The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-22

Col. John W. Polk, a lifelong friend of
Senator Vest, tells the following amusing
story. in which Vest, pretty girl and
an old white horse figure, says an ex-
change
1T was the custom emong the able
bodied members of the Confederate Con-
gress upon the adjournment of the ses-
sions to join the army from their respec-
tive states and take a soldiers part in
the field.
Upon the adjournment of the first ses-
sion in 1864 Vest left Richmond to join
the division of Gen. Sterling Price. then
in the Trans-Mississippi Department We
proceeded by rail to Demopolis, Ala.
where saddle horses were procured, Vest
getting the only thing to be had, an old,
iea-bitten white horse of an abjectly-
miserable appearance.
From Demopolis our route was across
country occupied clear to the Mississippi
by Union forces. We had a lively time
lodging the enemy. and were obliged to
cross the river at night to elude the gun
boats patroling. This we did by canoe
ing across, swimming our horses behind
US. Vests horse had proved a remark
able traveller, easy of gait, putting my
Kentucky mare on her Tnettle. The old
animal was so responsive to the rein and
so tetchy under heavy hand that Vest
declared some woman nd0 raised MIN
owing to our admirable horses Vest
and / got much ahead of the rest of the
party and, both being ardent fishermen,
decided to turn off for some sport in a
nearby bayou. Heading for the water we
came into a road leading through plan
tation. AS soon as we struck that road
Vests old steed gave snort, sat back
on his launches and plunged forward at
breakneck speed toward the house.
On the porch was group of ladies, God
bless EN- dispensing to some of our
weary-footed soldiers sandwiches and hot
coffee. All looked up at the sound of our
approach, when suddenly young girl
parted from the group and ran down the
garden path, calling There's old Sid; oh,
there's old Sid!' She arrived at the gate
just as Vest did, and, flinging her arms
around the old white horse, fell to ca
ressing him, laughing and crying at once.
The animal in turn fumbled her shouted
with his lip and looked with human aft
lection from his one old eye.
Then the pretty girl turned toward my
astounded friend, and said: This is my
horse. Where did you get him? "'
My dear young lady, Vest replied,
I bought this horse 500 miles from here
at Demopolis, in the state of Alabama
and l am inclined to think you are mis-
takeni'
a" No matter where you bought him,
SIR she replied with fire in her eye. -he
was stolen from that pasture four months
ago, and he is my horse. Don't you sup
pose l would know old Sid anywhere?
Why, my father gave him to me when
was a little. little girl and he a little
colt. broke him, taught him everything
he knows.
1.-The prospect of walking made my
friend persistent, and he said: L regret to
say that | think this is one of those cases
of mistaken identity that sometimes oc-
cur even with the nearest and dearest;
my dear Miss, it is almost incredible that
I am on your horse
ITO this she Indignantly returned: 'Ev-
erybody in the county knows old Sid. for
l have jumped every plantation gate in
it on his back When / rode him 1 dis
mounted here and turned him loose to find
his way to the stable. Get down, If you
please. sir, and l will prove he belongs
here. At my word he will go to the big
gate, take out the linch-pin with his
teeth. go up the drive to the stable door,
undo that in the same way and enter the
second STALL If he does not he is yours
This was too fair a proposition to be
resisted, so my chagrined companion dis
mounted. The young girl slapped the
horse lightly on the neck and said: Get
up. Sid,' whereupon the old fellow went
up to the gate and did exactly and in or
der as she said; when we arrived at the
stable he had been standing for some
minutes in the second stall. We found
him there in dreamy content. If ever a
horse smiled old Sid did.
West in spite of his discontinue,
laughed heartily with that sense of fun
that has been a great aid in his political
! career The bright-spirited girl stammer-
ed bashfuly when she reminded him the
saddle and bride were his. Keep them,
Miss" he said they go with your re-
merkable horse. I have no use for them;
/ must now join the infantry and Vest
smiled sadly at his toes"