The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-02-04
crab -apple trees that the boys were

4
have gone whistling and shouting by,
had not a handsome brown horse, quiet
ly grazing the short grass. raised his
head at sight OF them and whinnied
softly.
81 know something we can do sight
be.ter'n squirrel-hunting," said Luke
Wright, stopping short. "What do you
say to rider"
I'm in for it, answered Tom Hal
pine. 81 don't believe we'd find any
squirrels anyhow. They're gettin' so
shy they don't come around the mill
like they used to-"
The brown horse had probably been
feeling lonely, and was glad of COM
pany, for he made no objection what
ever when Stuart let down a par Of
bars, and going up to him, took hold Of
his forelock and led him into the road.
But he objected very vigorously to
having four boys on his back at one
time, and kicked and careered until he
succeeded in Kidding himself of all four
of them.
"Wen have to take turns riding"
said Ben Hopper. each fellow can go
as far as the bridge, and then turn
back"
They had made bride out of rope
Stuart had in his pocket and piece of
wood they picked up in the road, and
the horse allowed himself to be guided
very easily. He seemed spirited but
very gentle. and had evidently been
trained to trot.
The boys acted on Ben's suggestion.
and took turns at trying the animals
PAGES, enjoying themselves SO much
that they were loath to end the sport
when it began to grow dark.
81 must have one more ride, and then
will be even with the rest Of you and
We can go home" said Stuart, a. Luke
came trotting up and swinging himself
from tho horses back.
"Wouldn't old Simon be in q rage il
he should happen along now," said
Tom, as he helped Stuart to mount.
"This is about the best fun he ever
furnished u.s." laughed Stuart, as he
rode away, "and he'll never be any the
wiser, either"
He went gathering up the road at q
good pace, and the bridge-a rough log
structure-was reached all too soon.
81 guess I'll GO little further" he
thought. "There's no telling when I'll
get another ride, and I'd better make
the most of this"
But he went even a shorter distance
further than he intended, for, half way
across the bridge, the horse suddenly
stopped, gave wild snort of terror, and
began to back. Stuart saw that the ami
NAL was frightened by an old tree which,
blasted by lightning and deprived of its
bark, stood at the other end of the
bridge like a ghostly sentinel, looking
almost snowwhite in the uncertain light;
but, unaccustomed to horses, he did not
know what to do, and in his excitement |
and alarm pulled too hard on one rein.
The horse reared, gave wild whirl,
and the next instant went plunging
over the side of the bridge into the gulch, |
nearly thirty feet below.
Strange to say, Stuart escaped serious
injury, being only stunned and bruised |
by the fall, and at the expiration of |
few minutes was able to get up from
the bed of mud into which he had fall
en-. But the handsome brown horse
did not move; he lay among the
weeds and stones with broken neck.
Stuart could not believe Mt first that
the animal was dead; it seemed too hor-
rible to be true. But all his efforts to
rouse the poor creature proving futile,
he sat down, sick and white, upon the
nearest stone, and shouted to his COM
panions for help.
But his shouts were so faint that it
was long time before they were ans
wered. Then the boys came running
up, frightened at his long absence, but
utterly unprepared for the dreadful
news Stuart had to tell them. They
were terribly shocked, and gathered
about the dead horse, uttering MANY
expressions of dismay and sorrow.
81 don't know how shall ever tell
old Simon," groaned Stuart. "Boys,
he'll just about kill me-"
Tel him !" exclaimed Tom Halpine.
you're surely not going to be such
fool! What's the use of telling him ?
Well take away the bride, and the old
fellow will never know but that the
horse jumped the fence and fell over
here by himself"
at wouldn't be right to let him think
that" returned Stuart. "No, I've got
to tell"
"And bring all the rest Of us into the
muss, too, L suppose" said Ben Hop
per.
''No; I'll promise not to mention any
Of you. There's no need of it that L
can see."
'And can't see that there's anything
to be gained by telling Peitfer," sid
Luke. 1T won't bring the horse to Z
life again. What's the use CT being
such a saint, Stuart % s
81 don't pretend to be saint" ans
wered Stuart, ''but I'm not a coward.
oh. LII Ill D.. Z i L I