Evening star., 1899-12-02

remembering how grotesque l must appear.
all disguised as | was, with my wooden cap
anu swollen face. ! Strengthened myself up
sunny, and cried out with sudden irritation
for the wine.
Although partially resssurad tb;,,,
mrs Brown never wholly abandoned the
idea that L was mad. | sat sullenly by
nntn the drink was prepared. one of the
w3iheh IH present Watching me furtively.
while the other and fairer one turned to
me as TO handy man-some one who could
fetch and carry, could be humbly useful at
Ine wedding OF a happier man, but never
funeral. - 't'
But bark. What was that? Was 1t only
the wind which kept rustling to the door
ana tI1, away again? The window was rat
lllhg nercely, or had l dozed? There are
men about. | shouted, and was upon INV
1eet to find Miss Brandon with her cheeks
glowing from the wine and her eyes brim-
rnlHs n1l-i with laughter, while Mrs. Brown,
iiSiu with terror, was stiffly swallowing
for her guest 'fi '''A
Poor man. cried Miss Brandon. sootb-
tneiy; ing f, you went right to sleep. 1t was
700 Iunny, but L wonder you didn't jerk
your poor head off. 1t was down so far
ana you brought it back so hardl"
,,,,t19 Crazy as aaS oon," 1 heard Mrs. Brown
nutter grimlyT as she crept from behind
the table where she had sprung, "Drat
MN. nm ana there ! have eat all that bread!
Ny stomach will be sour as vinegar"
want a horse,' | said coldly 'and
something to ride in" / longed to denv
that l had been asleep. but dared moi.
both. N ''A-
A faint gleam of hope lit the gaunt feat
some prospect Of being rid of us .'I sun,
pose he might use Cousin Johns horse i"
she said, talking across to Miss Brandon.
as one might discuss the beef tea of a pa
tieht VINO Is NOT TO be reasoned with per-
sonally
Cousin John or Cousin Jim, it's all the
as he can go"
I m sure l can't say" she retorted, eye
ing me askance as she unlocked a smoky
lantern from its peg. Il only know Cousin
Jon9 Jon a., Tools away his time in the summer
eat his head off in the winter, If I could
only peer him. he wouldn't live a minute. I
can tell you that!' and opening the door
she led me forth into what seemed a Wild
erheSs OF snow filled kegs and boxes, all of
WHlch 1 am quite certain that l stepped
INTO. l arrived at the small stable in no
mood 10 endure the undignified commotton
SET up py foost of old hens and a solitary
COCK as we threw the light from our Ian
tern in upon them. 1t was maddening ont
upon secret mission as we were to note
the zeal with which the cock set about his
cdowlns, ana to have the hens come
squaWklnS down as ready for the days en-
gaSenent as though the morning SUR had
tumpied bodily in upon them. Even Mrs.
brown iouhd 1t trying, and cried tartly for
the rooster to 'shet his head" as we
lought our way through to the horses
stall beyond.
Accurately speaking we found no horse,
put lying prone on some musty hay we
discovered four-legged gray thing which,
beyond snorting a trite as. Mrs Brown
thrust the lantern contemptuously under
ms iiaS nose, TOOK no further notice of us.
Ihere ne Is; she said bitingly. "Nothin'
but a rat hole to pour good oats into. He
hasn't had a bit between his teeth for two
months, but you may take him and well
come" "
After digging in vain about his bony
frame lor some trace of life and spirit l
was IN despair, but l had no choice To-
geIher We pried him from his ill-smeling
oed, ana he developed, as he slowly un-
folded his joints. into a regular carcass of
morse, with great hollows which it would
nave taken the earnings of a whole race OF
peodlers to round out with high-priced hay,
are are you sure he Is strong?" 1 gasped.
VIII ne De up to trip, you know? 1t
seems 70 me ne looks awfully shaky"
ohe Wouldnt answer me; but kept on
dragging out moldy pieces of harness and
moth-eaten robes, until I had an outfit the
match for any rag-pickers trap
'HeaVens! [ moaned, as | mounted the
slelgh, Jerking at the rotten straps, which
were all the hold had on that great brute
sis ne M mas our nves In his hands He couldn't
Leei the STRAIN or these lines if | were to
drag them acress his naked eye Have you
no respectabfe-looking ropes2 ?" I called
fretfuliy. resolving to drop to even that for
the sake OF security. But Mrs Brown was
at the bottom of an old feed box. and rose
20 the surface with such diSgraceful con-
trivance IN the shape of a whip that felt
1t would be madness to appeal to any sense
OF decency within her
Cautiously steered my beast IN to the