The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-06-13

O~S>e~o
| colt.
About a mile or so from town Dan
| pulled up for the night at a sheltered
place where there was plenty of grass.
Alter ne had had his supper and the
horses had finished grazing he fasten.
ed the four, two at each end of the
wagon, then crawled in and rolled up
in his blankets. The weather was
Just cool enough to discourage the at.
tacks Of the mosquitoes and other in.
sects, SO the horses were quiet and
Dan soon fell asleep.
In the middle of the night he found
himself propped up on one elbow. half
awake listening for something, he
knew not what. At length he was
fully awakened by a low whinny from
up the road. Half suspiciously he
crawled to the back end of the wagon
and pushed aside the flap OF the cover
There, some thirty or forty rods I'D
the road silhouetted against the sky.
Dan saw the forms of the tall. lank
stranger and-Trilby. He sprang from
the wagon. uttering a shrill whistle.
Hardly had the notes reached Trilby's
ears till she reared up in the air and
gave tremendous lunge forward.
Whether from fright or surprise, the
stranger dropped the rope and ran.
Dams only weapon was the neckyoke
which he had unconsciously picked up,
SO he contented himself with conject-
uring as to what would have happen.
ed had he been better armed.
Trilby came tearing down the road,
frightened at the curious proceedings
and urged on by the dangling rope,
which kept Ticking her breast and
chin. As she reached Dan she paus-
ed. blowing loudly. every muscle quiv.
ering with excitement. He removed
the halter, and as he stood stroking
her silky name concluded that she
had paid him well for the time he had
spent in training her.
From that time on Trilby had even
more care than before and became
even greater pet. This was inter.
rupted. however, when the fall after
she was Ave years old, Dan bought an
Interest in q threshing outfit. Horses
were scarce and Dan was forced to
break Trilby in on the power. He
was a careful driver: however. and by
frequent changes soon had her doing
her share of the work.
During the next ten years Trilby
was ON the power . good share Of the
time, for Dan bought a well-drilling
outfit which re ran with it when he
was not threshing. Dan used to say
that she seemed to enjoy that work.
Anyhow 1t did not worry her, for she
was always sleek and fat.
One fall Dan and his partner bought
a steam engine-the first in that Sec
sion-to replace the old, WORKOUT pow.
er. With the advent of the engine
rrilby was given an honorable dis |
charge and turned into the large past
Ire.
1t was a sweltering hot day the first
If September when the outfit was |
started up for the trial run. The en- |
CINE ran fine and the separator num-
ned steadily until noon. After dinner.
Dan speeded up the engine, "just to
zee what she'd do" he said. It was
till and the dust hung over the sep
lrator like a dense fog. One after
the men sought the shade,
,anting for breath, and hopping the
and dirt from their faces.
finally Dan slowed down to the regu-
ar motion and thus they ran until
luitting time.
After the chores were finished, Dan
'ould not resist the temptation to take
IN ear of corn down to Trilby. He
vent down to the gate and sounded
Ter usual call. He repeated it sew
raj times but received no answer.
lie thought that some accident had be-
allen her, for he could not remember
time when she had not answered his
all, even though she were on the
opposite side of the pasture. He con-
luded that he would go down below
he groves, anyway. where he could
ct view of the large part Of the
assure. There at the south edge he
aw Trilby lying stretched out. At
rst he thought she must be sick, and
ct until he was within few feet !.
I her did the truth dawn upon him.
She had heard the hum Of the old
eparator and its familiar call had
eemed imperieus to her. There. In
he grass, was a circle the exact size
4 the one she used to travel In when
n the powerli But the steady steam
ngine, which needed no relay, had
cen more than a match for her.
She was dead!-Kansas Farmer.