The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-08-28

il ~
trying to work one OF on to him that
had only sailor suit tail, so to speak?
1t might be very good horse, and
doubtless was, but he didn't want and
wouldn't have an animal that had to
straddIe like a sawhorse in order TO
get his tail down To terra frma.
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. lie went on to say that he had
never seen more, than one or two horses
whose tails actually dragged, and he
thought 1t was rather disadvantage
than otherwise on account of the mud
they scoopcd 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 sec
HIN, and at once took him out TO the
stable and showed him tide hefse.-l---
Such n looking thing as he prodaced!
1t was blind in one eye, had three spav-
ms and q ringbone, and looked like an
old buffalo hanging on 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. He
was as NANCY as street dog, and as
lean as a famine, but his tail dragged
four inches on the ground.
"l1ow much do you ask for him?' in
CURED Herman.
"Three hundred dollars" answered
Joe, promptly; and not muscle in his
face twitched as he said it. =
s'Three hundred dollars for that
thing!e 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 remained silent and imperturb-
able.
"eome, say twenty-five dollars and
I'll take him off your hands and kill
him for YOU" Herman went on.
"Three hundred dollars" said Joe,
calmly, lies the longest-tailed horse
in the State, and had to give long
price for him on that account | knew
you would want him anyhow, and
could get him cheaper than you could
yourself | always like to accommo-
date friend"
well, take off little any way, en-
treated Herman. 81 do want him, but
that is a monstrous price. Why, he
wouldn't bring fifteen cents at auc
ton
Not a cent" quietly answered Joe.
Three hundred dollars or keep him. .
HERMAN groaned. lie knew he was
being numerically cheated, but jess
samine depended upon the possession
of that horse. PerhapsSsotne one might
win her away from-~him by the means
Of that very animal, il he let this
chance slip. loo himself was unmar.
,ried, and yaalNsS good-looking,; too.s So
he paid tde nAce,F outrageous as it was,
home witfSSsa
As soouaS he arrived there he put on
the brand new wedding suit that had
been some weeks in readiness, har7
messed in his ancient prize, and started
for the residence of Farmer Rose. He
meant to make Jessamine marry him at
once, according to agreement, before the
old ruin had time to die on his hands
and leave him still without a wife.
lie got there at last, though he almost
despaircd OF it q great many times be-
fore the journeyxwas accomplished. Old
Rosinante couldn't be argued out OF a
slow walk by all the eloquence of q six
foot ash bean-pole. Apparently there
were no more joints in that horses logs
thtn there are in a hand-spiise, and his
every movement was suggestive. of a
| funeral.
Jesse didn't look remarkably pleased
whom she saw him drive up to the door
In her heart of hearts. she admitted that
She would rather be hauled to the altar
by tho most dilapidated donkey thatever
chewed thistlcs than by that lean and
hungry-looking relic that the afternoon
sun>was shining right through. hut her
word was given, and she would sooner
Fbaye died than break herpromise.@
Besides, she could but feel gratified
to think that her ardent lovcrshad tried
| SO long and hard to please her; and She
] Had even gone SO far as TO think of mar
rying him anyway, with or without the
speciiief horses tail. She got ready at
once, sheepishly took her place in the
carriage, and off they started.
Old Starvation did succeed in drag
gipg them to the church at last, and the
pair were consolidated into one without
delay, when they started for Herman's
home at the crossroads, and to get
;here they had to 60, bright through the
( main street Of tho village And there
was where the fun began
Every body knew Jcssainine's pride,
and all about her ambition concerning
the gold-headcd prince; and also how
ner marriage with Herman had been
delayed By the f~ritless search for a
ong-tsilcd horse Tho news of Her
mans. recent purchase, and that the
wedding was az last taking place, had
spread Hks Wiltshire. AMI they found
| the Sidewalks iiIva with people walt