Smyrna times., 1911-06-28

OhOA IhC AC1IC anu lOOheu
the gaunt framed white mare that
dropped dejectedly near the closed
door of her stable. Her ragged, IN
kempt name was tangled with burs,
some of last years crop. One eye |
was of that dull blue. denoting sight |
less vision; the other optic. of a soft |
brown mildness, was turned toward |
the watchful Mr.. Keene. The mare
shifted her sprung knees and wheezed |
patiently.
Jacob turned and stumped into the |
house, scattering the gathered chick |
ems with his sudden impetuosity. |
Lizzie" he said, addressing his wife,
tits a confounded shame how Loren
20 treats that mare. l wish had the
money to buy Daisy off of him."
Mrs. Keene turned mild blue eyes on
her irate lord. IL wish you had, DEAR"
she said meekly.
wishing don't do any good" snap
ped Jacob.
That's what l was thinking" she
admitted tactlessly.
"Humph. That's all the sympathy
l get, Lizzie Keene."
you're making yourself sick over
that horse" objected Mrs. Keene as
her husband moved his chair away
from his half tasted supper. "If Lo-
renzo won't sell Daisy to you, why
don't you give up the ideeT
Jacob glared out of the window and
swallowed hard. 1T amt that Loren
20 don't want to sell the critter, Liz
zie," he explained impatiently. HE
amt got no use for her with the brown
horse. He's just naturally a mean
| hunks and because he knows I've been
wanting to buy back Daisy ever since
| Uncle Willie sold it to Lorenzo with
out giving me first bid on it. l never
heard of a Nettle yet that knew how to
treat a critter human"
HE gives her enough to eat, don't
hep asked Mrs. Keene deprecatingly.
'Yes. after he's kept her waiting long
enough. and she gets drink, too. after
awhile. But if she only had half the
attention that the brown one gets she'd
make a mighty good looking horse"
His wife opened her eyes wide.
But she's terrible sprung, and some
body said she had the heaves, Jacob"
"Heaves or no heaves, I'll bet could
make that critter look like a lady in
side of a week." asserted Jacob conf
IDENTIFY. i've never forgot how she
looked when Uncle Willie used to
drive her to church on Sundays.
White as snow she was. and her name
all crinkly like silk. with blue ribbon
tied in her forelock. She looks white
as snow now, don't she?' he jeered
pointing at the sorry procession enter
ing the Nettle stable. Mrs. Keene arose
and pressed her thin nose to the win
dow.
First there frisked the Nettle dog, as
if her rasping bark might induce great
er speed to the leisurely progress of the
blighted Daisy, who shambed in witt
hanging head. Lorenzo Nettle follow
ed. twirling an empty corn measure
on his broad palm and perhaps casting
a speculative eye toward the sunse
Redeemed windows of his neighbor
Lorenzo Nettle was not inhuman noi
was he hard hearted; he merely loveC
money, and he had learned that a littl,
apparent neglect toward Daisy woult
only enhance her value in the eyes o
the nephew of her former owner.
Nor was he mistaken, for scarcel.
had he closed the stable door upon tn
old mare, now comfortably watere,
and fed in her stall. than Jacol
Keene's rotund form bobbed on tn
other side of the fence.
"HowdyY inquired Lorenzo geniallJ
"Quite some." replied Jacob absent
ly. Then. II say, Lorenzo. what abou
selling Daisy?"
: Lorenzo Nettle Strengthened sudden
ly and looked sharply at his neighbol
!. "Well, what about selling her?'
"You said you'd consider my offer o
D ST." protested Mr.. Keene.
81 have considered it. and I dom
2 consider it enough. Now. Jacob, yo
s know your Uncle Willie set great stor
2 by Daisyl When he sold her to me b
= said she'd made her three minute
Y over to Fray's track the summer th
B seven year locusts didn't come whe
n | lUey WAS uuC, anu yOu hhO" NNAAAN
q well you can't expect to get a thre
g g minute trotter for SIT! No, STRIP
a Jacob Keene sat in thoughtful S
x lence for awhile. "You bought ths
@ there Daisy fifteen years ago. Lorel
a TO-" he stated mildly, land the yes
9 the seven year locusts skipped Lit
x River was twelve years before tha
& SO l can figure that Daisy wasn't d
q ing any three minutes when yc
& bought her off of Uncle Willie, and
q YOU paid more'n S25 for her then I
q eat my hat"
q AS Lorenzo did not offer to solve Il
4 problem of Daisy's cost there was
g occasion for Jacob to lunch on his Q
a lapidated headgear. Nevertheless TIL
9 bafIied gentleman nibbled thoughtft
a ly at its frazzled straw brim-
q enid Won never hear of anything /