The Opelousas courier., 1902-07-26
v@ HERE is an old German re-
frain that runs somewhat as
follows:
"The, paradise Of earth
Is found on horseback"

1EdtA lildL luAO GSAAS "A"S @S
folio. follows s:u,o;.. 81 o,r+s
Is found on horseback"
That morning it REQUIRED to me, why
I know not, for / had heard no Ger
man for years. Anyway, as I say, 1t
required to me as I walked along In
the spring sunshine, clad in faultless
riding attire, toward a well-known
riding stable where 1 intended to pro-
cure q mount for a long ride.
It was still quite early, and | found
the groom 1azily pillowed against the
stable door, whistiing softly to him
self. He glanced at my high boots
which reflected the morning sun, and
smiled, while I explained my intention.
| chose a beautiful roam, called Darl-
ing. "a horse that was as gentle az
a lamb" pertinently added the groom.
81 generally pay In advance" I re-
marked, "do you charge by the hour
or by the morning2 / expect to be out
a couple Of hours"
The groom parted nay question.
"We know you, sir, and will charge for
the time the horse stays out" he con-
cluded maliciously, with a friendly
pat on Darling'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 I do with the beast? And, after
oil, what difference does 1t make
where one rides SO long as one does
ride? So we fastened to the outskirts
of the town where the sun was hottest.
That was -Darling's choice. Darling
paused before the first inn and abso-
lutely refused to bulge, so, to give
myself a c~ountenance, I ordered q
glass of ale from the waiter who bur-
ried out, and found it as poor as ! had
expected.
"Wonderful what them beasts DO
know, SIR" he commented, patting
Dar1ing's glossy neck. Nov. this
one allus gets sugar here and he knows
1t, sir, he do"
So Darling munched his lump OF
sugar and then consented to trot along.
This earthly paradise presented
many pitfalls for me. At first Darling
skirted a never-ending wall SO closely
that the polish vanished from my lett
boot and my leg felt as if it had been
plunged in an electric bath. Then ne
carried me under a row of low-spread-
Ing apple trees that coquetted with
my hat, which I saved only at the FISK
Of life and limb, and rumpled my well
brushed hair. T breathed with relief
as we cantered into a grove where the
trees arched high above me. and walls
were a thing unknown. But, alas!
there was a pond, and Darling paused
dreamfly beside its reedy, swampy
shores. / was terrified. Suppose the
horse should suddenly decide to take
Ia bath! I patted, coaxed, twitched at
the bride, all in vain. Darling refused
TO advance. At last my patience gave
out, I plunged my roWels into him,
setting the springs Of his rear legs into
| violent disorder. The turf few around
my ears, but always in the same spot.
Fortunately / had thoughtfully pro-
yided myself with sugar at the inn.
and with its aid succeeded in calming
Daring SO far that he consented TO
stand still.
I coon discovered g slender figure in
the distance. approaching at a swift
gallop. / tugged at the ~rains-una-
vailingly, OF course; then, to make the
most of my sorry lot and lend some
shadow Of reality to the ridiculous
figure / must cut stationed before this
swamp pond, / fastened my eyes upon
the swaying branches, apparently lost
In meditation. Trot, trot, echoed be-
hind me; the lady was close at hand;
In an instant she would have passed
me. But Darling whirled suddenly,
almost hinging me over his head into
the water, end few along after the
pther horse. / consoled myself that al
this pace we should soon out-distance
her; but as we came neck to neck my
mount slowed up and trotted along,
eontentedly suiting himself to the 9th.
sr's pace.
I knew the young lady by sight, and
eelt forced to bow. She nodded stifny,
and urged her horse on, while / en-.
deavored to check Darling. AS well
try to curb the thunderbolts. I was
~powerless. She dashed IN. / following
always, at infinite peril to life and
limb. for / was NOT accustomed to this
rapid pace. Besides, / am a man who
dislikes to appear forWars. I Waa
MORALLY ashamed of myself, but nc
power ON earth could check the beasi
I was riding. Darling neighed scorn,
fully as I tugged at the bit, and KEEP
on In his mad career.
Miss Van Deemen glanced con
temptuously at me aud turned down I
sidepath. Darling chung to her skirt
with q depora2e fidelity. And I had
noticed a placafa warning all tres
pasers OF under penalty OF the law
Tbs law was. then, to DC added 10 DS