The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-25
BLACK DtTTrs DoIAG
BY ELSA cnumRINE.

Once upon time the Illnesses and
the kenworths had been close friends
and neighbors II was q matter OF
boundary lines that brought about
the first bitterness between the fam.
lilies, and now the III feeling had
spread over two generations. The
third generation recognized and re
spected the feud, although II never
understood just why IL was worth
while to make a lifelong fuss over
twelve inches of running brook
On the Kenworth side there was
only Rod left-Rod. who had taken
the mortgaged homestead as his in
heritance. Rod had to give up his
stables.
And Black Betty had to go, too. fo1
five hundred dollars was not to be re-
fused at this critical time. Perhaps
Rod experienced an additional bitter.
ness that his mare went into the
hands of his traditional enemy, but
he was courtesy itself to the colonel.
Around at the Lineses' stable Alice
was caressing Black Betty's pretty
head.
1T was dear OF you, Uncle Daniel
to buy her for me-" cried the girl
you and Aunt Martha have been
lovely-in every way since | came tc
live with you"
The colonel laughed grimly.
When lonely old couple have
chance TO entertain niece whom they
have never seen before-why. there's
mighty likely prospect that she's
going to have a good time"
The next morning Alice went for
her first ride ON the mare. The girl
was skillful horsewcman and Black
Betty responded perfectly to her light
est touch. Quite unaware that she
was turning toward Kenworth farm,
Alice took narrow bride path in the
beech woods and gave Black Betty o
loose rein
Suddeay the mare stopped short
and whiniiied then, with shrill cry.
she spring forward and tore along the
bride path toward her old home
vainly Alice tried to restrain the ex-
cited animal Black Betty put her
head down and shot like an arrow to
its mark. At the end of the Bride
path was barred gate. At the gate
Black Betty rose Ike bird and sailed
over the barrier. almost riding down
broad-shouldered young man in the
garb OF a farm hand
Whoa, Betty! Whoa, grill" he
shouted.
Alice. pale but composed, with her
fair hair fying in the breeze, regard
ed the scene with amazement t
Il am sorry" said the man cour-
teously.
Il hope that Black Betty hasn't
frightened YOU"
Not at ALL" protested Alice. Then
she added, You have seen her be-
fore?"
Il raised her" he said briefly. His
arm slipped around Black Betty's
neck and the animal playfully nibbled
his ear.
"Ohi How you must have hated to
part with herl" Alice flashed look
of sympathy at the young man.
rShe mustn't play this trick upon
you again. said Rod severely. Per
haps you we're riding in the bride
path?"
.Yes-and she bolted at once"
Rod led the mare to an inner gate,
stroked her glossy flank and with
grave inclination of his head watched
the girl riding down the avenue.
When Alice reached home she went
at once to Aunt Marthas room. Aunt
Martha told her the story of the
Lines-K Kenworth feud.
"All that fuss over twelve inches OF
wornout meadow land?" echoed Alice.
why, how absurd"
Aunt Martha flushed. my dear,
you do not understand" she protest
ed. 1T is the principle OF the thing
that counts"
What are you going to do with the
brook?" asked Alice, feeling strange
ly sorry for Rod Kenworth.
'Why-nothing Rod Kenworth
wanted II to irrigate his meadow land.
which is arid enough. goodness knows
but right is right. my dear" she
ended weakly.
And so he had to sell his horse,''
mused Alice. as she went to her room.
One day Colonel Lines and his wife
we're Griving toward Pendleton. The
way led through the tall beech woods
and the horse idled along the pleas
ant road. Suddenly, along side
bride patch, came Alice ON Black
Betty and beside her Rod Kenworth
on his bony sorrel Rots hand was
on Black Betty's fuzzy name and his
handsome face was turned toward
Alice's downcast eyes.
Colonel Lines coughed in an EN-
barrassed manner and turned his
head away. As a matter Of fact, he
was rather weary OF the quarrel
which he had inherited from HE
father.