The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-03-17

a stirrup, broke from the groorl's de-
tanning hand, reared perfectly
straight, then, dropping to all
fours, executed succession of
bounds and plunges calculated, I
should have thought, to shake not
only the breath from a mans body,
but the very flesh from his bones. Miss
Tremaine seemed in no wise disturbed
by this eccentric conduct on the part
of her pet, which, in truth, more be-
fitted falling-star than comet, but
merely saying, in a tone Of remon-
STRANGE: ''Now, Comet! now, Comet"
she soon reduced him to a reasonable
degree of quiet. She was presently
joined by fine-looking elderly gentle
man, presumably her father, from the
likeness and together they left the
school for the park. l had now no in
ducement to linger, and soon quilted
the building as deeply in love as man
could be with a girl whose name bare
ly knew, and yet resolved, as was ever
knight of old, that there was the one
woman of the world for me.
| need not weary my readers with
the details of the steps took to obtain
an introduction to Miss Tremaine.
Moving on the same social plane, the
wonder was rather that we had never
met before. In fact, there had been in
past times some connection by marriage
between our families, and d faint and
far-away relationship actually existed
a vantage-point of which, once
discovered, I made great use,
and which won me such
favor in the eyes of Milicent's
grandmother and guardian that before
long was allowed the privilege of some
times accompanying the young lady on
her rides, a smart groom in belt and but
tons doing propriety at the correct dis
lance of forty yards behind What more,
you will say, could any lover ask? What,
indeed, save that his inamorata should
not love, own and ride mustang pony.
That Git will out) COMPOUNDED mustang!
How many times in the park have |
paused to inwardly execrate the man
who first took mustangs from the sphere
where they were useful and perhaps
honored, and brought them to the cities
to be the bane of lovers! Milicent, / am
aware, holds different opinion, but the
above speech comes from the depths of a
bitter experience.
Milicent dotted upon the Comet, viewed
his failings, which were many, with an
indulgent eye, and magnified his merits,
which were few indeed. Often have
choked at the words when, to please her,
1 exhausted myself in praise of the
Comet, and extolled his glossy coat,
bright eyes, small ears, silky name,
slender legs and tiny feet. She
never wearied of the theme, and
would dilate by the hour upon
the little wretch's projections until
I actually hated the sight of him. In
vain did purchase bushel of carrots
and barrel of sugar with which to win
the Comets good will. He kicked at
me in his stall, bit me when fed him,
and once actually butted me over when
I undertook to hold him for a moment
while the groom frightened girth. Mill
cent said he was only frightened at a
rabbit which ran across the road, but I
shall always believe that he was actuated
by malice prepense.
Certainly no dragon ever guarded a
captive damsel more carefully than the
Comet guarded Milicent. When, in the
earnestness of conversation, I sought to
lay my hand upon his smooth neck as an
excuse for drawing closer to his rider.
the Comet instantly swerving, would
put half dozen yards between us. Or
if, as the afternoon waned, endeavored
to keep the horses walking more and
more slowly on the shady bridle-path,
the Comet would hear an imaginary
coyote on his track, and putting down
his head, would dash through the bushes
and skim along the carriage-road in
open day. Again and again, when the
words that were to decide my fate trem-
bled on my tongue, the Comet, suddenly
shying, has cannoned against me with a
force that brought words of far differ
emit import to my lips. A woman's
French heel jammed sharply against
your knee can inflict considerable pain,
and for the time effeetually banishes SEN
timent, however bewitching to you the
owner may be.
All this time Milicent's patience with
the little cayuse, the grace and ease
with which she sat him, her perfect
readiness to resume any topic OF CONVEX
sation, after the interludes of kicking,
shying, and boiling with which the
Comet was ever ready to diversity a
ride, excited me continually to admira-
ton, and each day as it passed saw me
more in love and more determined to
win her for my wife. If you want to kown
woman we'll and testher as life COM
panion, ride with her day after day,
week after week, month after month. 1t
is critical test; and if she does not bore
you then, you may safely put the ques-
ton; she will stand the further ordeal.
A months companionship had showed
me how fully Milicent could bear this
test, and I only sought on opportunity;
but how offer your hand and heart to a
woman when all you can see of her is a
pair of laughing eyes glancing archly at
YOU from between the ears of rearing
ponyp
Still, as the proverb says: "Tout vient
a qui salt attend,e'' and my day came at
last. 1t was a misty, rainy morning,
and we had gone for long ride out on
the Kingsbridge road. As we were re-
turning, the groom's horse cast
a shoe, and he was obliged
to stop at a blacksmith's. Mill
cent proposed that instead of waiting, we
should 90 round by what she called the
river road, past the West End Hotel,
and let the groom meet US at the north
entrance of the park. We turned in &C
cordingly, and finding the road in good
nondition determined to run our horses