Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-09
Copyright. 1895. by Joel Chandler HnrrlsD

Aaron went into the stable ana came tort
with halter. This he threw on Timoleon
head, passing the loose end over the horse
neck and tying 1t in the ring, thus formn
rolns for the rider to handle. Then h
folded heavy blanket four times, place
It on the horses back, and strapped it dow
with surcingle.
mot too tght-not too tight, son Of Bel
ALI" said Tlmoleon, backing his ears a little
Now, then. for ride" said Aaron, turn
Ing to the children.
"Oh, I'm afraid" cried Sweetest Susan
Mamma would be angry"
"Try him here, in the lot" suggested
Aaron to Buster John
Now Buster John was a pretty good ride
for a youngster, and was somewhat prout
of the fact He had even helped to breal
young mule to the saddle So, after it'll,
persuasion. he allowed Aaron to lift hin
to TimoleOn's back.
Easy. now" said Aaron.
The black stallion stepped proudly off
From a swinging walk he broke into al
easy carser. which soon bscame swingn.
galop. Before he had gone around the
field Buster John had lost all fear, aud from
his gently undulating seat waved his hand
gayly to Sweetest Susan. -.
"Oh. l wish could go. tool' she ex-
claimed, clapping her hands.
why not, little missy?" said Aaron. 81
have seen you riding the gray pony without
a saddle"
"But he is as gentle as a dog" explained
Sweetest Susan.
why. so is Tmoleon." replied Aaron "Try
him l will run beside him to catch you
IL you fall. I'll not run far before you say
go back
BY this time Timoleon came sweeping up
to where they stood and stopped. Buster
Johns face fairly glowed with the delight
he felt.
well" said Sweetest Susan, unable to re-
sist the temptation. well, I'll go, but If l
fall"
Before she could finish what she had to
say the strong arms of Aaron had lifted her
to a seat behind Buster John.
How can you fall?" asked the bold
youngster. Hold fast to me- Put your arms
around me, and when you fall let me know
You didn't talk that way just now" said
Sweetest Susan. To this Buster John made
no reply. Aaron stood beside the black
stallion and stroked his neck.
"Grandscn of Abdallah, show me what
you are this day. Once around the field and
then to the lane gate
The horse took three long strides forward
and then broke into a canter as before.
Aaron ran beside TimOleon a little way one
hand on Sweetest Susan's elbow to give
her confidence, but he soon saw that she
had lost all fear, and so, still running. he
and threw 1t back and stood there. The
blsck stallion, going in a steady gallop,
swept around the field, and then came toward
the gate The children were laughing.
Don't forget, grandson of Abdallah You
know my hand!'' This was Aaron's last
warning as Timoleon went through the gate
The son of Ben Ali watched horse and riders
for few moments. Then he closed the
gate and ran swiftly through the lot going
toward the head OF the avenue that led to
al tla a.
length, led obliquely away from the house
and from the avenue, until 1t Joined the pub
lie road. From that point. turning squarely
to the left, the distance to the avenue gate
was about mile. From the stable to the
avenue gate, through the spring lot-the
way Aaron went-wasi not quite half mile
IF go too fast, grandson of the White
haired Master" said TimoIeon, as they
turred into the public road. touch me on
the shoulder. And don't be frightened when
lift my head and tell the fools am COM
ing"
AS they came in sight Of the negro quar-
ters Timoleon raised his head high in the air
and neighed shrilly three times In quick sue
cesson. 1t sounded like challenge to man
and beast That plantation had heard 1t
many times before, and 1t had always been
the fOrerunner of some display of savagery
on the part Of the black stalon-sometime
negro run down and trampled sometimes
a mule or COW crippled; but always some
with dismay except by Aaron.
1t was no wonder, therefore, that the
negroes came out of their cabins with alarm
painted ON their faces 1t was no wonder
they stood transfxed when they saw the
horse flying along me road. his thick
name whipping the wind, with the two chill
dren on his back. They had no time to ad-
miro the strength and symmetry of the
horse, and yet he presented beautiful sight
his glossy neck arched, his long name en-
al thA Aht IL, nlN tI
lations OF his magnificent FORM and his swift
movements the perfection Of grace.
Once more, as he thundered across the
bridge that spanned the stream leading from
the spring. the black stallion screamed forth
his note Of defiance. A man coming along
the road went over the fence as nimbly as
squirrel Cows grazing In the fields near
the roadside holsted their tails in the air
and ran off to the woods. The mules in the
horse lot ran around amlessly and then
huddled themsevels together in a corner.
The gray pony went scampering through
the peach orchard hunting a place of
safety
Then the cry went up from the negro
quarters '"Timoleon's loose! Timcleon's
loose"' The cry was echoed at the big
house. The chldren's father laid down the
book he was reading and went out upon the
ycranda, followed directly by his wife. The
grandfather rose from his easy chair land
Joined them. They heard the tremendous
Glitter of hoofs on the hard road and the
screaming of the stallion. They saw Aaron
running up the avenue. followed by Drusilla
Calamity seemed to have swooped down upon !
the plantation. negro woman bolder
than the rest. had managed to run TO the |
big house. She rushed through it, without
regard for ceremony.
"Mlstiss, dem blessed chillun-!"
She wanted to say were riding the run |
away stallion. but she sank to the floor. |
speechless.
20. my children! my children! where are |
my precious children?" cried the mother.
At that moment Aaron reached the avenue |
gate, opened 1t wide, and the black stall |
lion cantered through 1t, and came galloplng
down the drive,
81 see the children" said the white-hajred
grandfather. They are safe They have
been giving Timoleon his exercise Seel
they are laughing and waving their handsv'
The mother looked. but the sight seemed
TO terribly her so that she covered her face
with her hands. Only for a moment. how
ever. She looked again, thinking they were
wringing their hands and crying for helm.
But, no! they were really laughing. In
front Of the yard gate there was an orna-
mental circle. filed with neatly trimmed
boNwood, privet and acacia bushes Coming
to this circle, Timoleon turned to the right
and galloped around II, the children waving
their hands to their mother, father and
g andfather. With his waving name and
lowing tail, his arched and shining neck and
MI 1