Evening star., 1922-12-22

back to him.
IT'S very pretty and very kind of
YOU to think of it, she said. But
couldn't keep it."
To have his gift thrust back on him
was the last thing LIE Breton was
prepared for or desired.
why not" he asked. abruptly.
Il never take presents from men.
but | appreciate your Kindness all
the same.
He glanced 1T her. d peculiar look
at the back of his eyes.
To get off the topic Pansy hurried
forward.
From il building close at hand there
came Il gentle whinny
That's The Sultan" she remark ed.
He hears me coming
When the stables came into view
over the open door of "A box L long
brown head and neck Were seen
stretched toward the approaching
girl.
I'm going TO let him out" she
said. but YOU mustn't come too
close He hates stranG1rs: and so
should [ if I'd been through the hell
he's been through.
lie Breton laughed. as II any one.
more especially the slim girl with
him, telling him to he careful of any
thing in the shape OF a horse had
it's intensely funny side.
AS Pansy opened the door his glance
ran swiftly over the animal.
1t was huge. gaunt beast, Il chest
nut. with wild, rowing eyes: great.
vicious us-looking creature. well ON i'll
years and undoubtedly an old race
horse. for speed was written all over
ii. And on IL. too. We're scars and
welts that spoke of past ili-treatment.
PanSv kissed iIa soft nose ard pat
ted and stroked il and pulled its ears.
ami the great animal tawned on her.
Then She led it out. keeping d tight
grip on its name. For it barred its
teeth at lie Breton and stood Shlver-
ing and expectant. as if suspecting
every mans hand to be against II.
He. however. ignored its attentions
and came closer. But it swung round
and lashed at him with iron heels.
"Oh. do be careful. Don't come so
close Pansy cried.
In spite of it's snarls and the iron
hoofs she kept her grip on its name.
But neither teeth nor hoofS were in
her direction.
Ignoring her entreati-s. lie Breton
came closer. all the time talking to
the horse gently i'll u strange Ian
guage.
The animal seemed to recognize
friend 1t quoted down suddenly
and stretched d long neck in his
direction. Still talking. he patted
and stroked it. The horse submitted
10 nlS dtttNllpHS, dHu many
moments had passed was rubbing its
nose against him.
All interest. Pansy watched the two
make friends.
What are you saying TO him." she
asked. Usually he won't let
stranger near him.
Il was talking to him in the lam
guagc all race horses understand
Arabic" he replied. But how did
you come by such Il brute
The animal was of the type only
the most hardened of stable men
could handle; the very last horse for
girl to ride.
Il dropped across him quite by ac-
cident."
lie Breton thought of the scars he
had seen on the girls arm. and he
had heard there were others and
worse beyond his view.
Il should say it was by accident :"
he remarked drily I'D like to hear
the story"
Pansy patted the big horse fondly.
I'VE met in a London slum.' she
said. II happened to be passing a
stableyard when I heard a noise like
a horse being hurt or frightened and
and went in. There was poor old
Sultan tied up in one corner and
half a dozen roughs batting him. all
the time taking good care not to get
within his reach, for he was almost
mad with terror and rage and H.
treatment. I told them what L
thought, and in the telling got too
close to The Sultan and he grabbed
me by the arm. In ten minutes he
had made such mess of me that 1T
took a month TO patch me up. And
the men were such towards that they
never tried to rescue me. 1t was me
Sultan himself who seemed to realize
he'd set on his best friend. for he
stopped chewing me and stood shifting
at me and let me crawl away. And
didn't remember anything more
until | found myself back home. Then
1 remembered the poor horse left to
the mercy of those cruel wretches;
and ] sent some one along to buy
him and take him away from his
awful surroundings. 1t was so OBJ
yious he had known better days.
although he had sunk right down to
dragging some East End coal hig-
gler's cart. The first time 1 was al
lowed out 1 went to his paddock and
had a look at him. And I'm sure he
knew me. He stretched his long neck
over the gate and shifted and snuffed
at me and seemed quite cons ience-
stricken. At the end of fortnight
l was on his back. and now l take
him everywhere go, as ne gets
worried if he doesn't see me about.
He can't believe his awful days are
over unless I'm here to reassure
him."
AS Pansy told the tale she leaned
against the big horse; and she told
it as if her own hurts were nothing.
And you took him into your favor
after he had treated you so abom-
inably!" lie Breton said.
Il couldn't be hard on him for
what was the result Of his awful
surroundings"
you are very magnanimous."
Pansy smiled.
You'll forgive me for not accept
ing that pretty necklace, won't you?"
she asked
Some day, when We know each
other better, you'll honor me by ac-
cepting it, he said.
He spoke to the girl now as if she
were his equal. not just some pretty
| toy he happened to have fancied.
Il never take anything from men
except perhaps a few flowers"
There was a subtle contempt for
his sex in her voice which LIE Breton
was quick to note.
so you despise men,"
Not that exactly, but I've had
rather an overdose of them. Since
rye been here, Sultan and l go off
| early every morning usually, and
| are miles away before there are
any men about to bother u.s."
With this Pansy turned and led the
horse back to it's box.
| Now" she said. when this was
done, It mustn't keep you. Goodbye
and Pm glad you're none the worse
| for last night"