Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-03

same to me-" cried recklessly, 80 long az
he can GO"
! I'm sure cant say. she retorted, cycling
me askance as she unlocked q smoky Ian.
tern from its peg. Il only know Cousin
/ John fools away his time in the summer
petdin' with him; then leaves him here to
eat his head off in the winter. II l could
only beef him. he wouldn't live a minute
| can tell you that" and opening the door
sha led me forth into what seemed wilder
ness of snow-filed kegs and boxes, all OF
which am quite certain that l stepped into
l arrived at the small stable in no mood to
endure the undignifed commotion set up by
roost of old hens and a solitary cock, as
we threw the light from our lantern in
upon them. 1t was maddening, out upon a
secret mission as we were, to note the zeal
with which the cock set about his growing,
and to have the hens come squawkng down
as ready for the days engagement as though
the morning sun had tumbled bodily in upon
them. Even Mrs. Brown found it trying, and
cried tartly for the rooster to "shct his
head" as we fought our way through to the
horses stall beyond.
Accurately speaking we found no horse,
but lying prone on some musty hay, we dis
| covered a four-legged, gray thing which, be-
yond snorting a trifle as Mrs. Brown thrust
the lantern contemptuously under his nose,
| took no further notice of us There he is,
she said, bitingly. "Nothin' but rat hole
| to pour oats into. He hasn't had bit be-
tween his teeth for two months, but you may
take him and welcome"
After digging in vain about his bony frame
for some trace OF life and spirit, l was in
despair, but had no choice. Together We
pried him from his smelling bed, and he
developed as he slowly unfolded his joints,
into a regular carcass of horse, with great
hollows which it would have taken the
earnings of a whole race of peddlers to round
out with high priced hay. Are you sure he
is strong?" l gasped. "Will he be up to a
trip, you know" 1t seems to me he looks
awfully shaky."
She wouldn't answer me; but kept on
dragging out moldy pieces of harness and
moth robes. until had an outfit the
match for any rag-picker's trap.
Heavens" l moaned, as 1 mounted the
sleigh, jerking at the rotten straps which
were all the hold had on that great brute.
"He has our lives in his hands. He couldn't
feel the strain of these lines if l were to
drag them across his naked eye. Have you
no respectable looking ropes?" 1 called
fretfully, 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 to
the surface with such a disgracefu con-
trivance in the shape of a whip that I felt
1t would be madness to appeal to any sense
Of decency within her.
Cautiously l steered my beast up to the
door and left him in charge of Mrs. Brown
while l went inside for Miss Brandon. As
l entered the house a clock struck two clat-
tering strokes. And to think l exclaimed
absently, that l dined with Flo last night
at 6!''
The statement bore in upon me no i'm
preston of the truth after l had made 1t,
but it startled Miss Brandon to hear me
talking to myself, so l told her had asked
if she was feeling any stronger. 1t seemed
human to retain her confidence in my sanity;
my own faith in it was so badly shaken.
'And now you're off" cried Mrs. Brown
joyfully few minutes later as 1 cracked
the whip over the back of Cousin Johns
nag
think that would have been content to
drive on that way all night, not speaking at
all, but sitting there half frozen and wholly
irrational, dreaming foolish dreams But
suddenly down went the curtain with crash
upon perfumed knight and smiling lady and
up it rose on me. the married man, the
trusty doctor. oh" my companion burst
out suddenly, turning her face toward me,
though in that light could see nothing of it
but white blur 81 am sure no father
could have been kinder to me than you have
been tonight and that too, without knowing
my story. Why don't you ask me about my
self?"
Swallowing the father" like quinine
which has stuck in the throat, l suggested
family that there had been no time, but no
sooner did my voice break the silence than
she stopped me with a nervous start. Il
wonder why l don't like to talk with you so
well in the dark" she said uneasily Il
haven't seen your pcor face really, it's been
done up so; but, somehow, when l can't see
your bandages, you seem so different. Your