Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-31
BLACK JOHN"

iHVlt was Iot al ALUM WIG III
Black John, but he was a fearsome
beast for a weak-armed rider who did
not understand his idiosyncrasies.
Trained to go against the bit" by the
heavy-handed village blacksmith from
whom Jasper Carson bought him, he
had mouth like gutta percha and
jaw muscles like steel ropes With q
60-pound pressure on the bit he could
single-foot a mile in 2:30 under the
saddle, and wtha so smoothly that
he gave his rider the impression OF
sailing through air. A powerful man
could check him by main strength and
awkwardness without first releasing
The pull on the bit, but the easiest and
most expeditions method was to slack
en- The reins and say: whoa, joint"
If the command was given sharply
the stop might be so sudden as to un'
seat an unwary rider. but that was
not malice on Black Johns part. II
was his training. His walk, fox-trot
and cantcr were cradle-likc in their
ease, but it was as a single-footcr that
Black John excelled.
Mamie Carson rode him frequently.
and sometimes to the discontinue OF
her escort who, mounted on a horse
of ordinary speed, found it difficult TIC
keep her in sight.
1t was probably admiration of Miss
Carson's prowess as horsewomah
and q desire to emulate it that induced
Miss Lakeland to accept Jasper Car
sons offer to teach her to ride. The
theory advanced by Mrs. Stubbs, the
peripatetic bureau of information FOL
the village, that Miss Lakeland want
ed to give bashful Jasper an opportun
ity to propose is worthy Of mention
only for purposes of contradiction.
Anyhow, Miss Lackland's ambition
to learn to ride had an exhiaratina
effect on Jasper Carson, He boughtt
new side-saddlc, and was more thar
ordinarily critical of the work of hi
grooms.
The riding lessons were given In th'
early morning, in order that the cen
serious might not see and deride Mis-
Lackland's inexperience. She hat
grace and courage, and soon looked a
home in the saddle. Though still !
trihe awkward in manipulating TIT
reins, she was n creditable pupil, ant
Jasper Carson was proud of bis posi-
ton as instructor. Yet he was not en-
tirely contented. It was pleasant u
ride with her along sylvan paths, ant
see the sunbeams kiss the new-wakei
flowers and drink the dew from graz
sy cups. 1t was pleasanter still to se
the girls cheeks glow and her eye
sparkle as the wanton morning breen
caressed her.
But Jasper Carson had something II
his heart to say to Miss Lakeland, am
he had promised himself to say 1t dur
ing one Of those delightful rides. 7
would be easy, he thought to eas
his soul of its burden while riding b.!
her side. Try as he might, he couldn'
say the words. Even the poetry whlci
he had carefully memorizcd refused u
come to his tongue.
"Mayn't ride Black John tomor
row, Mr., Carson?' said Miss Lakeland
after her sixth lesson. "Yonr sisteI
Mamie says he is perfectly safe II yo'
are along/
"Certainly you may" said Jaspe
Carson, flushing with pride at thu
thought of acting as Miss Lackand'
protector, and with embarrassment
because he couldn't find words to tel
her he loved her.
So It was that when Jasner Carso,
rang the bell at the Lakeland hom
that golden June morning, Black Johi
bore a side-saddle.
"Isn't he the dearest thing?" sail
Miss Lakeland, as they cantered alonl
the river road which was overhunt
with locust trees
"He's a good old horse" said Jaspcl
Carson. "lIold your reins n trifl'
lower, Miss Lakeland. There, that
right"
"Tm so glad I have learned to ride,
she said
Jasper Carson tried to say "Won
you ride through life with me?"
Before he could speak ragged VI
chin jumped from behind tree ant
shrieked "Yah! yah!"
Black Johns nerves were as invnl
nerable as his mouth, and he merely
pricked up his ears in disapproval, bu
the mare Carson rode was sensitive
She plunged forward in mad eiTor
TO bolt and Miss Lakeland, watchin,
with alarm and admiration Carson
skilful management increased tho
pressure on Black Johns Bit Thu
horse accepted this as n signal Il
change his gait, and responded witt
cheerful aacritv Stiffcning his necl
and gripping the bit. he settled int
the smooth. machine-likc pit-pit-pit-a
nat of the trained sinple-fOOtcr. ant