The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-10-10

IL ::'.":l !" !" !. ! J. ! J" q. u. J. II. : !" :
IS GSSS11s$3CrN WEATHER is one Of
HJ EEj nv those men that horses,
II liEGa%Ws dogs, and children are
.sHW eSSS>WsEh always making a fuss
UUlIxGDIA\S@N over. The one or the
IAYSSSa4zSN other are continually
licking his hands or sit
ting in his lap from morning until night. so
tthatif one knows Merryweather as well as
j do, there is nothing surprising in coming
suddenly upon him, as / often have, sitting
In the chair before the fire, with Gypsy Maid
and her latest litter of eight tiny fox hounds
yelping in his lap, or reading aloud to some
body or others brood Of six children, draped
all over him like presents on a Christmas
tree. But the grown-ups like>him, too The
men worship him, and their wives assume
motherly attitude and affect to regard him
as brand to be plucked from the burning
Z When MeTyN Gather and | graduated,
he bought small farm, several good horses,
and took up fox-hunting where + left of
Ebcfore he went to college; while |. on the
contrary, studied law, married and after
number OF years Of hard work acquired
small practice which begins at last to pay.
The point wish - make clear is, that
Merryweather, when he asked me TO visit
him for fox-hunting, was as hard and strong
as a ten-penny nail, while l was as soft and
\ flabSy y as could be after years OF desk work
and quick lunches
Rawdon wrote me that the hunting was
fine this Fall; and as he had not seen me
Tor year, he wished that / would come up
some Friday, spend Saturday and Sunday,
and 60 out with the Pickefe Hounds
y had not been very wen OF late, and so
Rawdon' invitation seemed the very thing.
and went. Priscilla that's my wife, and
Bill, that's my eldest, he's six, and little
Mariory, all kissed me; and Priscilla looked
50 worried and kept saying 50 often, DO be
careful, John, that the children, taking the
cue from her, lisped Poor daddy until |
felt half dead already, and for moment
thought Of teegraphing Rawdon Too sick
NO come; writing" but put The thought
away as unworthy Of me
1t was late and quite dark when reached
Denvon, and the little station seemed to
threaten me gloomily But as | stepped of
1.-THE train Rawdon rushed forward and IN a
moment was cracking my knuckles together
in his great hand, in that enthusiastic but
painful way he has, and already | began 10
feel like different man.
sHere, John, said he, " give me your bag
and I'll chuck it under the seat and he
tossed it easily into the back OF the big
wheeled yellow break-cart Then he spTang
up into the cart and held uJ The robe for me,
until had it tucked in well around me. t.
picked up the reins and laid the lash play
fully across our steed's quarters After
wards. when the din had ceased and / could
hear what he was saying, Rawdon told me
u lie horse : name was Cricket, as though that
explained why he should try to kick the
dashboard out Of the cart six times in quick
succession the moment he felt the whip.
Rawdon must have seen the expression OF
my face, or noticed the way | held on to
the side Of the cart, for he roared with
laughter in his big, hearty way.
~ aThat s nothing, he said al last, wait
anti you see Cleopatra tomorrow, when
first sae hears the hounds OF the horn. She
makes Cricket look like tiddlywinks COM
pared to football, but you'll like her; she's
! little bundle Of nerves and courage [
ride her on a snafile, though she does take
hold somewhat at tirst-aIld you'd think
she meant to bolt, but its all just her play,
you know" / didn't speak for mindte.
II. was the appropriate moment for some
daredevil bon not, | knew, but somehow |
couldn't seem 10 do it, and 1 swallowed hard
,instead. was to ride Cleopatra kawdon
had lust said SO; and Cleopatra mace
Cricket look ike tiddlywinks compared to
football, was bundle Of nerves and cour-
aoe. and usually bolted at first, and kawdon
rode her on snaffle bit ! tried 10 remem-
,ber where / had put my Reinsurance policy
and couldn't, but hoped Priscilla would be
able 10 ind it. At any rate the viii made
her execltrix.
Another quarter Of mile and we turned
in.si gate and Rawdon sent the Cricket
At / gallop up the driveway to The stable
where two grooms with lanterns touched
II \orelocks in respectful silence and fell
,l,ai thc Cricket and the breAk-cart aitn
5eyllish haste.
NJ. --aas.z .,56=-.e.As
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