The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-05-15
FOLLOWING
"0LD SIDE"
BY ROE L. HENDRICK

ESSSe545cSE5cSc5E5E 5c5E5E5SG9c9oe
With a heavy shawl drawn about
his shoulders, Farmer Younglove sat
Auddled beside the dining-rocm stove,
e1sping from an attack of his old
enemy, quinsy. Mrs. Younglove hur-
lied in from the kitchen with poul-
1ice for his throat. Then Lucy and
George entered.
"You children will have to take
the hogs to Blakeslee's," he said,
Auskily. Il got cold butchering, as
! almost always do. The carcasses
ere in the pung. You put on the
thills and harness up old Side; the
colts are too skittish for the station.
Blakeslee knows the price. All you
have got to do is to see to the
weighing, Lucy, take the money, and
hurry right back home, for l can't
DO any chores today"
In fifteen minutes the girl and boy
we're ready to start.
The horse, "Old Side,"-whose full
name was SiGestep-to-the-Ris
attached to the heavy sleigh, in which
we're the carcasses of six hogs, killed
and dressed the day before.
Lucy was fifteen. George only ten
years old, and this was their first
important business trip from the
farm: so, despite their fathers i'll
ness. they felt pleased at the respon-
sibility.
The snow path was in fair condi-
ticn for their ten-mile journey. al.
though the road was little travelled
for the first half Of that distance.
Old Side was perfectly safe horse.
3ut by no means speedy.
He had earned his singular name
owing to a popularity he had ac-
quired when colt. The moment
he stopped, when in harness, he in
variably threw his hind quarters far
TO the right and stamped heavily, q
startling vancouver to strangers, al
though it no longer more than faint
~ amused the family. A wide band
Of sorrel hair was worn OF by his
right leg and flank where he had
rubbed against thug, pole or thill in
this manner.
4 mile from. home, in place where
Z hollow made the snow deep and
soggy, Side pulled OF his near hind
shoe. which George got out and re-
covered. Thereafter he limped where
the path was hardest, and went even
more srnwlv than before
When the Corners was reached.
George complained of being so cold
that Lucy turned into the church
yard, fastened the horse beneath the
she'd, and after carefully blanketing
lin, followed her brother into Rog.
sr's store. The glowing stove proved
such a source OF comfort that TWEEN
y minutes passed before the boy
COULD be induced to leave.
Upon walking back to the shed, the
Two found it empty! They stared at
each other in amazement. Side never
pulled at his hitching-strap; more
ever, it was not broken, but had been
neatly united from the ring.
The snow showed where the horse
lad been backed out. and there were
large boot-tracks just under the
caves. Then the sleigh had gone
eastward, on the road to the sta
1ion.
Lucy ran across to the blacksmith
shop. 20 Mr. Walden" she cried,
Md you see anybody back our horse
and pung out OF the church shed just
Dow?"
The huge, slow witted man she ad.
dressed raised himself from bending
ever the anvil at his task.
why. no, Lucy, I didn't" he re-
3lied, scratching his head. "But may
y fifteen minutes ago l saw old Bill
Simmons drive his sleigh out. loaded
with hogs"
THAT was our pung!' Lucy ex-
claimed. .Didnt you notice old
&ade?''
THE hoss was sluein', that's &
ret. said the blacksmith, with awak-
ening interest, "but I was busy and
Doyin' no paFtic1er attention. Come
= think. maybe It want Bill Sim
1ens. It didn't hump down like him.
31k the man wore Scotch cap and
= yealow overcoat.s
George began to cry. and Lucy did
ut know what to do. A little group
9sehered, asking questions and CIV
- I'll sorts Of conflicting advice. "A
1nrmer offered to drive to Blakeslee's,
- head the thief on: Mr.. Rogers Eas
auue the man would never venture to