Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

and shoot him!" he bawled." He broke
plate glass window today racing with a
street car" and, with this death sentence
warm upon his lips he faced about to run
full against me, as l darted toward him.
stop them! Stop those men!" / called,
and then, before his fingers could come
cropping for my collar, l explained more
calmly: II know the owner of that horse.
He will gladly pay for any damages that it
| has done, and agree to see after 1t more
carefully in the future"
| l think he thought l was demented; but
the color of my gold was the same as
| that of any sane mans, so, after decent
| pause in behalf of his official dignity, he
| recalled his Vassals, and a moment later,
| with the whole crowd jeering at me, had
| started on my homeward way, leading the
| wretched outcast. On through the sloppy
| road we went we two who had made that
dark night race together. He worn out and
| spent in body, and l with my spirit biting
the very dust. Long was the way, but at
length we turned in at the door of a pub
lie stable where wondering but friendly
hostler took the halter from me, while l
told him my desires.
"If you don't low to use him none he
can be pulled through all right, I guess"
he said doubtfully. But his legs is stin
as posts, and he won't never be good for
nothin' much but slow travel" and then
while he went for oats and a blanket
stopped and looked into the creatures al
most human eyes in dumb apology for the
wrong my passion had done him. "And
it was all in vain, old nag" / whispered,
patting his hair with a lingering touch, for
his shape was a beautiful memory to me;
and again, in fancy, | could see it steaming
along the frozen road which stretched so
long, so long, before me, while girl
nestled at my side, and a peril, that made
her mine to save, came rushing on behind.
Distracted with memories, / hurried home
in no mood to cope with Flo, when she
came and gently probed and goaded me
until the secret of my heart came out in an
angry confession that | loved my wife, who
would not even raise her eyes to mine She
gave me not a ray of hope. She even said:
Poor boy" And sullen with despair,
flung myself from her presence
| now decided conclusiyely to leave the
country. / went down to dinner enyeloped
in a halo of resolves having mentally de-
clned every objection which the courtesy
of a host or the affection of a relative could
urge against my departure | was little
late. but 1t did not matter ! opened the
door carelessly, only to find myself
stricken in such confusion as had not felt
since my first ball.
1t was not the teasing light from Flo's
smile which disconnected me, nor yet the
friendly encouragement which radiated from
williams entire person. No; some one else
was there, some one dressed in shimmerins
white with a blushing face, but bright
and happy one; young person whom Flo
and William called "Bernce" with a
familiarity positively maddenng, inasmuch
as | dared call her nothing at all
That dinner! How | got through it with
out stabbing myself with the implements
of which / seemed to have forgotten the
use, or scading myself with the soup which
swallowed boiling hot, no one can tell.
certainly was great care to the servants;