The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-05-22

plete outfit of a Vaquero. Overcome
though he was by heavy deer-slki1
trousers open at the side from the knee
down, and fringed with bullion buttons
an enormous fat sombrero and a stiff
short embroidered velvet jacket, wa
more concerned at the ponderous sad
die and equipments intended for the
slim Chu Chu. That these would hide
and conceal her beautiful curves ant
contour, as well as overweight hel
seemed certain; that she would resist
them all to the last seemed equally
clear. Nevertheless, to my surprise
when she was led out, and the saddle
thrown deftly across her back She was
passive. Was it possible that some
drop of her old Spanish blood re.
sponded to its clinging embrace? She
did not either look at it or smell it.
But when Enriquez began to tighten
the "cinch" or girth more singular
thing occurred. Chu Chu visibly dis
tended her slender barrel to twice its
dimensions; the more he pulled, the
more she swelled, until was actually
ashamed of her. Not SO Enriquez. He
smiled at us, and complacently stroked
, his thin mustache.
"Eet is ever SO! She is the child Of
| her grandmother. Even when you
shall make saddle thees old Castilian
stock it will make large-it will become
balloonl Eet is a trick-eet isa leetle
, game-believe me. For why?"
had not listened, as was at that
moment astonished to see the saddle
, slowly slide under Chu Chu's belly, and
her figure resume as by magic, its for
mer slim proportions. Enriquez fol-
, lowed my eyes, lifted his shoulders,
shrugged them and said, smilingly:
''Ah, you see!'
; When the girths were drawn in
again with an extra pull or two from
the indefatigable Enriquez l fancied
that Chu Chu nevertheless secretly en-
joyed it, as her sex is said to appreciate
tight lacng. She drew deep sigh,
possibly of satisfaction, turned her
neck and apparently tried to glance at
her own figure. Enriquez promptly
withdrawing to enable her to do SO
easily. Then the dread moment ar
rived. Enriquez, with his hand on her
name, suddenly paused, and with ex-
aggerated courtesy lifted his hat and
made an inviting gesture.
"You will honor me to proceed"
shook my head, laughingly.
81 see" responded Enriquez, gravely.
"You have to attend the obsequies of
your aunt who is dead at two of the
clock. You have to meet your broker,
Who has brought you feefty share of
the Comstock lode-at thees moment
or you are loss. You are excuse! At
tend! Gentlemen, make your bets!
The band has arrived to play! Ere we
are!'
With a quick movement the alert
young fellow had vaulted into the sad
die. But to the astonishment of both
of us the mare remained perfectly still.
There was EnriQuez bolt upright in
the stirrups, completely overshadow-
ing by his saddle flaps, leggings and
gigantic spurs, the fine proportions of
Chu Chu, until she might have been a
placid Rosinante best ridden by some
youthful Quixote. She closed here eyes
she was going to sleep! We were
dreadfully disappointed. This clearly
would not do. Enriquez lifted the
reins cautiously. Chu Chu moved for
ward slowly, then stopped apparently
lost in reflection.
"Affront her on thees side"
approached her gently. She shot sud-
denly into the air, coming down again
on perfectly stiff legs with springless
jolt. This she instantly followed by a
succession of other rocketlike propul
sions, utterly unlike a leap, all over
the inclosure. The movements of the
unfortunate Enriquez were equally I'M
like any equitation ever saw. He ap-
peared occasionally over Chu Chu's
head, astride of her neck and tail, or in
the free air, but never in the saddle.
His rigid legs, however, never lost the
stirrups, but came down regularly, ac-
centing her springless hops More than
that, the disproportionate excess of
rider, saddle and accouterments was so
great that he had, at times, the appear
ance of lifting Chu Chu forcibly from
the ground by superior strength, and
of actually contributing to her exer-
else! AS they came toward me-a wild,
tossing and flying mass of hoofs and
spurs-it was not only difficult to dis
tinguish them apart, but to ascertain
how much of the jumping was done
by Enriquez separately. At last Chu
Chu brought matters to a conclusion
by making for the low-stretching
branches of an oak tree which stood
at the corner of the lot. In few
moments she emerged from it, but
without Enriquez.
found the gallant fellow disengag-
ing himself from the fork of branch
in which he had been firmly wedged,
but still smiling and confident, and his
cigarette between his teeth. Then. for
the first time, he removed it, and seat
ing himself easily on the branch, with
his legs dangling down, blandly waved
aside my anxious queries with gentle
reassuring gesture.
Remain tranquil, my friend. These
does not count! | have conquer-you
observe-for why? ! have never for
once arrive at the groundl Conse-
quent, she is dissaapoint! She will ever
that I should But I have got her
when the hair is long! Your onkle
Henry'-with an angelic wink-''is fy!
He is ever bully boy with the eye
of glass Believe me. Behold! I am
here! Big Injun! Whoop!"
He leaped lightly to the ground.
Chu Chu, standing watchfully at lit
tie distance was evidently astonished
at his temperance. She threw out
her hind hoofs violently, shot up into
| L