The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-10-27

| stul htllst w uudFttF On MS own ACcOuuL
for the one or two vehicles we met on the
broad road. Pretty soon began to exper
iment gingerly with the reins, and by che
time we reach Tergarrick streets was hand.
ling them with quite an air while observ.
ing the face Of every one | taet TO make
sure was not being laughed at The
prospect Of Tergarrick Fore ,ieeet fright
ened me good deal, and there was sharp
corner TO turn at the entrance OF the inn
yard. But the old horse knew his bust
ness so well that had pulled on one rein
with all my strength ! believe it would
have merely annoyed without affecting
him. He took me into the yard without q
mistake, and | gave up the reins to the
ostler. thanking heaven and looking care
| less
"The inn was crowded with monrners
eating and drinking and discussing the
dead mans virtues The assembly room
at the back, where the subscription dances
were held, was filled with suffocating
crowd, reek OF hot joints and the click
ing Of knives and forks caught sight OF
the widow moving up and down before
a long table and shedding tears while she
changed her guests plates. She heard my
message, and welcoming me with effusion
hurried away To put on her bonnet for the
| funeral
More than an hour later | hurried hack
from the churchyard TO the inn and told
the ostler TO put my horse in the gig The
funeral was over and had not much time
to spare,
- beg your pardon. sir the ostLer SAID
but I'm new to this place Which is your
horsey
"'oh. | answered. he's brown You'll
know him easily enough.
THE man returned in about fve min
utes There's six brown hosses in the
stable, sir Would 'ee mind comm IN
pickin out yourny
| Il followed him with sense Of comins
evil. Sure enough, there were six brown
horses in the big stable and to save my
life couldn't tell which WAS mine Of
any difference between horses except that
Of color, I'd no idea scanned them al.
anxiously and felt the ostler's eye upon
me bad an impulse to confde my diff
Guilty to him, but reflected that this
wouldn't help me in the least After a
minute. pulling out my watch carelessly
said. ..
by George, I'd no idea it WAS so early
Never mind won't start for n few min
utes yet
This was the only course-to wait until
| . L.. s.f "a
driven home went back to the lnn and
talked and drank sherry, watching the
crowd thin by degrees and speeding the
lingering mourners with all my prayers
The time dragged on till nothing short q
a miracle could take me back in time fot
the night class The widow came and
| talked TO me, ! answered her at random
"Twiee | revisited the stable. and the
last time found but three brown horses
left went back and consumed more
sherry and biscuits Ten more minutes
passed, and there were left only the widow
herself and trio of elderly men As |
hung about trying to LOOK unbonnded
sympathy al the group, 1t dawned on mt
that they were beginning to eye me un
easily | took a sponge cake and another
glass Of wine One Of the men-who wore
a high stock and an edging Of stiff gray
hair around his bald iiead-advanced to me
"'This funeral said he, is over
"'Yes, yes | Stammered and choked
over sip of sherry
/ We are waiting-let me tap you on the
baek-we are waiting to read the will.
II rushed out Of the room and down te
the stables The ostler was harnessing
the one brown horse that remained |
was thinkin you wouldn't be long, sir be
said you're the very last, "a b'lieye an
here ends hard days work"
VI drove of 1t was nearly by this
but didn't even think Of the night class
was wondering II the horse drove were
really Farmer Retallack's Somehow
whether because his feed Of corn pricked
him or NO, | can't say--he was deal more
lively than on the outward Journey
looked at him narrowly and began 10 feel
sure II was another horse In spite Of the
cool evening sweat broke out upon me,
Reaching home, | found the farmer
dressed and leaning on stick in the door
way.
Lor bless my soulF be hailed me, I've
been that worried about ye ! couldn't stay
in bed The parsons been up twice from
! the school house to make inquiries. Where
in the name OF goodness
THAT'S a long story said l. and then
feigning to speak carelesSly. though
heard my heart gothump, How dye thina
the brown horse look after the journey
"'Oh, he's right enough, the old mar
replied indilferently It'd take a lot u
hurt he. But
But had never felt so glad in my life ;
Arthur T. Quiller-Couch in Speaker
Choke Or In English Prisons.