Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05

And we'll muffle her feet. and you
must stay and pat her nose and Keep
her from whinnying." (Axy did not
stop for such a trifle as to untangle
Aunt Nancy and the mare from the
maze of pronouns; her hearers would
understand.)
| "And the parlor shutters are al
ways shut, SO there'Il be nothing odd
about that; and I don't believe hon
estly, they'll ever think OF looking
there. And couldn't bear to lose Be-
linda, the beauty, and let some hulkine
rough trooper ill-use her. And De-
sides that. Zeb, what would they DO
with you? They might carry you on to
prison, and If they didn't Oh, Zeb.
don't you remember how the soldier
thrashed Reuben jerks. and told him
that was lesson for rebel lads who
ran away with the horses that were
wanted for his majestys army? And
It was their old cart horse he had tried
to get away with, that's twenty years
old, and as slow as a snail. surely
they'd be angrier to near lose Be-
linda"
"Axy, will you truly do it," Zeb
his pleasant, freckled face,
so doWncast the moment before, hush
Ing with hope as he comprehended
the possibility Of her scheme. Il do
believe it is q chance-and father mas
trusted me to save her"
Axy nodded firm little nod by way
of answer. Then she bade lilly run
around to the store-room window and
peep in to see IL Aunt, Nancy was
still there and busy enough to be like
ly to remain. Next she pulled OH her
big apron, and, tearing 1t into strips,
handed them tc Zeb to tie up Belinda's
hoofs.
"Woolen would be better, but can't
stop to find any," she explained, at
least not till we get inside; and she
mustn't make dents in the hall floor
If we can help it. Mother'N say it's
right to help you but she won't like
things spoiled, all the same. Besides,
If they're already coming up the hill
they could hear her ever so far,
tramping on wood" r. =
"They can't be near yet. Besides,
it's as thick as porridge down at the
bottom" returned Zeb, as he stopped
low, handling the puzzled mares fore
foot. "And the roads SO rough they
may wait till the suns out clearer.
They know If I'm here can't get away
with the river looping around the hill,
and their men blocking the road. They
can take their time. But all the same,
we haven't q minute to lose"
mo" agreed Axy. 1--WE must get Be-
linda in as quick as we can. Open the
door, Tilly." .....
So lilly, who had returned, report
ing Aunt Nancy safely occupied for
another half hour, flung open the back
door Of the wide hall that ran straight
through the roomy old farm house, and
darling indoors, presently came back
with big red apple in her hands and
stood on the threshold extending. 1t
coaxingly to Belinda. Belinda, poor
bewildered creature, saw 1t. but even
such a delicacy could not entirely dis
tract her mind. She would prick one
ear forward and sniff: but then, Just
at the critical moment, she would re-
member her bundled hoofs and lift
them uneasily up and down, shying
and sliding, craning her pretty head
forward and trying the lower Of the
three stone steps with her forefoot,
only uldW IL UdCh 06oAAS q AAOAAASAAs
later, and begin all over again her
Tuning and fussing. II was not until
Zeb relinquished the bride to Axy,
and. taking the apple himself, backed
slowly before her, that he was able,
with much coaxing and many reas-
surfing whispers, OF beguile her up the
steps, and reward her as she crossed
the doorsill. She would have instantly
retreated. but he took the bride again
and urged her forward, while just be-
yond him Tilly held out more apples,
a cleaning and fragrant apronful. And
at last, with one twitching ear turned
forward and one back. and mingled
appetite and anxiety expressed in her
great brown, rolling eyes, Belinda
danced gingerly sidewise down the
long hall after the excited pair. She
started violently and swung around
with a snort and toss as the sun
light was cut off by the closing OF the
hall door behind her, and subdued
clash and the sound Of a bolt shot
home signaled that she was prisoner.
(The End Next Week.)