The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-12-28
h,oas orazed ana praIlCpd and romped

bre1ls grazed and pranced and romped
and whistled. Nell watched the
horses. She loved them, never tired
Of watching them. But her gaze was
too consciously averted from the
yearning eyes that tried to meet hers
TO be altogether natural.
A great fenced field Of velvety green
alfalfa furnished a rich background
for the drove Of about twenty "hlte
horses, Blanco Diablo was the only
one in the field that was not free TO
roam and Craze where he listed. A
stake and a halter held him to one
corner, where he was severely let
alone by the other horses. tie ala not
like this isolation. Blanco Diablo was
not happy unless he was running or
fighting a rival. OF the two he would
rather fight. II anything white could
resemble a devil, this horse surely
did, lie had nothing beautiful about
him. vet he drew the gaze and held
# The look OF him suggested dis
content, anger, revolt, rlclousness
When he was not grazing or pranclns
no held his long, lean head level, point
ing his nose and showing his teeth.
Belongs favorite was almost all the
world to him, and he swore Dlablo
could stand more heat and thirst and
cactus than any other horse he owned,
and could run down and kill any
horse in the Southwest.
The cowboys admitted some OF
Belongs claims for Diablo, bur they
gave loyal and unshakable allegiance
70 Rlanco Sol. As for Dick, he had
TO fight himself to keep out of argu'
ments, for he sometimes imagined ne
was unreasonable about the horse
Though he could not understand him
self, he knew he loved Sol as mar
| loved friend, a brother. Free Of
heavy saddle and the clumsy lee
| shields, Blanco Sol was somehow all
satisfying to the eyes Of the rangers
The dazzling whiteness OF the deser
sun shone from his Pat; he had tn
fire and spirit Of the desert in hi
noble head, its strength and power II
his gigantic frame.
Bedding swears Sol never hea
Diablo," Dick was saying.
"He believes IT," replied Nell. "Da'
IS queer about that horse"
'Tve often wondered how Beldln
ever came to give Blanco Sol to me,
said Dick.
81 think he wanted to get rid 0
SOL"
maybe. He surely has strange pas
sion for horses. I think l understan
better than I used to. owned
! couple Of racers once. They wer
just animals to me, guess. Bu
Blanco Sol!"
do you love him?" asked Nell; an
now a warm, blue flash Of eyes sweI
his face.
DO I? Well. rather"
I'm glad. Sol has been finer,
better horse since you owned him. Fl
loves you, Dick. Sol always hate
Diablo, and never had much use Il
Dad"
Dick looked up at her.
it'll be-be pretty hard to leave )
when I 60 away"
Nell sat perfectly still.
"Go away?" she asked, present.
with Just the faintest tremor in h
voice.
Eyes. Sometimes when I get blue
as I am today-I think I'll 60. 81
in sober truth, Nell, its not like
that I'll spend all my life here
There was no answer to this. Dl
nut his hand softly over hers; al
despite her half.hearted struggle
free it, he held on.
Nell"
Her color fed. He saw her Il
part. Then a heavy step on the gray
a cheerful, complaining voice Int
rupted him, and made him release n
and draw back. Bedding strobe II
view round the adobe shed.
"Hey, Dick, that darned Yaqui
dian can't be driven or hired or Goa,
to leave Forlorn River. He's v
enough to travel. l offered him ho'
gun, blanket, grub. But no co."
"That's funny" replied Gale. "
4 smile. "Let him stay-put him
" work."
1T doesn't strike me funny.
as III tell you what 1 think. That p
A. homeless, heartbroken indian
I'd taken a liking to you, DICK.
q saved his life. That sort OF tt
y counts big with any Indian, even '
an Apache. With a Yaqui maybe
10 -. Of deep significance. I've hear
w. ~, Yaqui say that with his tribe no
W. to friend or foe ever went imp
, .n Perhaps that's what ails this fell(
~ -. "Dick, don't laugh" said Nell.
~ ~ noticed the Yaqui. It's pathetic
his way his great gloomy eyes 10
you"
"You've made a friend" contil
Bedding. "A Yaqui could be a
. =, friend on this desert. II he gets
!. ~ strength back he'll be Of service
49, 49,. you, don't mistake me. He's welc
~ =" here. But you're responsible for
" and you'll have trouble keeping
Aoa 4rom massacring all the Greaser