San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-08

"Kah-ahIn-a lick with the whip-a little
faster gait. looked back at Tom In despair;
Sallie was getting fearful, and HELEN still
trying to smother her amused emotions.
"Never mind, Caro-" said Tom, "hen stop
In minute, am sure; for we will be at the
postofIioe and he will be diverted by the
horses tied to the racks"
"Kah-ah! Kah-ahr
"Did everl" cried Helen; she is always
ready to talk back to Tom,"-convulsed with
mirth.
Sallie remarked aside, ~ can't appreciate
Helen's enjoyment of our discomfort"
"Nor 1 but you know Helen would laugh
at q funeral"
"Kah-ah~
swell, this will be Che death of me, and
then Helen can have another laugh"
"Kah-ah!n
Tom; oh, Toml let's go back" said l.
"Kah-ahl"
"Ohl we cannot stand it any longer"
cried both Of us.
"Kah-ah!"
Sallie said: Look at those people in the
carriage laughing. am mortified to
deathn
"Tom, we are going to return"
"Oh, mol" said Helen, trying to assume a
sympathetic expression. II am sure his
lungs will give out soon, and he'll be forced
to stop"
"Kah-ahr
''Oh, Helen," replied Sallle, rather sarcas
tically, he'll answer you, too"
We drew near the village. Our mule had
made no sound for n minute or two.
"Tom is right" said Sallie, cheerfully, WHIP
ing her eyes and trying to look bright; che
is going to behave now"
But, oh, horrors as we reached the main
part of the village, "Kah-ahp came out
louder than ever before.
Some men on the porch nudged each other,
and one little boy called out Kentucky
Pianor' Then, more "Kah-ahsl" in rapid
succession, and the men from the stores and
backrooms rushed out, and, when they saw
who it was withdrew suddenly, as If ashamed
OF themselves, or of us.
Now, we had passed the place that Tom
prophesied would be quietus to our untir-
ing singing bird" aud | proposed going
back again.
"Oh, nor Sallie said; 81 can never so
through the town again"
Helen suggested that we should exchange
buggies. She was sure we did not whip him
enough; but with Tom to Jerk him." and
her to whip him. they would get along ia
mously.
We gladly-ohl so gladly-accepted her
offer. The buggies we drawn up side by side
as we were talking, and | verify thought the
mule must have suspected something, for the
pony was near him, and he kept looking very
knowing and did not bray once.
Just as we were making our arrangements
to exchange buggies, a negro man emerged
from turn of the road, and inquired with
interest if anything had happened. he
proved to be TOMS acquaintance, and the
man from whom he had hired the pony and
our much despised mule.
whats de matter, sah2' he asked.
matter enough. Your long cared mule
has brayed every step of the way, and nearly
driven us crazy"
Wasn't de pony benin, marsterF'
yes"
Oats de trouble. You shorely didn't try
co dribe wild ole Jolly in de foremost' Why,
he's de mos misurbul critter you ever see if
de pony git out ob his sight Twas dis way
de pony was leetle an young when we fust
got him, and jolly he seemed to think it his
july to puttect him, and he always KEEP an
eye on him cher since, an when de pony got
big enough to wuck he had to be in front or
Joly'd keep upa mighty racket. Well, WE'LL
you shouldn't neber tried TO dribe wild de
pony benin. Why, when we hauls de hay
We has to hitch de pony to de cutter an Jolly
to de binder"
And this was the solution. Jolly's bray
ings were the lamentations of affection.
The humor and sympathy of the others
were both excited. They were intensely in
terested while listening to the Negroes story
of the mules attachment. Who could utter
a syllable of reproach after thisl How much
interest they felt in the kind, loving mule
| capable of being 50 unhappy when his pro
| tege was out of sight.
! Sallie sighed with regret that she cherished
such harsh feelings and had laid the whip sc
numerically upon his back. Even Helen
;vowed that she would nevermore see mule
| withouta sentiment of respect for such con-
| stancy.
Ny own emotions were varied. l felt
keenly the responsibility for the days pleas
ure on the girls account, and it had been
considerably married already Visions still
foated before my eyes of the faces seen from
the store galleries; Sallie's speech, ''Oh. l
am mortified to DEATH" still rang In my ears
mingled with the deafeni1g sounds from our
mule. My sense Of self respect and vanity
was too deeply wounded e recover. soon. /.
| TTa h ConltUEeIl