with a wedding. To
those, however, who have any curiosity
as to his after-fate, / would say that, as
far as know, he still lives at Dickel's.
After brief period, during which he
was on sale, and was very successful in
teaching several young men what they
did not know about riding he became the
property of my friend Schuyler Van
Wart. Schuyler does not care how
many traps he smashes in the course of
a season; neither does the Comet; so
they are well matched.
Milicent, who has just come in, says
I am very ungrateful, and that if it had
not been for the Comets freak I would
never have had the courage to propose
to her, in fact, it aUas the mustang did 1t.
Two years of married life have con-
WINGED me that Mrs. Vanderhevden is
seldom wrong. If, therefore, the case
stands thus, can only confess my err
ror, take back all the abuse l have
heaped upon the Comet, and acknowl.
edge that owe the happiness. of my
life, the light of my home, to-"Milly's
Mustang. "-Harper's Bazaar.