The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-02-04

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! his mother uttered an exclamation Of
| alnrm.
you're sick, Stuart" she said; "you
can go straight back to bed. I'll attend
to the cow"
But Stuart shook his head and went
out to the stable to attend to the COW
himself. He had not told his mother
about his misfortune. for he did not
want to worry her. 1t would be time
time enough to tell her when he had
seen Mr.. Peiffer.
That she might not suspect that some
thing had occurred TO trouble him, he
tried to eat his usual allowance OF grid
die cakes ut breakfast, but every mouth
ful seemed to choke him, and he had to
give up the attempt in despair.
As soon as he rose from the table he
put on his hat and went out, despite his
mothers prophecy that the sun would
make him feel worse, and turned his
steps at once in the direction Of Mr..
Peiffer's beautiful suburban residence.
He had prepared little speech with
which he intended to begin his confco-
sion, but every word of it fed from his
mind when he entered Mr.. Peiffer's
grounds and saw the old gentleman
stanuing only half dozen yards away,
and an angry look on his face and his
eyes glazing at n young negro who stood
before him looking sullen and defiant.
"You needn't deny it, sir. were the
first words Stuart heard. II wouldn't
believe you on oath. You're the dullest
fellow l ever had around nv stables,
but l did think you had sense enough
to put the bars up when You turned
valuable horse like that out to pasture
You're discharged, and you needn't ask
for recommendation, for 1 won't give
it -
With heart that seemed like lump
of lead in his breast, and hesitating
footsteps, Stuart approached the angry
pair.
"Mr. Peiffer," he said, in low,
shaken voice. 81 want to speak to you,
SIR"
"Well, speak, and be quick about it,"
was the rough rejOinder. "You want
work, | suppose, and big wages. You
may as we'll leave, for L haven't any
work to give YOU"
"No, sir; / don't want work." STAN
mered poor Stuart. 81 want to tell you
that l took your horse out of the pasture,
and-and-it got frightened and fell
over the bridge
For a moment, it seemed much longer
to Stuart in his agony of suspense, the
old gentleman stared at him in utter 81
lence, his face fairly purple with rage.
"Ion-you young repr obate :" he ex-
claimed at last. "You ought to be
shot !"
eyes, sir, know it, answered Stuart.
81 was never so sorry for anything in
all my life as l am for this. But we
only wanted to have a little fun, and
never thought of hurting the horse"
"1ou We're not alone, then 2" said Mr.. J
Peiffer.
"No, sir"
"Who were the others 90
"There's no use in telling that, sir"
answered Stuart, true to the promise of |
secrecy he had made. 81 was the one |
who was on the horse when he fell over
the bridge, and it was all my fault. 1 |
ought not to have tried to cross the |
bridge. 1 might have known he would
De frightened at that old tree"
The angry flush ief. NJ. Peiifers face,
md very peculiar look came into his
keen gray eyes.
Nevertheless, you had better tell me
the names of the boys who were with
YOU, he said. sit will be wise for you
20 do So"
But the covert threat con tained in
.hese last words did not cause Stuart to
xaver an instant. He was very gener-
,us as we'll as brave.
81 told the boys 1 wouldn't, SIR" he
answered respectfully.
"They didn't offer to come with you,
suppose Z"
"rhere was no need of it, SIR
"Well, am I to look only to you to
ay mo for my horse 2"
Pay him Stuart stared at the old
entleman aghast. The thought of
aging for the horse had never entered
is mind.
He knew payment was out of the
uestion. He had not a dollar of his
WI in the world, and it was only by the
trictest economy that his mother man
ged to make her small income cover
heir necessary expenses-they did not
ldulge in luxuries of any sort.
"That horse was IL thoroughbred"
Mr.. Peiffer, his keen eyes
ill fixed on the boys white, distressed
ice. 81 paid six hundred dollars for
i'm the day before you broke his neck"
''Six hundred dollars" gasped poor
tuart, his face growing winter still.
Oh, Mr.. Peiffer,''
81 can show you the receipt for the
loney if you want to see it. / have it
ere" tapping his breast pocket.
Costly fun you had, eh Z"
Stuart tried to speak, but his tongue
owe to the roof of his mouth.