Wichita eagle., 1888-03-07

was nearly, II not quite, as bad aS ever. Oo
all that he could, Tom could not keep him
sober. Once after attending one OF the meet
ings, he drank rather more heavily than
usual, and insisted upon driving himself
home, which he did at gallop, escaping in
jury by little short Of miracle. This re-
suited, however, in brief illness which gave
Tom chance to think the matter over, and
evolve scheme to put an end to these mid
| night dangers
| He had brown tanned leather rug made
| for the horse, which extended from the sad
| tlle to the tail, where it was fastened to the
| crupper and loosely girthed underneath
Being nearly the color of the horse, casual
observer at night would not notice it. He
then took the horse out every night to exer-
else, instead of in the morning, and by the
time the squire recovered Tom was ready for
| him.
During these weeks Jeck Fortescue made
one or two surreptitious calls, and in his
quiet way had much fun with Tom; but he
only received his rallies with grim smile,
| saying: LET those laugh who win, and the
game is in my own hands if I have but pa
thence You shall dance at my wedding in
the third week Of October"
"And SEQ you as groom to the Lady Edith
at the opening meet-eh, old manW responded
the imperturbable Jack.
"Well, yes, l suppose so! But you will
get no laugh at my expense, promise you"
From this time, strange to say, 10 further
accidents occurred when the squire rode
home; the horse went quietly along, taking
no notice of his furious jerking Of the reins,
or vigorous thrashing with the whip, beyond
a slight jump to left or right as the whip
struck its head or neck When the squire
rallied al it for not galloping Tom declared
that it was galloping at full speed, and that
he could scarcely hold on, and the squire, in
doubt, usually accepted his word.
Meanwhile the horse grew more and more
steady as though it had taken its masters
character in hand, and was in league with
Tom to save the old gentleman from further
disasters.
The opening meet drew nigh, and Tom was
daily leased by his fiancce as to what he
would give to be let off.
Tom laughed, and said:
Nothing! You keep your promise to
marry me the third week in October, and l
will ride to the meet as your groom"
Edith looked wistfu!ly at him, half regret
ting her bargain, but too high spirited to let
him off his penance after once imposing it.
At last the day arrived, and ct 10 a. n.
Tom, duly attircd in a green coat with brass
buttons, a broad leathern strap round his
waist, cords and boots and hat with a cock
nde, was to be seen holding two horses at the
front door. The squire had an attack OF
go,;t and could not go.
L.ntily attired in dark blue riding habit,
Edith was lifted to tho saddle. and, with Tom
riding decorously in the rear, passed out Of
the gate. Once, however, in the green lanes,
he ranged alongside, but Edith was in de-
iected mood and scarcely spoke.
At last she said:
tom, dear its no use; l cannot do it.
Go back and put on your own clothes; l
Will not make public show Of you; you
have undergone enough for me-"
Nay! nay" laughed Tom. "a bargain
is a bargain. You might want to cry forfeit
TO your own stake; and, dearest" lowering
his voice, Il cannot let you do that now"
mo, no! indeed l will not! | will keep
my word. But if you will not ride back and
change that hateful suit, will turn back my
self and forego the meet"
as that so?" said Tom. "Then here goesw'
And taking off his hat he drew out velvet
cap, and unbuckling his belt and throwing
off the green coat, he sat revealed in the Mel
ton Hunt colors. Tossing the coat and strap
after the hat, he lifted her hand, and kiss
ing it said: "And do l still ride as your
9roomF
yes" said she, with merry laugh; ''as
my bridegroom"
At the meet speculation was rife as to who
Tom was, and owing to Jack Fortescue the
secret leaked out. The squire only stipu-
lated that Tom should drive him, and gave
his consent.
At the wedding breakfast Tom was asked
the secret of his success with the seuire's
horse; he laughed, and said, ''Wcll, trained
him to stand the whip on that leather rug he
always wore at night; and l had two pairs Of
rains one running from the bit along the
shafts round to the back of the cart where I
sat- and the other pair, which the squire
used, were buckled to the collar"
OF course tremendous laugh was the
result of this disclosure, and although against
himself, the squire joined in it, and propos-
ing his son-in-law's health, asked, who
shall say the days of chivalry are past?'
Tom and his wife still live happily together,
but the Squire was shortly after the marrige
gathered to his fathers, having been killed
in the hunting field, and brass tablet
records his manifold virtues in the village
church.-Wilf 2. Pond in Fores' Sporting
Sketches.