The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-09-28
DAISY
She Rewards q Patient
Waiter
By CLARISSA MACKlE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911

The barnyard fence divided Jacob
Keene's farm from that OF his neigh
Dor. Lorenzo Eettle. Jacob leaned
over the fence and looked wistfully at
the gaunt framed white mare that
dropped dejectedly near the closed
door Of her stable. Her ragged. un-
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 miidness. was turned toward
the watchful Mr.. Keene. The mare
shifted her sprung knees and wbeezed
patiently.
Jacob turned and stumped into the
house. scattering the gathered chick
ems with his sudden impetuosity
Lizzie" be said. addressing his wife,
ITS COMPOUNDED shame how Loren
20 treats that mare. wish had the
money to buy Daisy Off OF him."
Mrs. Keene turned mild blue eyes on
her irate lord 81 wish you had. DEAR"
she said meekly
Wishing don't do any good" snap
ped Jacob.
That's what was thinking" she
admitted tactlessly.
"Humph! That's all the sympathy
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-
reno won't sell Daisy to you, why
don't you give UP the idee?'
Jacob glared out OF the window and
swallowed hard. ut amt that Loren.
20 don't want to sell the critter. Liz
zie," he explained mpatiently, 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 1t to Lorenzo with
out giving me first bid on It never
heard of Nettle yet that knew how to
treat critter human"
HE gives her enough TO eat, don't
her" 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 shed
make q 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 q lady in
side of week" asserted Jacob cont
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, az
II her rasping bark might induce great
er speed to the leisurely progress of the
bighted Daisy. who shambled in with
hanging head Lorenzo Nettle follow
4 ed. twirling an empty corn measure
d vi uin OtOdo palm anu bdl'o ShNtib6
a speculative eye toward the sunset
redeemed windows OF his neighbor
Lorenzo Nettle was not inhuman nor
was he hard hearted: he merely loved
money, and he had learned that little
apparent neglect toward Daisy would
only enhance her value In the eyes OF
the nephew of her former owner
had be closed the stable door upon the
old mare. now comfortably watered
and fed In Der stall. than Jacob
Keene's rotund form bobbed on the
other side of the fence
"Howdyr inquired Lorenzo genially.
"Quite some" replied Jacob absent
ly Then. 81 say. Lorenzo. what about
selling Daisyf"
Lorenzo Nettle Strengthened sudden
ly and looked sharply at his neighbor,
well. what about selling herr
"You said you'd consider my offer Of
ST." protested Mr.. Keene.
"I hsve considered It. and DON'T
consider 1t enough Now. Jacob. you
know your Uncle Willie set great store
by Daisy! When he sold her to me he
said she'd made her three minutes
over to Trays track the summer the
seven year iocusts didn't come when
they was due, and you know burned
well you can't expect 10 get a three
minute trotter for SIT! No. siri"
Jacob Keene sat In thoughtful 81.
fence for awhile. "You bought that
there Daisy fifteen years ago. Loren
co." be stated mildly, and the year
the seven year locusts skipped Little
River was twelve years before that
no can figure that Daisy wasn't do
ing any three minutes when you
bought Der of OF Uncle Willie, and II
you paid more'n S25 for Der then I'll
eat my hab!"
AS Lorenzo did not ofYer TO solve the
problem OF Dnisy's cost there was no
occasion for Jacob to lunch on his d.
lapidated headgear. Nevertheless that
bafred gentleman nibbled thoughtful
" at its frazzled straw brim-
"Did you never hear OF anything in
creasing In valueY asked Lorenzo aft
er awhile.
"Not horses-unless you're trying to
argue that the high price Of meat has
got anything to do with It," returned