Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-11-14
HOW I BECAME BEST MAN.

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: HOW BECAME BEST MAN. J
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There Is am old German refrain thar
runs somewhat ais follows:
The paradise of earth
lis found on horseback.
That morning it required to me, why
KNOW not, fer had heard no Ger
MAN for years. Anyway, as 1 say, it
recurred TO me as l walked along in
the spring sunshine, clad in fauhless
riding attire, toward "a we'll known
riding stable VIII. re INTENDED to pro-
cure a mount for long ride.
1t WAS still quite early ,and 1 found
the groom lszily r.ibowed against the
stable door whistalng SOFTLY to himself.
He glanced ait my high boots, which
reflected the morning sun. and smiled,
while l explained my intention. I
chose "a beautiful roam calDed Darling
"A horse as gentle as lamb" peril.
nently added the groom
II generally pay in advance" I re-
marked. DO you charge by the hour
or by the morning? 1 expect to be
| out IA couple of hours"
The groom parrieG [,sv question.
I'VE know you, sir. cad wiz charge
you for the time the horse stays out"
he concluded mali ciously with a
friendly pat on Darlfng's flank that
sent him flying down the street.
I had intended to ride along the
| drives where the shade was thick and
the young ladies wandered up and
down during the morning hours, but
Darling held other views, and CARRIED
the day with gentle persistence.
What could l do with the beast? And
Rfter adj what difference does it make
where one rides SO long as one does
| ride? So we FASTENED to the out
| skirts of the town where the sun was
hottest. This was Da,rling's choice.
Darling paused before the first inn
and absolutely refused to bulge, so, to
| give myself a oountenance, l ordered
"a gless of ale from the WALTER who
hurried out, and found it as poor an
| I had expected.
know, sir" he commented, paTting
Darling'sl glossy neck. Now, this one
Rlllus gets sugar here, and he knows it,
sir, he do"
So Darling munched his lump Of su-
| gar and then consented to trot along.
This earthly paradise presented
many pitfalls -four me. AT first OAR.
| ling skirted "a never-enalng Wal. 20
closely that the polish vanished from
my left boot and my leg felt as If it
Z had been plunged in Ian electric bath.
Then he carried me under a TOW of
aOw-spreading apple trees that CO.
Queuted with my hat, which i saved
only at the risk of life and limb, and
rumpled my we'll brushed hair. I
bre;aIthed with relief as we entered into
a grove where the trees arched high
above me, and walls were a think IN
known. But alas! there was pond,
and Darling paused direamily beside
Its reetdy, swampy shores. l was ter.
| rdfesd Suppose Nhe horse should sud-
DENLY decide Ito take "a. bath! L patted,
cOaNed, twitched at the bride, ALL In
vain. Darling refused to advance. At
last, my patience gave out, plunged
my 1fowels into him, setting the spring
| OF his rear legs in violent disorder.
The turf flew around my ears, but al
| ways in the same spot. Fortunately I
had thoghtfully provided myself with
sugar ah the inn, and with its aid sue
ceeded in calming Darling so far that
he consented to stand still.
soon discovered "a slender figure in
the distance, approaching at a swift
| g,allpp. tugged AIT the reins-unavai-
tngly, of course; then, to make the
best of my sorry lot and lend some
shadow of reality to the ridiculous
figure 1 must cut stationed before this
| swamp pend, Fastened my eyes upon
the swaying branches, apparently lost
In institution. Trot, trot, echoed be-
hind me: the Lady was close ait hand;
I'm an INSTANT she would have passed
| me- But Darling whirled suddenly,
almost fiinging me over his head into
THE waiter, and flew nDong after the
| other horse. consoled myself that
| at this pace we would soon outdiScance
her, but ats soon as we came neck to
neck my mount slowed up and trotted
| along, contenltedly suiting himself kto
| the Others pace.
knew the young llady by sight, and
| felt forced to bow. She nodded stiffly,
| and urged her horse on, while I en-
deiauored to check Darling. AS well
| try to curb the thunderbolts. I was
powerlets. She dashed on, was fol.
| lowing, cit infinite peril ITO life and limb,
Cor I wats mott accustomed to such q
rapid pace. Besides, ann a man who
| dfslikes to appear forward. was
mortally ashamed Of myself, but no
| power on earth could check the beast
was riding. Darling neighed scorn
| fully as tugged at the bit, and kept
| ON in his mad career.
Miss VAN Deemen glanced contempt
ously at me and turned down "a side.
path. Darling chung ITO her skirs with
deplorable fidelity. And l had noticed
Q placard warning all trespassers of
under penalty of the law! The Law
walls, then, to be added TO my miseries;
but consisted myself with the thought
that tits Representatives could scarcely
control my horse, since I myself had
failed in the attempt.
But Miss Van Deemen had reached
the limit; she refined in her horse, and
Darling stood immovable! Sir" said
she. anger and fear in every line OF
her pretty face, II must ask you to
leave me at once"
Heavens! If I only could! 1 would
even have climbed a tree, but Darling
wtas mot to be persuaded.
"Sir@"
Pardon me; IT really is not my
fault; it is purely accidendaa that our
paths lie in the same direction" I re-
piled.
'"Then I viii return" said she gnnc-