New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-07
TWO WOMEN, A BOY,
AND SOME HORSES
py MARIA LOUISE POOL.

".
TUE COMPACT OF THE WATERING TFoo'h
nv this time we had begun to wohoe' a. w. ~.
-. ,r,.,est displayed when we were asked IL
those were our horses
was /, so very remarkable that they shouiu oe
our horses? r. ,o, ,,,rred
YES" said Amabel. shortly The boy turned
,wax. he was certainly Laughing
He walked off down into the cornne'o' anu VIC
saw him hunting for the crow he mao JUST s"o'
Neither of us wished 10 repose any longer u! INC
u.,vsidc We looked up ana GOWN ''c 'o' ~
q, q tim. when there was no one Ia sie"' W.
mounted from the edge of the watering "oue"
Rut the edge OF Il watering trough is not p'"'e
that can be recommended for such purpose
rar,icu,ar,v when the trough is not quite steady
and insists upor tipping
7, was a. this tine that Amabel and maze
an agreement which, TO distinguish 1t from o'he'
agreements. We always referred 70 DIS '"e 'o'''
pact of the watering trough.
7, was 70 the effect that we would scrupuiousiy
49, ,urns as to who should mount first. for the
one who first climbed TO the saddle could nave
e.. o,bor hold her horse during the process Ana
there is a great deal in that
We hoped that as we proceeded on our Jour-
rev we should become more and more reslsneo'
or moro and more skilful as regards the pre-
u,rainarcs to resuring our travels a1'er Na'''
We hoped but we did not expect
7, was who held Amabers horse we'll along
side the trough. Therefore II VIII be seen 'ha'
1t would be my friends turn the next time.
The Thane is an animal who frets TO go when
,.o,, want hin, to stand still-not that ne desires
SO much TO 60 either
On this occasion. when led him to the proper
nosition alongside the decaying ana uncertain
edge Of the trough top. he insisted upon sheerihs
away for the distance Of about three feet he
did this steering while was stepping upon the
trough. Once In making a snatch at his orioie'
Internationally put one foot down INTO the
trough There was only little water in the
bottom however. for the thing Leaked Ike
sieve
The Thane watched me scramble with an IN
terested benignity upon his face AS soon as ne
waa entirely ont of position so that could no:
nosstbly get on his back, he was perfectly quiet
Amabel dared not come near enough even TO
ATTEMPT TO be Of service. for Notwithstanding
that tale that was told us that these horses had
lived together they always Bit and kicked If
brought too near each other. Still there are
human beings who snap and scold but who yet
abide with each other.
Therefore my friend sat her horse at two rods
distance and watched me-
Now, when you are trying to bring an animal
up alongside unsteady watering trough 80
that you may mount from its edge. it is not
calming 10 be watched 1t is better at such times
to be In entire solitude.
Again / stood the trough edge. and again
The Thane sdled off al just the instant that pre-
vented me from landing in the saddle. Then he
remained motioncss. looking at me- This time
/ didn't go into the trough brought the trough
down to the ground, myself with it, The sides
came apart-in fact. there was no more trough.
The green slime that had been in the bottom of 1t
crept along the ground If had not felt so hur-
RED am positive that could have written a
decadent poem on the subject Of that green slime.
"Oh, DEAR cried Amabel. shall get OFF,
NO" snapped; isn't ii enough for me to be
off, with prospec, OF getting on?'
Don't lose your temper" she responded. l
wonder why IT is that there is nothing more
rladdenng than 10 be told not to lose your
temper. / lost mae. ard ! said things. But
Amabel has apologiZed. and have forgiven her.
Just now she remarked that she would like TO
know what town were ill., for she supposed
that was responsible for that watering trough.
Somebody shouted from the cornfeld. The
boy who had shot the crow came running toward
US He walked w to The Thames head and
took hold OF the bride with that air of authority
which some male human beings can put forth.
and which goes far toward making them lords
o. creation.
you can get from this fence" said the boy.
He led The Thana TO what we call In New Eng
land "a pair OF bars" IL has always seemed as
81 pair Of posts would be more appropriate
was obliged TO climb TO the top bar. which
high. and from there descend upon the
horses back. This did. The Thane holding
behavior reflected upon me. and tended to make
believe :iat everything all my fault
tronked the boy just as swcetly as / could;
1: be had not been n New-England boy with jus,
tina: kind OF eyes. l sh ould have offered him
quarter but was saved from making that mig
take: though his service at that moment seemed
worth thousands Of dollars to me.
Then we rode on. The shorts bag was still at
what might be called my saddle bow. where
had placed 1t. but the kitten. where was she?
This was the question that put exultantly to
my companion found that Amabel low IN
her mind concerning that cat. She said that
ought never 10 have let that girl take her that
but will not put down all that was said ANA
bel remarked that her first duty when we reached
the Namasket House would be 10 write 10 Aun,
Maly, and that che would rather be killed than
do IT,
True 10 ner resolution, when We were in our
room at the hotel. my friend called for paper and
envelopes. She was very long time composing
her epistle. but when II was done II was only this
Dear Aunt Ma'y: I'm dreadfully sorry, but she's
got away. We looked and looked, but we couldn't
find her. III 10 your sister Sarah I'm Prov
tncetown. II We ever get there.
Unknown to Amabel put on postscript con-
sisting Of these words:
II Is vain TO regret. We did what VIC could We
will bring back the shorts bag
This seemed something like an epitaph but I
sealed the envelope quickly and the missivc was
posted that night am harder hearted thun my
friend. and was unfeignedy hilarious because