The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-27
THE BELL MARE.
BY Martha McCulloch-Willi
Copyright. 1901, by the S. S. McClur

gentle slope with eyes of pride.
"They Almost make it seem like I
never had a real drove before" he
said, nodding toward the roadway;
''yet I've followed this droverin' bust
ness better'n twenty years-an' not
year but took some good stock down
TO the cotton country
Johnny Cope, at the Squires elbow,
answered only with a sigh. 1t was
Johnny's mission and privilege to ride
Lightly, the bell mare. Her full name
was Lady Golightly-she stepped
proudly and held her head high, as be-
came the wearer of a silver bell. and
a great-granddaughte of Diomede. She
was not quite thoroughbred, but blood
like all over, with fat, clean legs, firm
fine-grained hoofs and muscles like steel
whipcords playing beneath her satiny
black coat. If the cold cross showed
anywhere it was in her quarters-they
were powerful enough for cart horse
The fact assured that sac could carry
weight any distance, Notwithstanding
Johnny, who rode her. weighed less
than 100 pounds, though he was ris-
ing H.
Johnny had drifted to the Gleaves
place three years back from nobody
knew where. The Squire, who was half
easy going and wholly shrewd, had
kept him at first compassionately, and
later because the lad exactly suited his
turn. Johnny was born rider, light
vet bold, strong handed, clear headed
H.
pathy which goes subtly along the rein
and makes horse and rider one.
The Squire, of course, did not phrase
il lust that way. He said, the stray
boy could feel a horses mind through
its mouth down to the tips or ms own
toes. Therefore, he was kept riding the
most part of the time. Drove horses'
broken and gated, especially saddle
gated. fetched easily as much again as
those merely halter-wise. Three parts
of this drove were so broken and gait
ed. No wonder the Squire was proud
of them-200- odd, sleek all, in perfect
fettle, gray, bay, brown, black, dappled
and roam, there was not one without
cross or two of blood, nor one whose
condition did not do equal credit TO the
pastures and paddocks of the GleaVes
place, nor to judgment OF the place
owner. -
Five to six abreast they came up the
road pell nell. Now and again those
at the edges halted to snatch at twigs
or sere roadside grass. 1t was late
September. Though there had been no
hint of frost, the black gums were tuli
of crimson leaves, and the taller sassa'
frasses shot through with yellow. New
blackberry briers showed the purple OF
iron cooling from the forge. Every
where else there was the deep CLOSED
green of midsummer, something ragged
in spots, and family fretted with dust.
There had been no rain since the drove
started from the grass country eight
DAYS back 1t had just got fairly INTO
the sparsely settled half wilderness,
which in the late twenties stretched be-
tween Middle Tennessee, and the Caro-
lima cotton plantations.
The road, a well-traveled trace, ran
mainly through woods. Here or there
it crossed a natural meadow. often
many acres in extent. Grass grew so
tall in the low spots of these mead
ows. il could be tied either side above
a horses neck as one rode through.
The vanished buffalo had no doubt rel
6shed such lusty stalks, but the drove
beasts chose instead to nip the hne
tender upland bents which came, at
most, no higher than the knee.
Thus the Big Meadow was a noted
camping place. 1t lay two miles ahead
of the hill top. There was clear creek
between. Possibly it was the scent OF
water which set Lightly whickering,
but Squire Gleaves said, patting her
neck, $50 you smell grass and rest
Ell old gall" She tossed her head the
lease bit, whickering again. inns
time the call was founder, more IN
sistent and compelling. In answer ev-
erv hoof behind quickened. necks
stretched, muzzles lifted, ears went
fiat against the neck. In sinuous,
tumbling column. melting, changing
momently the ranks charged upon their
leader, breaking from the walk to the
4rot. the trot to the gallop, the gallop
to the dead full run.
Squire Gleaves drew out to let them
mass He knew Johnny and Lightly
could be trusted-besides there was
water and the grass. The drove was
sharp settle nooday halt had been In
tall. barren woodland, so they had
had nothing more than scant mouth
fuls of fodder from the wagon HIS
mare. roam Mary was wild TO join in
the rush. but he held hard until his
son Joe came up with black sam at
his horses tail and the big covered
wagon rolling pompously behind
Shadrach, wagner and camp COOK, sat
nodding in the saddle but still clutch
al his single rein and ong-lashed whip.
II was wonderful that he slept, even
with the wagon at the snairs pace II
had been going. Joe Gleaves and black
Sam had also long whips, and made
them crack like pistol shots over the
hacks of laggard, yet without touching
a hair 49,
"Fatheri I say! Hadn't you better
ride up? S'pose Johnny couldn't stop
sIdghtly?" Joe said a thought anxious
Jv. His father smiled-Joe was the ap-
ple of his eye This forethoughted eau
tion. instead of youths natural reck-
lessness, pleased him through and
Through. He said over his shoulder as
he gave roam Mary the spur: son, | m
obleeged to you-but you've no need 10
worry Lightly knows the business
nigh as well as l do-this is the lVth
drove she's led for me, remember
please the good Lord, she'll lead many
more-she shows her age as little as l
do mine
Joe's face was tense as he watched
his father galloping ahead light and
straight in the saddle. as he was HIM
self 1.-THE old mans good for 30 years
al least" he said, half under breath
his mouth hardening. He was hand
some fellow, slight but we'll set up, with
darkling eyes, under bent brows, and
very red lips cruelty thin. He had been
strictly brought up and was outwardly
a model of all the virtues. AS to wheth-
er the virtues struck deep there were
two opinions. His world for the most
part held that they did. But there was
a sharp-eyed moiety. long -eared withal
that whispered in its most private
hours of other things-roysterings an6
l. Nla. To-