Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-10-23

That evening Tim sat on the bench
before the farmhouse and smoked his
pipe until every one else had gone to
bed. The moon had risen, big and yel.
low. In a pond behind the stables II
seemed as II 10000 frogs had Joined
in one grand chorus. They were sing
ing their mating song, If you know
what that is. It Is not altogether q
cheerful or harmonious effort. Next
to the soughlng Of November wind
1t Is perhaps the most dismally lone
some sound in nature.
For two hours Tim Doyle smoked and
thought and listened. Then he knocked
the ashes out Of his pipe and decided
that he had been long enough In the
country. He would walk to the sta
ton, two miles away, and take the
midnight train to the city. As he went
down the farm road skirting the pas
ture he saw In the moonlight the sheds
where the horses went at night for
shelter. Moved by some sudden whim,
he stopped and whlstled. A moment
later big horse appeared from under
the shed and came toward him, neigh.
ing gratefully. It was Chieftain.
"Well, Chieftain. me bye, I'll be pav.
In ye for spell. But I'll have yer old
stall ready against yer comm back.
Goodby. iaddie," and with this Tim
patted Chieftain on the nose and start.
cd down the road. He had gone but q
few steps when he heard Chieftain
whinny. Tim stopped irresolutsly and
then went on. Again came the call Of
the horse. There was no misundsr.
standing its meaning. Tim walked back
to the fence.
In the morning the farm superin.
tendent found on the door sill roughly
penciIed note which read:
Hav goan bak to the sitty chefetun
TIM DOYLE.
They were ten days on the road, ten
delightful days Of irresponsible vaga-
bondlsm. Sometimes Tim rode on
Chieftain's back and sometimes he
walked beside him. At night they took
shelter in any stable that was handy.
Tim invested in bride and saddle
blanket. Also he bought oats and hay
for Chieftain. The big Norman fol-
lowed his own will, stopping to Craze
by the roadside whenever he wished.
Together they drank from brooks and
springs. Between them was perfect
comradeship. Each was in holiday
mood and each enjoyed the outing to
the fullest. AS they passed through
towns they attracted no little atten-
ton, for outside of the city 1900 pound
horses are seldom seen, and there were
many admirers Of Chieftain's splendid
proportions. Tim had many offers
from shrewd horse dealers.
"Ye would, eh? A whole hundred
dollars! Tim would answer, with fine
sarcasm. "Now. wouldn't that be too
much. don't ye think? My. my. what
generous mon 1t Is! G'wan, Chieftain.
er Mister Car-na-gy here III be after
givin' us lib'ry."
Chieftain, and Tim, too, for that
matter, were nearer actual freedom
than ever before. For years the big
Norman had used his magnificent mus
cles only for straining ut the traces.
He had trod only the hard pavements.
Now he put forth his glorious strength
at leisure, moving along the pleasant
country roads at his own gait and be-
ing guided only when turning was
to be made.
Fine as IL all was. however. as they
drew near to the city both horse and
driver became eager TO reach their old
quarters. Tim was. for he has said so.
As for Chleftaln. let the stable boss.
who knows horse nature better than
most men know themselves. tell that
part OF the story.
Bigger lunatics than them two. Tim
Doyle and old Chieftain. ! never set
eyes on" he says. Il was standin'
down here by the double doors watch
in some OF the day teams unho'k
when looks up the street on sudden.
An there, tail an head up like he was
a 'leven hundred pound Kentucky
hunter stead Of heavyweight draft,
comes that old Chieftain, a-whinnyin'
like three-year-old. An on his back,
mind you. old Tin Doyle. GRIMM
away 'sif he was Tod Sloan finishin'
first at the Brooklyn handicap. Tic
kled? I never see horse show any
thing so plain in all my life. He just
streaked It up that runway and Into
his old stall like he was n prodigal son
come back from furren parts.
"Yes. Tim he's out on the truck with
his old team. Tim don't have to drive
nowadays. you know. Brother OF his
that was in the contractin' business
died about three months ago and left
Tim quite q pile. Tim. he says he
guesses the money won't take no hurt
in the bank and that some day, when
he an Chieftain git ready to retire,
maybe it'll come in handy"