The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-06-26

serve him with food gladly. Alight
here and rest yourself
NAY, for the food Hamet will
thank you in his own way when we
return. But those little hands of
yours can never lift a heavy water
bucket to his mouth, and Hamet has
some queer fancies. He will let no
one place the bucket on the ground
for him to drink. He will be served
royalty, or not at all. The pools
which nature has scattered by the
wayside are the only streams to
which he will bow his head. He is q
naughty creature, and a spoiled one.
Eth, my darling. Go now to the
pool, since you are so naughty. my
prince; we will return soon maiden"
And before Rose could utter an
other word of expostulation, the
black horse was off and away, Gov
erlng the distance between him and
the coveted draught by a succession
OF long easy strides, more like the
swinging motion Of an easy chair
than the jerking gallop Of many SO,
called ladies' steeds.
CHAPTER vi.
Rose stood upon the threshold
gazing after the flying figures with
a troubled heat. What would the
lady see at yonder pool? Would the
black horse, rue to the instincts of
his kind, start and tremble as he
neared the place where blood had so
lately been spilled?: Would a pale
form rise from the depths of these
unhallowed waves and scare the in
truders away:9 Would not some
thing in the very silence and still
ness Of the place whisper OF what
had been done there in tones that
could not be mistaken by the hearer2
Feverish fancies all! The black
horse bent his mouth to the pool
and drank his fill, and then the two
came %galloping back again to the
cottage at the same easy and sling
ing pace. Rose went out to the gate
to meet them. In an instant the
1uoS WOO ~ VI 1CI SdudlC dliG . SIi.A-
ing beside her, though towering, by
head and shoulders, above the cot
tage girl.
Bring hither a mouthful of for
age, and Hamet will wait quietly
for me- she said, and Rose went
round the house toward the little
stable to do her bidding. When she
cane back, with an armful of fra
grant clover hay, the black horse
stood at the gate alone. He turned
his large dark eyes upon her with a
pleased, intelligent glance, and
whinnied affectionately. and rubbed
his head on her shoulder, as she
placed the forage on the ground be-
fore him and loosed his bride that
he might eat more comfortably.
When she sought her guest again
she found her standing by the win
dow of the little parlor looking on
at the pretty scene.
"You love horses, thenm she
asked, as Rose entered the room.
Every much; and a more beautiful
one l have never seenthan yours
His beauty is his least good
quality. Hamet is Of the pures'
Arabian breed, and has all the cour.
age and fidelity of a true son of the
desert. | love him more than | car
love any created thing. But some
thing here" she laid her hand upor
her heart she spoke, 'somethine
here tells me that my days are mum
bered. II my presentiment is a true
one, Hamet shall be yours. Viii
you accept him and care for hin
while he lives? I could not bear tl
think that strangers would beat an6
ill-use and degrade him, and breal
his noble heart after l have gone.
Rose looked with a new i~nteres
on the proud, dark, melancholy face
81 accept the gift, and if tn,
time comes when he needs it. HI
shall have an easy and pleasan
home with me. But I hope tina
your ~foreboding is a false one, AM
that Hamet may grow old and die il
your service yet"
Hope for no such thing. if yor
+ a true friend to me. Life ha,
no charms for the desolate and tn,
unhappy. The grave is the best an:
only refuge for them, and l know
only too we'll how the sick hear
longs for it's blessed silence an,
shelter. But I did not come here t.
speak Of myself. They tell me tina
you are soon to be a bride-a happ
BRIDE
She stopped short. for a crimso
flush rose to the girls brow, and he
blue eyes filled with tears.