Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-03-07

That winter Browning was the idol
worshlped. He had never been my
idol, as you know, and from my enthu-
siastic study of his vigorous poetic phi
losophy of life | was deemed fit to con-
duct a Browning class. We met at the
house Of charming woman who was
such sufferer that her couch was lit
orally her home. She lived In one of
the loveliest houses | have ever seen,
one of the loveliest lives | have been
brought in contact with. But there was
this disadvantage as far as | was con-
cerned, her home was some eight miles
from the city, and most ideally remote
from the vulgar convenience of rail
road. Consequently 1 was obliged to
drive over. One very cold January at
ternoon | was waiting impatiently for
the conveyance that was to take me to
W. was ready, warmly wrapped In
furs and prepared to de Y the cold, and
| did not relish being kept waiting by
the liveryman. I was just getting into
little temper when my pilgrimage to
the window was rewarded by the sight
of sleigh drawn up before the door.
| didn't recognize the driver; it was
not the one I was accustomed to have,
but, of course, it was my conveyance,
SO | ran down stairs and out to the
sleigh, and got in. Drive me to W.
l said. And you may give the horse
his head for | am late now
the driver touched his hat, bent
down and tucked me in snugly and off
we went. | needn't have said anything
about giving that horse his head; he
took it; he spun along over the crust
periority to the slow animal that had
dragged me over the same route the week
previous, and so pleased was [ with
the change that | remarked it.
''This is better horse than the other
one," said.
II don't know" he said, doubtingly
"Some likes the other best"
''Impossible !" 1 exclaimed, remem.
boring the other.
Il like this one best, though they 90
well together, so they can't be SO very
different he said, omewhat as if ne
resented my noticing any difference.
Go well together - echoed. How
could that be p
Call the doctors horses are fine ami
mails" he continued.
"Ah - 1 said. | didn't care to enter
into discussion with the driver, but
something impelled me to say, "Your
master knows how to select horse of
course, being in the business
''No one better, Miss. The doctor
never gets taken in in horse trade"
"Your master is horse doctor ?"
said.
The well-bred English-looking driver
actually turned his head and looked at
me ! In an instant he had recovered
himself, and answered me.
''No Miss, he amt"
His tnnn was so aCOripvp6 that 7 Jx-ac
sorry [ had wounded his feelings and
fastened to make amends. | knew
how sensitive servants are to any APP
parent disrespect to their master, and
although the master in this case was
but a livery stable keeper, who was
known as doctor, | didn't want to low
er his dignity in the eyes of his servant,
so l said:
veterinary surgeon, [ believe horse
doctors are called; it is the same thing"
He made no reply, though he still
looked aggrieved, and we whlrled along
In silence.
We met various people whom I knew.
They stared slightly as they bowed to
me, and even smiled more than was
necessary.
''They think it is my own,'' I said to
myself, meaning the decidedly swell
turnout.
When we reached Mrs .Staniford's [
told the driver to take the horse to the
sta bles, and be at the door in an hour.
Let me pass over the hour spent in dis
cussing that fine dramatic poem, spoiled
by too much telling, "The Ring and the
Book" At the end Of that hour my
driver was waiting for me, and we were
soon whirling along again toward the
city. When l reached my whilom
home | gave the man little Tip" and
told him to come for me the next week
at the same hour, and to tell the doctor,
his master, that | wanted the same
horse also. Then [ went into the house,
and instead of going to my room, went
my enjoyable drive that / wanted to
talk about it. A group of the ladies in
the house were gathered around the
open fire, and I Joined them. They had
been talking as I entered, but as I drew
near, they ceased speaking. Mrs. OTIS
was one of the group, and seated next
to her was a big fellow who stared at
me more than I enjoyed But I was
too full of my drive to resent it.
'Such drive y [ exclaimed, raptur-
ously.
Il should think so ~ said Mrs. Otis, |
with peculiar infection
81 am going to have that horse and
drive every week." I continued.
Indeed ~ said Mrs. Otis with the |
same infection.
Eyes l told the man to tell the doc
tor that wanted it regularly. Did you
ever hear anything more absurd, that
man was really hurt that [ should call |
his master horse-doctor ! veterinary
surgeon does sound better, | suppose. |
the big fellow with broad |
smile.
can tell you I was indignant at his
but Mrs. Otis spoke before |
[ had chance to petrify this audacious
fellow with a glance.
CDR. Mainwaring naturally would not
be looked upon as horse doctor or
even veterinary surgeon by his ser
want she said sweetly. 1t is possible,
also, that the servant found it hard to
how lady could speak dis
paragingly of his masters profession
when awaiting herself of his equipage."
''His equipage !" | echoed. 81 don't
understand you, Mrs. Otis. Please make
yourself clear"
R,,+ che did not have an onnOrtI1DitV