The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-11-13

his STORY Is true, even 10 the
words spoken, and it neved before
has been published. 1t was told to
me by the man who was Jason
Honore Willsie in The .Delineator.
lid Pilgrim kept his ears back and
his eyes on his mistress. He breathed
heavily, but otherwise he did not
stir. He was a large horse, gray
with a small, intelligent head and
a chest and barrel like an elephants
On his right fore shoulder was a
great three-cornered tear, from which
the skin hung in bloody fold. Jason
was sewing this up. Jason's mother
who was also Pilgrims mistress
held the candle with one hand while
she stroked the big gray's nose with
the other.
BE careful, Jason, do" she said
softly.
Jason grunted. you keep him
from biting or kicking and I'll dc
my SHARE" he said.
Pilgrim bite!" cried Jason's
mother softly. why he knows ex-
actly what you are doing and why!'
Again Jason grunted, working
swiftly, with the skill of trained and
accustomed fingers. The candle
fiickered on his cool young face, on
his black hair and on his long,
strong, surgeons fingers. 1t flickered
too on his mothers sweet lips, on
her tired brown eyes and iron-gray
hair. 1t put high-lights on the cameo
at her throat and made a grotesque
shadow of her hoop-skirt on the
stable wall.
Finally Jason Strengthened himself
with sigh and wiped his hands on
a towel.
That's a good job" he said.
Must be some bad spikes in the
pasture fence to have given him that
over there!"
This last to Pilgrim, who suddenly
had put his head on Jason's shoulder
with a soft nuzzling of his nose
against the young Doctors cheek and
a little whinny that was almost
human.
"Why, Jason, he's thanking you'll"
cried his mother.
Jason gave the horse a careless
slap and started out the stable door.
You'll be having it that he speaks
Greek next" he said.
You don't know him." replied
Jason's mother. This is the first
time you ever saw him, remember.
These last three years of your fathers
life he's been like one of the family"
She followed Jason into the cottage.
often and often before your poor
father died he said he'd never have
been able to keep on with the circuit
riding and the preaching if he'd had
to depend on any other horse than
That horse just knew father
was sick and forgetful. He wouldn't
bulge if father forgot the saddle
bags. When Pilgrim baked, father
knew he'd forgotten something and
he'd go back for it. I'll have supper
On by the time you're washed up,
JASON"
The little stove that was set in
he fireplace roared l''stily. The ket-
lie was singing. The old yellow cat
slept cozily in the wooden rocker
IN the patchwork cushion. All the
furniture was simple and worn and
here was not much of it. A Method
st circuit-rider in Ohio moved every
year. His wife reduced moving and
living to pathetically simple terms.
Jason washed at the bench in the
orner, then sat down while his
mother put the supper before him
ried mush, fried salt pork, tea and
.pple sauce.
WELL" said Jason soberly, what
re we going to do now, mother?
Tarther's gone and"
His mothers trembling lips
warned him to stop. ut doesn't
eem possible, she said, that it's
My week since we laid him away"
Jason interrupted gently" l know,
1other; but pou and I have got to
o on living!"
Its you I'm worrying about,
aid his mother. II can get along,
nth the help of little sewing and
little nursing here in the village,
he COW, and the chickens, and Old
'ilgrim. But you, Jason, after the
octor's bills are paid, how am l
ding to keep you in Philadelphia"
Mother, I've got to get the money
omehow. Just a year more with DR..
edwards and can 60 into partner
hip with him. If we can just get
nough together to get me back there