Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-01-22

you have a chance to sell her, yOu
% so. I declare, believe she ought
to fetch a hundred and twenty-five dol
lars, don't you?"
II think likely she will" slowly re-
piled LoveJoy, as if half in doubt. Then
he asked Have you driven her
lately?"
No, I haven't AS a matter Of fact,
she's too high-strung for me. Since l
had the rheumatism, I'm not able to
hold her; but you'll manage her all
right, for you're a born horseman," the
deacon lcOmplImented.
Benton LOvejoy was fully confident
ne could manage the mare; how ne
wished he could manage the deacon's
daughter as we'll.
shes bit ofish, and I'm too darned
dlf1dent," he had often sOlilOquIzed !;
''but III be switched If III court her
another winter without knowing how
stand with her"
The Lancaster fair would afford him
an opportunity to show Miss Hardcas-
he his ability. He would 50 impress
her with his knowledge OF affairs in
general, and about horses in particular,
that she would be only too anxious to
accept him.
The long ride home, from Snowcrafts
hill and across the interval, would be
the time he would make his proposal.
On the morning OF the following
Thursday, the deacon's pretty daughter,
all of a sparkle, took her seat beside
Lovejoy, and away toward Lancaster
they rode.
The mare was unusually fractions.
Indeed, for the first half hour, LoYejoy
gave her his exclusive attention, not
wlthstandlng the fact that he had a
most agreeable companion at his side.
He almost wished he had his fathers
old Bill, the milk-route horse, between
the shafts Then he could enjoy the
girls; now it was pull and tug to sub
due the lively animal
Presently the road made a sharp turn
TO the right. LoVejOy rounded the bend
he saw, directly ahead and at a dis
lance Of three hundred feet, the wagon
Of a side-show, evidently on the way
to the fair. The vehicle was showily
painted bright red; and from the four
corners foated long red streamers,
while at a barred opening at the rear
peeped the sharp eyes Of a bear.
The mare saw the wagon and its oc-
cupant as quickly as did LOyejoy. She
stopped short, then snorted, SHE'D,
reared and danced a waltz, at the same
time throwing her head from side to
side In a vicious manner.
"Now," thought Lovejoy, "is the time
20 demonstrate to Miss Bessie my
knowledge Of Craftsmanship"
Oyer-confldent In his ability, he at
tempted to drive the thoroughly fright
ened mare past the wagon. With a
jump, a spring and a terrified whinny,
away she plunged, barely escaping col
Mslon with the show team.
Down the road she flew. The night
before a heavy rain had fallen, and the
mare threw big splashes Of mud over
the occupants Of the buggy as she
plunged madly on.
In vain did LOvejoy strive to control
the hlgh-strung animal. She was mis-
tress OF the situation, and well she
knew It At a breakneck speed she
raced until the tents Of the fair loomed
ahead.
Here her driver was sure he could
control her. Not so, however. Right
on she rushed as though blindly insane.
Bang! against the side of the entertain
ment tent she leaped; she broke
through the rotten canvas and came to
a standstill between two long tables
covered with eatables.
LovejOy's hat was missing, his coat
was split at the back, his arms were
nearly pulled from their sockets. What
OF poor, Inundated Bessie Hardcastle!
She had imagined how important she
would look riding into the fair grounds
beside the fine looking Benton, and how
the other girls Of her acquaintance
would envy her. Now, with hat awry,
her sprucely starched white lawn a
Epeckled mass Of mud, her shawl dang
Ling from the back Of the buggy, she
was almost IN tears
what IN Tophet do ye think ye air
doin'2' yelled a red-haired man, grasp
ing the pranclng mare by the bride.
'I'm trying commenced Love
Joy, but before he could finish his sen
tence the mare, stilI mettlesome, jump
Cd sldewIse and upset the man who, in
endeaYoring to regain his footing, re-
ceiyed a sharp blow from her head,
which sent him sprawling over a box
and finally landed him Ia the sawdust
under one OF the tables
The capricious animal pranced this
way and that demolishIng everything