The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-01-02

IF you have chance to sell her, you
do so. I declare, I believe she ought
TO fetch a hundred and twenty-five dol
lars. don't your"
II think likely she WILL slowly re-
piled Lovejoy. as If half in doubt. Then
he asked: Have you driven her
latelyY'
mo, 1 haven't AS a matter of fact,
she's too high-strung for me. Since
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 complimented.
Benton !.ovejoy was fully confident
he could manage the mare; how he
wished he could manage the deacon's
daughter as well.
"She's bit offish, and I'm too darned
difident," he had often soliloQuized
''but I'll be switched If I'll court her
another winter without knowing how
stand with her.
The Lancaster fair would afford him
an opportunity to show Miss Hardcas-
tie his ability. He would SO 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
hin 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 sparkle. took her seat beside
Lovejoy. and away toward Lancaster
they rode.
The mare was unusually fractions.
Indeed, for the first half hour, Lovejoy
gave her his exclusive attention, not
withstanding the fact that he had q
most agreeable companion at his side
He almost wished he had his father
old Bill, the milk-route horse, between
the shafts. Then he could enjoy the
girls: now 1t 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 side-show, evidently on the way
70 the fair. The vehicle was sbowily
painted Il bright red: and from the -four
corners foated long red streamers,
while at barred opening at the rear
peeped the sharp eyes of bear.
The mare saw the wagon and its oc-
cupant as quickly as did Lovejoy. She
stopped short, then snorted. SHE'D
reared and danced waltz, at the same
time throwing her head from side to
side In vicious manner.
"Now," thought .Lovejoy, 'is the time
to demonstrate to Miss Bessie my
knowledge of horsemanship."
Over-confident in his ability, he at
tempted to drive the thoroughly fright
ened mare past the wagon. With a
jump, a spring and terrified whinny
away she plunged. barely escaping col.
lision 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 high-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 doomed
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.
| Iovejoy'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 9
speckled mass of mud. her shawl dang
ling from the back of the buggy, she
was almost in tears.
what In Tophet do we think We all
doin'?" yelled a red-haired man, grasp
Ing tse prancing mare by the bride.
I'm trying" commenced Love
Joy, but before he could finish his sen
tence the mare, still mettlesome, jump
ed sidewise and upset the man who, il
endeavoring to regain his footing, re
ceived sharp blow from her head
which sent him sprawling over a boz
and finally landed him in the sawdust
under one of the tables.
The capricious animal pranced this
way and that. demolishing everything
within reach OF her forefeet and head
As n matter of fact, she actually push
ed her way through the opposite side OF
the tent from which she had entered
and then becoming entangled in tn,
tent ropes allowed herself to be quieted
| LOvejoy, having dismounted. and the
| focus of several hundred fun-lOyins
eyes, assisted his companion to alight
The girl had not spoken since the frs
On-rush of the mare, but had tightly
grasped the side and back of the seat
holding on with all her strength. Now
knowing all danger past, she exploded
Benton Lovejoy," she cried, the pale
ness of her cheeks giving away to a
blood-red rush of anger, aren't yor
ashamed of yourself? See what you've
donel" pointing to her mud-bespangled
dress You're an ignorant, incompe
tent blunderer! and tossing her heaf
haughtily, she walked away, leayin:
the chagrined escort to extrlcate tn;
horse and buggy from the ropes.
Leading the mare to nearby fence
! Lovejoy rubbed her down, while the on
COOKERS gibed him numerically.
| The words of the girl had cut hin