New-York tribune., 1902-12-28
TIE SUbffe Horse.
IN TWO PARTS.-PART

please father" Diggory said Il want to go out
and seek my fortune
Seek your grandmother. said his father, but
not unkindy. He smoking a pipe outside his
cottage door and he had red-spotted handker-
chief his head because OF the flies. There were
flies then, just the there are now-though
1t was a hundred years ago by the church clock
II wasn't thinking of my grandmother" said Dig
CORY; Il thinking of my Uncle Diggory- He
was the third OF a woodcutteT, just like am,
and he saw right enough that that's the sort that
has to go and seek its fortune And I'm get
ting on father: L shall be twenty before you know
where you are
You'll have to be twenty, and mere before 1
agree not 10 know where you are, said his father,
Your Uncle Diggory cid well for himself sure
enough and many turkey and chine he's
sent US Christmas time But he started
a-horseback he did He got the horse from
his Uncle Diggory. and he rover, too. Now,
IL you went, you've have to go Shankss
mare and them that go a-foot comes back a-foot.'
.Win you let me 60 then. if I get horse?''
said Diggory, coaxingly- DO say yes Dad. and
then ] won't say another word about it tiH I've
got the horse"
--Drat the lad-yes them shouted the father.
Diggory jumped up from the porch seat.
Then farewell home. and hey for the road
cried he. for I've got the horse, Dad! My Uncle
Dggory sent Il to me this very day. and it's tied
up behind the lodge White il is, and red saddle
and bride tit for a king
The woodcutter srumbled. but he woodcut-
OF honor, and having said yes, he had to stick
yes.
So Diggory rode off the white horse with the
scarlet saddle. and all the village turned out
see him go. He had on his best white smock, and
he had never felt SO fine in ali his days.
And he rode away. When he to the Round
Mound windmill he stopped, for there was Joyce
taking in the clean clothes from the hedge. because
1t was Monday evening. q
He told her where he was going.
You might take with you she said; I'm
not so very heavy but what could both ride
that great big horse Of yours" And she held up a
face as sweet a bunch of flowers.
But Diggory said: No. my dear. Why you little
silly girls can't go to seek their fortunes You'd
only be in my way! Wish me luck. child,'
So he rode and she folded up the linen all
crooked and damped il down with her tears. that
Il quite ready for ironing
Diggory rode and on and on lie rode through
the dewy evening and through the cool black
night, and right into the fresh scented, pinky,
pearly dawning And when il real live wide
awake morning. Diggory felt very thin and empty
inside his srnocH and he remembered that he had
had nothing since dinner time yesterday, and
then il pork and beans.
rode and he rode on, and by and by he
TO red brick wall, very strong and stout,
with big buttresses and stone coping. His horse
(whom he had christened Invicta. and perhaps l.
ne had known much Latin you do he would
have called him something differenD a very
high horse, indeed. and by stanGing up his stir
rups Diggory could the wall. And he saw
that the other side orchard full Of trees
full Of apples, red and yellow and green. He reined
lnVicta in close under the wall, and said. Whoa
there; stand still will 'e2 touched Invicta with his
tcel, and Invicta reared up and put his forefeet
against the wall. Then Diggory stood up on the
saddle and made jump and caught the stone
coping of the wall, and next moment he had hung
by his hands and dropped into the orchard And it
was a very long drop. indeed. He had quite made
up his mind to take of the apples First be-
cause be was hungry, and. second, because boys
will take apples-in stories, that is. or course
really they would never think Of such a thing
With practised eye. Diggory chose the tree
with the latest, rosiest apples he climbed
the tree and had just settled himself astride con-
Venient bough, when he heard voice say Hi,
You, Up there" and. looking down. he saw a fat
tacec Old man with a red flannel waistcoat stand
ns under the tree, looking up spitefully
GOOD morning my fine fellcW.' said the old
man You seem nice, honest lad and I'm sorry
'or your sake that apple stealing's punished so
severely in these parts
I've not had any apples yet" said Diggory.
l|ooA mere IN go away If yon like. and Wen say
40 more about it
ihats a handsome offer-very." said the nasty