Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-07-30
En7iIy'S
Legacy
BY Carroll Watson Rankin

white cottage, lived Prof. Mason and
his authenticated daughter Emily
Opposite, in the square, ugly brick
house, where everything in the gar
den was planted in pairs, lived old
Jacob Porter Although Emily was
almost rs, hers was the distinction
of being the youngest person in the
block and the block was Emilys
world
All the neighbors loved her, but If
Grabbed old Jacob Porter felt any af-
lection for her he kept it we'll con-
cealed.
One other person also loved her. A
serious-minded, straightforward young
lawyer named John Farrell, whom
Emily had known in her school days,
had returned, after his admission to
the bar, to hang out his shingle in
neighboring town and to court Emily,
who, however, refused to take his
mild attentions with a proper seri-
BUSINESS.
Contented Emily, whose time was
pretty well occupied with her house
keeping, had just one ungratified
longing; but that, after all, consider
ing Emilys environment, was rather
an ambitious one. She wanted not
husband, but a horse. She had no
expectation Of owning one-no one in
the block except Mr.. Porter had ever
owned one
when my ship comes in," Emily
chn
or another of the blocks doorsteps, 81
shall have a beautiful horse with
flowing black tail--Ive always loved
horses. If had one 1 should take the
entire block to ride by turns. Poor
Mrs. Miller hasn't been beyond her
own gate since l can remember, and
Mrs. Brown can't take long walks.
Then poor father could go botanizing
and butterflying to his hearts con-
tent. There's one thing certain, with
this scarlet head of mine l can't have
white horse-you know they say
that when you see a white horse
there's sure to be a red-headed girl in
the near vicinity"
When Mr.. Porter died suddenly in
April, the neighborhood learned, with
considerable establishment, that the
shabby old man was possessed of con-
siderable property, and relatives to
inherit 1t. There was one clause in
his somewhat remarkable will that
was of especial interest to the block
He had left $426 and an ancient buggy
to astounded Emily. She was, how
ever, to have no choice in the spend
ing Of this iegaGE; with one dollar
she was to purchase a trustworthy
cookbook; with two hundred she was
to procure hay and oats; with the
remainder she was to purchase a good
horse, and that without delay. Unless
he animal was selected within a
fortnight, she was to forfeit every
ching but the cookbook. This was
eccentric Jacob Porter's way of max
ing it certain that Emily's ship should
reach port.
Mr. Brown, who had once possessed
a COW and still owned a barn, ad.
vised Emily to advertise in the week
ly paper for a likely young horse
This seemed sensible advice, and as
soon as the will was probated and the
legacy turned over Emily advertised
The paper was issued Saturday
morning, and the ink was not dry be-
fore answers to the advertisement
began to arrive. Emily was called
from the breakfast table to examine
the first candidate, but one glance at
the proffered steed was enough.
mo" said Emily, to the man that
stood on her doorstep, 81 can't posi-
bly, buy a white horse"
The man glanced from Emilys
glowing head to his spotlessly white
property, grinned sheepishly, and de-
parted. He understood, for his own
head was as red as Emilys.
John understood, too,
you see," Emily had explained to
John the Sunday before, I'D as soon
think of getting married as to buy a
white horse"
do think about it," John had
urged, Selling the opportunity that
Emily had inadvertently provided.
I'm doing SO nicely now that there
isn't any reason why we shouldn't
be married-next October, for in
stance. I've been waiting all winter
for you to give me a little encourage
ment"
'T'll give you little now" demure
Emily had returned, suddenly dis
playing the rare dimple that John so
loved to see. when l buy a white
horse I'll begin to think about matri-
mony."
Apparently all the horses in Mans
field were for sale. Before the first
day was over, Emily had inspected 80
alleged likely young horses-four of
which, however, rival horse dealers
declared to be on the brink of dying
of old age. Nineteen times that day
Emily and the professor drove, or
We're driven, around the block, but
night found them still horseless.
The fortnight, as well as the legacy,