The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-05-02

What am to dot The man knows that
the horse is mine or that was hunting it
and evidently doesn't mean to be baked o:
his expected tip. One point am quite de
cided upon: viii take this countrymat
into my con1idence;I will eat my humble
pie to the very last crumb II need be, but -:
cont ride that hend miscalled hunter home
That 10 . thing will not do. But 1 wish !
hadn't told the man that the horse wasn'
mine. Never mind; it doesn't matter. !
VIII offer him five shillings to take Diamond
1ome Tor me and say nothing more about it
Wtth this determination I stop and pull
some money out OF my pocket; the lahore,
sees it, stops Diamond, and before I can pre-
vent him, has dismounted, and is holdins
the bride ready for me to get up again.
snow, look here, my man." begin. I"
want you''--
But the words die upon my lips. Just a.
press the two half-crowns into the labor
er's willing hand, there is confused c!a tel
OF hoofs, and three men in pink come swing
Ing round the corner. I will wait until they
pass. o the mistaken kindness have suf
fered from. to-dayl They don't pass; they
pull up with one accord, and hope that ]
haven't come to grief. disclaim all need
OF aid and sympathy with frightful eager
ness; but In vain. My hollow tones arouse
their pity, and one Of them jumps of his
horse, and taking Diamond by the head bid.
the rustic ''help the gentleman mount" The
laborer seizes my left leg in a giants grip.
and yield myself to fate, silent for very
shame. The three offlcious good Samaritaus
ride with me just far enough to let the re.
treating laborer get well out of sight with
my five shillings, and then bidding me good
evening, turn up across the open moor
leaving me to my enemy's mercy.
am bound to admit that he goes more
sedately now. How I would thrash him if
only dared! Fortunately for him, would
as soon try to fly as take such liberty, and
he Is allowed to plod along as slowly as he
chooses. BY and by, he begins to go very
awkwardly; he stumbles and trips, until ]
am in momentary terror of being thrown
over his head. He must be lame; and as
the awful possibility, nay, fact bursts upon
noe. pull at the bride till get him to stand
still, and climb down to sec what has gone
wrong with him. I can't see any thing un-
usual about any Of his logs; but there is no
Disgusting the hideous fact that he is dead
lame. don't waste time in making further
Investigations; throw the Bride over
my arm, and once moro set out to walk
home, with tho horse limping behind me.
l am dog-tired, very hungry, and nv body
aches from innumerable bruises ! begin,
moreover, as near the house, to feel that
my personal appearance is rather depress-
Ing. MY hat NEW a week ago) would make
an Irish beggar blush; my once spot!ess
buckskins are boldly variegated with bots
and patches of brown and green till they
resemble carelessly drawn map. Diamond
and his trappings are no cleaner and we are
indeed q sorry procession as we enter
Barnsda'e gates at sunset and are received
by Pudgewood at the hall-door
"Hallo!' he says, 'why did you walk
home?"
Hes lame," I respond, in CHASTITY
whisper.
'Lame?' shouts my host, rushing down
the steps aud diving at Diamonds legs,
lame" He feels each limb in turn, and
then examines tho hoofs, while I stand
trembling like a pick-pocket's apprentice
caught in his first theft. Presently Pudg.-
wood draws out his pocket-knife and with
two taps knocks stone out Of Diamonds
fore-foot Then he stands upright and pats
the horses neck. "Jones," he says, with
the gravity of man whose painful duty is
to bring serious cha re against his best
friend, Zones, I'm afraid you're duffer."
And am too completely crushed 10 reply
have never ridden to hounds since; and
when fellows begin to talk hunting at din
ner. am silent l consider that hunting as
an amusement is greatly overrated.-Cham-
bers' Journal.