The San Francisco call., 1897-05-16

ollnd eye, tor which the owner wanted
$35-the sale to include saddle and bride.
But. as I aptly said to Davie, wasn't
anxious to emulate DON Quixote on an
up-to-date Rozinanre and therefore "de-
clined with thanks"
Our patience was at length rewarded
when we discovered . prettv-looking
mare, priced at $50, with equipment
thrown in. Ny friend took advantage OF
the situation to display his extensive
technical knowledge, by which the urbane
liveryman seemed suitably impressed. l
certify, but once more will not anticipate.
In the end I paid the purchase price
and we decided on an early start the fol-
lowing morning. When the following
morning at length arrived we were treated
to practical illustration of the hoary
adage that man proposes and the devil
disposes. Dawes big toe had filed gen.
eral demurrer to the expedition and was
highly inflamed with rage and excite
ment This in itself was bad enough, but
worse is behind. Owing to the fact that
we had previously dispatched all our civ
illzed clothing to Los Angeles, We were
forced to live In retirement and study
Piato's "Phedo" until Davies big toe
grew convalescent.
1t was only after long chapter of acci-
dents that remem bered that l was born
under Saturn and that we started on Fri
day. The urbane liveryman fastened my
pack-a large one-behind the saddle and
announced that all was ready. Candor
com mpels me to confess that at this ire
mendous iuncture, exposed to the critical
and merciless gaze of two stablemen and
four small boys. l hardly felt so confident
as | had done when studying the
''Phodo" and chatting at the delay. How
ever, recalled to mind a family tradition
concerning my great-great-grandfath
who once rode all the way from Wales to
Manchester. at the early age of H. and
with stified prayer to the centaurs
placed my left foot-No. 7A-in the stir
rup and swung myself gracefully into the
saddle.
"Get move on there" roared Davie.
preparing to mount his wheel, 'and
witch the world with noble horsem an
ship"
Unfortunately the mare, which. by the
way, we had christened Melpomens, OBJ
jected on general principles to cooperate
IN the witching proposition and promptly
fell down before We had proceeded hum
dred yards. Fortunately for my insur-
ance company and the world generally
escaped death by wonderful display Of
agility. The urbane liveryman, who had
trailed US for this distance, now ran up and
helped Melpomene to rise. The pack had
been displaced by the fall and more valu-
able time was consumed in read justing it.
Once again mounted and urged Melpo-
meme to show her PAGES.
It is no violation of confidence to state
that we started from stable on Valencia
street, and after an hours hard riding
found myself opposite saloon on How
ard street, with Davie mile ahead. Mel
pomene exhibited unmistakable signs OF
distress. and providentially 1ecollecting
that had joined the Band OF Kindness
in my youth l promptly dismounted to
give the mare rest. What is more / left
half the contents of the pack in the sa-
loon-keeper's charge. but not before had
aggravated his choler" by qua fling a
steam besr. Davie. [ may say. rejoined
me in time to pool on this issue. A few
stars. please.
Thanks! For the third time m ounted
my fiery. untamed steed and turned her
head in the direction of Twenty-fourth
street, which, we were informed. was the
first stage to Los Angeles. The street
railway company could not have foreseen
the possibility Of anybody undertaking to
follow that route on horseback when they
laid their cable-car track. and as I was
born under Saturn the noise of :he ca BILE
visibly disconcerted Melpomene. She
neighed "Home, Sweet Home" and tried
to return to her stable. A painful scene
ensued. but the power Of the human will
temporarily prevailed and an hour later l
had reached Twenty-sixth street. Davie,
like the Spanish fleet, was not in sight.
Melpomene insisted upon the propriety OF
turning down every side street to cogitate.
II have an idea that her early youth
must have been spent in q circus. because
she evinced a marked partiality tor cir.
cles, which she was able to trace with the
curbstone as center and any radius.
sympathetic young man, who had been a
pleased and interested spectator of these
geometrical eccentricities, advised me to