New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
TWO WOMEN, A BOY,
AND SOME HORSES.
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL.
THE FIRST BUY THE LAST.


THE Extinction Of the Horse" and weren't
the Western farmers feeding colts to their PIGS
because colts were cheaper even than corn?
"They give the colts to the pigs because they
want the corn to burn" interrupted rough
voice which belonged to Amabers bro'her
Amabel's brother is n boy over whose head four
teen summers have passed and who thinks ne
knows everything; he Is also anxious 10 lmpart
what he knows to every one particularly u
every feminine human being. He apparently De-
lieves that all feminine human beings are
created for the mere purpose Of allowing them
selves to be instructed by men and boys
Truth forces me t. state that Alber' does
know a good many things. but az they are gen
orally things that don't care anything ABOUT
knowing myself. sometimes the boy Is "ear'-
ness Truth bids me also acknowledge tha'
there are people who hate to be instructed; am
afraid that ! am one OF those people can
even force myself to read a very dull novel be-
cause Il isis't true and I can't learn anything
from II; whereas. II should suddenly be made
to believe that the story was relation or facts'
1t would be impossible for me to read anothe:
word Of IT, I often wonder If any one else has
such an undisclplined pervcrso mind. From ths
profusion Of dull novels should almost think
was not the sole possessor of this kind OF mental
powers.
When reasoned with Amabel as to the un-
t,rneliress Of her choics Of locomotion she mace
answer that she wasn't ruled by fashion. ana
that now is exactly the time 70 bug horses, when
nobody wanted them, and they were ABOUT 10
become extinct They wer. cheap.
Thirty six and half per cent cheaper than
they we're nineteen months ago" said Albert.
They are going down at a ratio Of
"AmabeI" said l. looking across Albert 70 HIS
sister. will you kindly prevent that boy from
mentioning ratios in my presence? Ratios are
devilish."
Albert gave slight whoop. put two hands on
the back of chair and jumped over 1t. as II ne
and the chair we're playing leapfrog, and it was
his turn 10 leap. 1t was this Indulgence IN
,rhoopinss and jumpings that made Albert
though an immature prig. still boy and that
had many times prevented me from taking his
life IN return for well-neant but unwished-for
offerings Of facts. Amabei always maintained
that her kinsman would outgrow this super
abundant knowledge and at last come TO
realization that people acre not living In this
world for the sole purpose OF receiving s'ate-
nnents Of averages and so forth from him. she
was IN the habit of telling him that 1t would he
an unmitigated blessing when he should be old
CROUCH 10 fail in love with girl and TO nave
that grl suit him. To this and many other re-
marks Albert in the habit Of responding:
so q hen"
When all other retorts failed this phrase al
WAYS appeared perfectly satisfying to the owner
Of IT, So satisfying. indeed. that used 10 wish
that / was the possessOr Of some such soul
filling sentence 20 be used on any occasion.
Albert had now sat down upon the chair over
which he had 1ust Jumped. He sat as;ride and
rested his chin on the top Of the back Thus
brought into prominence. his eyes looked
sharper than ever. and his freckles seemed
actually 10 form asort Of bassreief across his
nose they showed plainly.
You en- talk all you're mind to. Am he
said but you'll have TO take ii out in talking,
| guess Par went let YOU have the horse; he
ain. such a fool as that And side saddles ruin
the back-not your back, you know read yes
terday I'm the animal encyclopaedia that a man
could better ride any kind Of an animal in the
proportion Of
Albert won't YOU please shut up? Besides. I
don't want pars horse
This from Amabe
ooh don't you? Whose do YOU intend to have.
then? If had one Ia shoot it rather than have
a woman ransacking round with it. a woman
spoils anything she touches
There was no response to this assertion. /
took up a paper and began to read. Since this
legged TO take hold of his Jacket collar and assist
him TO the door And | had sneaking, remon-
strant sort Of kindness for him, for which
could not account. Amabel counting
stitches in some crochet work. or she appeared
70 be thus engaged
In g moment Albert took from one Of his
pockets & crossgun about as long as his middle
finger lie carefully adjusted the string ct the
niche provided for fl near the trigger; then he
pulled out from another pocket few dried peas.
He put one dried pea in front OF the trigger and
extended the weapon steadily toward his sister.
II say. Am" he cried. throw up your hands.
or you're right eyes goner"
Arabel started. involun,ariiy dropped her
work and raised both hands over her head.
Now tell ma where you mean get your
horses" commanded Albert.
Arabel resumed her former position.
you horrid little boy you she cried
Where DO YOU mean to get your horses?" re-
iterated the youth.
lie snapped his dried pea ~ venture and
II hit the cat which sat in the window
Il mean to get them at lizards auction
rooms" the answer.
Gee, That's rici Youll be cheated to death
I'll go with YOU and protect you"
You shant!
II shall. Does par know"
NO: he doesn't I'm Of age"
Yes good while since said this hear,less
being. Il shall go with you" he reiterated.
Then. after moment of thought, during
which he was swapping the trigger OF his cross
gun he announced
I'll buy one myself; they're so tarnal cheap
can do II. I've got money enough. What day
you GOING"
mo matter" from Amabel
Pooh, You needn't think I shan't find out |
] would not miss it for 10 cents"
ventured 10 say that the proportion Of boys |
who missed things they did not mean to miss |
was very great; whereat Albert whisted on a |