The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-07-02

can't come up to Dannic a-ridin' boss
| back"
Eut Edwin, familiar with every Eng
llsh fad. bobbed up and down in the
most approved style, fully convinced of
his ability TO show the country bump
| kins thing or two in the way OF FASH
| ionable riding.
Bcss did not choose to keep her PAGES
| any longer than was pleasing to her-
| self, however. and successfully resisted
all Edwin's efforts to force her thereto.
| Blows, cntreaties, and some pretty
strong language failed to affect the
imperturbable beast, and on she
logged, as Gemure as country lassie
on her way to the fair.
The tramping of feet, loud huzzas
and the occasional roll of a drum
aroused her tagging energies. Dannic
and his company, upon a by-path, were
marching on their way to town.
For some reason. unknown to Ed
win, these sounds put new life into the
old mare, SO that he was fain to draw
her under the shade of a spreading oak,
in order to spare himself the hnnilia-
ton of entering the town at the head Of
a company of rustics wearing three
cornered paper hats
keep up your mettle, old horse" he
said, land we'll astonish the natives,
after all" and, surmising that Dannic's
company had ere this joined the other
pumpkins, he entered the main street
of the town.
AT that instant upon the summer air
rang the clear notes of a bug!c. Bess
started like one electrified. Again it
came, sweet, clear. silvery. Years had
flown since the old horse had heard
that sound, but she knew it we'll.
Once more the call to duty! Like an
arrow from bow Bess sprung for
ward. Off went Edwin's hat, and,
white with rage and surprise, he chung
frantically to the bride.
The blare Of music drowned the
laughter of the crowd and the iron.
ical huzzas of Dannie and his raw re.
cruits.
''Go it, Bess." they one and all
shouted. and ''go it" Bess did. With
head erect. name and tail flying. she
bore her rider to the very front of the
parading columns. In years gone By,
Mt a far distant fort. she had proudly
borne her colonel to that position, and
had not the call of duty summoned hcl
there to-day?
Forward, march,
To the strains of inspiring music sht
curvetted and pirouetted, needless o.
Edwin's frantic tugs and shouts. Tt
add to her riders chagrin, one of hi:
priced patent-leather pumps had beer
wrenchcd from his foot by the stirrup
and his crimson silk hose babe fair K
follow. But how should Hcss know
that? Had not the naughty colone
been wont to goad her into backing
and prancing, and showing OFF, upol
, all public occasions? and, feeling he
youth revived. why should she not exc
cute all the old-time steps to-day? Blu
alas for the rider, who lacked TIL
horsemanship of the accomplishe,
COLONEL Such gyrations and ''tomfool
cry" were beyond Edwin, and he wa
constrained to drop the bride and elm!
, Like John Gilpin, of famous memor,
Ito the stout neck of old Bcss, or els
> suffer entire defeat.
d Like all performe rs, Bess reserves
her greatest effort for the last. Sh
, had backed, swayed from right to left
| almost sat upon her launches; I'M
now, as the inspiring strains of march
I ing Through Georgia" awoke all TO en
thusiasm, the old horse reared straigh
l in the air, wheeled in that position, an
e down went Master Edwin in the dust
Q The "rabble' FASTENED to pick him up on
of harms way; but alas for his in
1 maculate coat, faultless linen an
/ supercilious airs! Like one Of the con
mon herd. only hatless and partly shot
Q less. he was forced to stand aud vie,
the country militia. snathematizin0 ID