The Southern herald., 1890-08-01

hkod- He must gefa horseswhose tail
swept the ground o. she could never bo
his. II he did chat She would marry him
whenever be Wished. "
Her decision was absolutely un-
changeable She would not have
husband without a lOng-tailed horse,
even though he were King Of the Cam
nibal Islands or Emperor of all the
mouse-eatera And tho tail must not
only be long but it must absolutely
trail in the dust. She would ride to
her bridal behind such steed. or she
would walk alone and minated forever
more.
Herman's heart swelled with triumph.
He told her to make ready her wedding
garment. she hsould have the horse. He
also made all his own preparations at
once, without waiting to hunt up the
necessary animal with the hairy rudder
and preposterous continuation to his
spinal column. In short time every
thing else was in readiness, but the
horse could not be found.
Herman sold three good animals just
because their tails only reached to their
fetlocks but he couldn't find one any
more gifted in a backward direction
than they were to save his beloved
Jessamine from dying Of disappointment
and despair. What was to be done?
He tried to induce her to take him on
trust, telling her that she should have
her hearts desire just as soon as he
could possibly find it, but all in vain;
she was immovable. She would have
a horse with sweeping tail or she
wouldn't have husband.
She reminded him that on his account
alone she had given up all hope Of o
proud connection with a royal family.
but added that she would never forego
riding to her marriage behind steed
whose fly tormentor swept the earth.
She couldn't and wouldn' do it.
Herman couldn't help realizing that
his fiancee was little bit unreasonable,
but he was in love all over and out of
sight If she had expressed desire to
ride after six-legged green camel,
with whiskers on his hump, he would
have done his level best to find her one.
Such is the power of affection.
Joe Gray was the most extensive
horse trader anywhere around Bean
Vile, and when he heard OF Herman's
need he sent word to HIM that he had
Just the horse he wanted. And, in
deed, it was a fine animal for jockey
to have, large, strong, handsome, fine
and speedy-but his tail didn't quite
touch the ground. Herman at once
came to look at the beast, spied his lack
of the necessary back hair, and turned
on his owner with considerable indigha-
tion, for he was much disappointed.
He asked Joe If he didn't know he
wanted and would have a horse whose
tail swept e.ground like bellies ball
dress. II he did, what did he mean by
trying to work one off on to him that
had only a sailor suit tail, so to speak?
1t might be, a very good horse, and
doubtless was, but he didn't want and
wouldn't have an animal that had to
straddle like a saw-horse in order to
get his tail down to terra firma.
Joe tried to explain that his animal
had an unusually long tail, and that he
thought it was just such one as he
wanted or he shouldn't have sent for
him. He went on to say that he had
never seen more than one or two horses
whose tails actually dragged, and he
thought it was rather a disadvantage
than otherwise ON account of the mud
they scooped up.
But Herman went off in hurry, de-
cidedly out of sorts with his luck. He
left Joe considerably angry inside and
vowing to get even, though outwardly
he was as pleasant and smiling as ever
A short time afterward Herman again
received word from Joe that now he had
just the right article in the horse line,
sure; so he called again Immediately.
Joe was apparently overjoyed to see
him, and at once took him out to the
stable and showed him tide horse.
Such looking thing as he produced!
1t was blind in one eye, had three spav-
ins and ringbone, and looked like an
old buffalo hanging on a rail fence.
Two of his legs were sprung and one
knee was as big round as gallon meas
ure, while he wheezed and pulled like
the bellows in blacksmith shop. lie
was as NANCY as street dog, and as
lean as famine, but his tail dragged
four inches on the ground.
"How much do you ask for him?' in
quired Herman.
Three hundred dollars" answered
Joe, promptly; and not a muscle in his
face twitched as he said it.
"Three hundred dollars for that
shingW cried Herman, thunderstruck.
"Why, you only asked hundred and
fifty for the other one, and he was forty
times the horse this old skeleton is.
Any one could drive that without feel
ing sick at the stomach, but the COWS
would chase me everywhere went
with this creature"
Joe renamed silent and lmpertuBb-
able.
Come, say twenty-five dollars and
I'll take him of your hands and kill
him for you," Herman went on.
Three hundred dollars" said Joe,
calmly. "Hes the longest-tailed horse
in the State, and had to give a long
price for him on that account l knew
you would want him anyhow, and l
could get him cheaper than you could
yourself | always like to accommo-
date friend,
We'll, take off little any way" en-
treated Herman. II do want him, but
that is a monstrous price. Why, he
wouldn't bring fifteen cents at auc-
tion."
Not cent" quietly answered Joe.
''Three hundred dollars or l keep him."
Herman groaned. He knew he was
being numerically cheated, but Jes-
samfna danaudad unon tba r,oaaaeeiov,