New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-21

his father; nor the housekeeper who had thrown
old shoes at us but one brief hour ago
There's one thing you have not promlsea
not to do" resumed, more cheerfuiy.
what Is that? I've already proHiseu e"ous"
Amabel spoke with excessive bitterness.
You haven't promised not to drown that
kitten" 80
mo: but couldn't drown n kitten to save
my life Besides. Sister Sarah Ramsey VIII be
notified that this creature is on the way, and
oh wish had never heen born!
The kitten continued to new. we urged our
horses to a gallop. and presently we turned a
corner into q long road that stretched away
among fields and pine trees. and across when
birds flew, and sometimes keen, alert squlrrei
darted from one side TO the other. III was
lovely road, and went straight on, as II II
might at last really reach the plue sKy tha'
came down. far away, to meet IL.
NV horse had gone little in advance. There
was no disputing the fact that TIL: Thane had
a fine. easy gallon. and was superior to ANA
bells horse. | was complacer tly thinking mus
and becoming soothed by the sweet air and that
blue sky toward which were riding. when
Amabel hastily called my name
She was a short distance behind Something
was dangling and jumping by her horses
knees 1t is supernuous to state that IT was the
kitten. Persons who have never had the ad-
vantage Of knowing what shorts bag Is may
require n brief description OF that article. The
bran called shorts in our part OF New-England
may, suppose. be put UP in other receptacleS'
but II is not The bags are of very light coarse
texture, fully yard long and Of about the same
width. There Is plenty of room in shorts bag
for kitten to disDort itself and bring agony
to the heart OF its guardian rms kitten was
now bringing agony to Amabels heart 1t was
still In the bag but the part Of the bag which
held the kitten had slipped down. and as have
stated, was swinging back and forth by the
horses knees But the top of the bag was shut
and fastened to the pomme of AmabeIs sad
die.
What do you want me to do?" asked.
81 don't know. Sit and look at me. perhaps"
was the response.
| didn't like to dsmOunt. 1t is easy to get
down, as we all know, but difficult to get up
and did not approve of the tone of Amabels
reply to my inquiry.
THAT kitten has too much latitude" | said.
II don't know about her having too much
latitude-she has too many claws. There! Isn't
she trying to climb up my horses leg?
why don't you pull the bag up?
81 have, and she sticks her claws right in.
My horse is an angel or he wouldn't bear it,
At this moment the animal ceased 10 bear 1t
in calmness. Probably it was at this moment
that he really felt the sting Of those sharp
claws He reared and snorted.
Can YOU stick To the saddle?' / cried
Il don't know-Il try"
The horse reared again.
Drop it, Drop it, cried. knew that my
friend was a good rider but didn't know just
what she needed to throw her off
Drop what" she cried.
why. the cat
II can't, tell you"
Cant? Why not"
Besides, the horse might step on It,"
Another rear. Great cries and scramblings
from the bag.
/ made n grab at the reins but of course /
missed them.
You may have to choose between your own
life and the cat" ] said.
The horse stood quiet moment the bag hung
motionless; it looked perfectly innocent, so in
nocent in fact that one might have thought il
was a bag, and nothing more
Now, drop the thing, | pleaded again.
Amabel was fumbling with the string, which
was really small rope.
shes tied it somehow to the iron underneath"
she announced despondently.
And it was true. Amabels saddle was a little
shabby. and some Of the leather was worn away
so that Aunt Maly had passed the rope through |,
and tied 1t in a thorough-going square knot"
instead of putting loop on the horn.
/ hurriedly took my satchel from behind me. |
/ was in search of a penknife. a man would |
have had one in his pocket. Just as l had |
snapped open the satchel Amabels horse bolted. |
Even at such time could admire my friends |
seat and the way in which she swayed to the |
motion The bag swung violently. | spurred |
after. In few moments | became certain that |
the bag wasn't swinging. This was a dreadful |
knowledge. The kitten was clinging with its |
claws to the horses chest. and that was why the |
bag didn't swing.
| fear that I narrowing the dear reader. |
And why should / dwell upon this episode when |
may well say directly that no hero came to |
the rescue; no, not even commonplace man.
All at the horse stopped and got down |
on its knees. II was going to roll; and who can |
blame him?
Amabe slipped off the saddle. but kept hold |
III the brlulr. i VIII say Tor her tndt she Is |
person Of quick wit and ready resource. She |
took hold close to the bit, and she was so firm .
about it that the horse changed his mind and |
did not roll.
| rode UP and dismounted. II became my duty
TO remove the cat in the bag. | did remove It,
and held ii in my arms. but the rope and the
knot still chung To the saddle iron
We stood III the road speeches.. We were
only some five miles from home. but IL seemed
as If in a strange country and in the
midst Of wild adventures.
A horse dragging a load Of wood. walked |
slowly out from a cartpath a little ways behind
US. II came podding forward, its large
dropping apart, its big feet looking if feeling
the way with each step. After a moment Il
mans legs i'm brown overalls were visible behind
the load. These legs came steadily on. as if they
were nothing but legs, and had chosen TO take
A walk behind a load Of wood.
81 wish we could get away before that man
comes" said Amabe
Il wish could for think those are Cyrus
Green's legs ! responded.
yes" from Amabel despondently, 81 thought
Il Cyrus Green's white horse AS If it were
not enough that we should he here like this but
that old gossip should sec u.s.
Let mount and fly
"You know can't mount without leading