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Zhc Jfall of tbe Xionlbearteix By Bertha Easterbrooke Goodier. 'EAO'M," the Egg-and-Buttcr Man spoke con- clttsivcly; "you won't find no sccli 'nothcr hoss tliis side of Mason an' Dixon line." "liut lie isn't black, nor chestnut with white feet!" Keen protest rang in my tone. I was so disap- I wintcd. 1 will tell you why. Since girlhood I had dreamed of a proud moment when 1, Mary Ellen Hicks, should find myself sole possessor of a horse. How I had envied "The Lady Arabella," as she pranced across the pages of my favori'e r nuance on a "shining palfrey with four vhite feet." How I had thrilled to read of "Lord Chillingly" thundering past on his fiery black. My sorrow when Uncle Jonathan was gathered to hU l'-tcr nrght have been keener but for the legacy b had left n:c; "to be spoilt en luxuries," I'nclc Jonathan had willed it, realizing, perhaps, that lux uries are few and far between in the life of a little "old maid" schoolma'am. I had commissioned the Egg-and-Buttcr Man to find mc such a horse, promising him twenty-five dollars for his trouble. Now he brought mc a bav. i hadn't even thought of a bay. In silence I heard him through. "You sec, ma'am, blacks Is too wild fcr a lone woman to handle. As fer 'chestnut with white feet' -well, fact is, them as has 'em won't part with cm. Tetter look this feller encr. He's a purty color, an' II slouch. A lamb couldn't be gentler, a'n' scare? hy, Dick don't know what scare is. He'd eat hay a tractioii fncri- an' never prick up his ears. Wouldn't you, Dick?" nek snuggled up to the Kgg-and-Butter Man's iim. He whinnied gently and regarded me with n engaging mildness. " put out one hand. The fiat neck arched for the caress. Softening, I went i the house, returning with an offering of sugar. was pleasant to feel a soft nose mumbling my d, and my heart warmed toward Dick. With ' sunlight gleaming against his sleek, rounded 'cs; slender, well-turned Ices, silkv. flowinn mane. was, as the Kgg-and-Butter Man declared, "no nch. Sound as a dollar. Stand without hitchin'. Dote i( women an kids. More of Dick.-? virtues. " rc you sure." I began impressively, remcmbcr g certain books drawn from the publfc library and nncd with much care, "that he's sound of wind 1 limb?" The Kgg-and-Butter Man stared. "He might have a 'spavin,' or a 'ring-bone,' or 'y toes,' or 'shaley hoofs,' you know' warming my subject. "Arc you sure he hasn't the 'blind ' irrr?,' or the 'big head?'" a disease, I had ncd with dismay, as common among horses as nkmd. "He might be a 'lugger,' or a 'cribbcr,' or -su b his toe or balk." "Or turn double-somersaults!" with fine irony, '"w jest let me hitch him to that new phaeton vou bright, an' take you fer a ride. That'll scttle'all difficulties, an' if you don't say you never drove behind a handsomer, easicr-goin' equine, I'll take 1 im back where I got him, an' not ask a cent 1. - trouble." Ho certainly was handsome when incased in my i iw silver-mounted harness. Easy-going? Well, 'ust a trifle too easy-going, yet this was not the i t of faults for the hrr.-e of n "lone woman." The dream of the beautiful black died hard, yet u'thm the wee!.. Ric lard Ccur dc Lion, filled every cranny of my lonely heart. I had rechristened 'inn thus, for I bought him from a man named ' ' , and the' title st-ems fitted to the noble animal t was soon my very own. nd since he wa my own, I wanted to drive him yself. I resented the Kgg-and-Butter Man's easy vmiliarity, "Git up har, Dick. Step lively!" I ' billed to hmdlc the long ribbons and feel the beautiful body responsive to my touch. I said so, n substance. "Want to paddle ycr own canoe, eh?" laughed my ge -between. "Wei!, be careful an' don't go too near them street cars" a parting warning. "Now what," I questioned Richard, who was peaceably cropping the tender grass lalong my flower-borders, "did he mean by that? We've driven alongside dozens of cars. Why should I be care ul?" The question bothered mc more than I cared to admit, and perhaps it wasn't all kindness that made me call e.ut t" a frrrk'e-farcd youngster passing by; "Want to go feir a drive, Ben?' Ben Vas over the wheel before the words .were fairly spoken. He caught up the lax lines and shook them out. while I sank back against the soft cush i ns gratefully. Ben was frail and slender, yet I 1 w his wrists vvcre like iron, for he had played and out among (lie stalls of his father's livery birn since babyhood. We drove to my grocer's. While Ben went inside, I sat waiting, my eyes upon the great horse before nv:. Then I was conscious of someone by my su'e. 1 turned towards the little "ratty-faced" man, rnd sta.ed coldly. I did not like his looks nor his n.,i ier of asking: "What are you doing with that hore?" "It's my ho-.'e." For the life of mc I could not keep back a note of pride nor a fond smile as I glanced at Rieh.ird. In the next instant the smile froze on my lips. "Veil. tli. '-. a runaway horse, and he'll go through a bricl: wa!. nec he's started." My heart sank. There was something strangely conviniii-g about this horrid man. Mr. Young had said to be careful' What could it all mean? "Are you sure h. ever ran away?" "Ran away with Doctor Anderson r. year ago. It was a close call, I tell you. Then there was a womvn over on Meridian Street, only two months aga My nr.jiie's Newport, ma'am, but you don't need to believe me. Just drive around and ask the Doc. f tell you, that's a dangerous animal! I wouldn't let iiy wife go a block behind him." He turned abruptly and was lost in the crowd. Ben found tr.s huddled into the corner of my beautiful carriage, amid the ruins of my castle in the air. Gravely he heard me through. Ben was too old in matters equine; had been educated too liberally in the intricacies of the "horse-trade" to pass such warning by. "Mighty as well drive around to the Doctor's," was Hs'verdict. The doctor, we learned with dismay, had gone to a famous health-resort; would not be back for six weeks. His man had heard of the runaway, but ouMn't identify the horse. Mrs. Bedford we found 'at home" in a communicative mood. "Yes'm, that's the very horse! Lord, how he did rear up, and prance 'round, and paw the air! Mr. Newport, he'd been here the day before he told us 'now it'd be, but Sam that's my husband Sam just laughed. Tell you, when that horse com menceri' to cut up, Sam laughed out the other side exi Week of his mouth, and hustled back to Mr. Lyon's stable. Mr. Newport, he works for Mr. Lyon; he says they've sold that horse heaps of times, but it's always (lie same story they have to take him back. Sam was glad enough to get rid of him for fifty dollars!" "Fifty dollars! How much hnd you paid for him?" "Seventy-five." "You let them bet you out of twenty-five dollars?" A light was dawning: over me. I had paid one hundred and fifty dollars for Richard, Cceur de Lion. Then his value varied with the worldly statu of the buyer. "Oh, you see, Mr. Newport, he said 'twas like selling him to someone else, and we ought to be glad to get that much for a runaway." "Now, what I'd like to know," I said, when Ben and I went on our way once more, "is what position in this affair Mr. Newport occupies?" The. boy grinned j'nrcwdly. "Near as I can figure it out," he explained, "Mr. Newport is what Is known to the profession as the 'capper,' while your friend, Mr. Young, is the 'barker.' " "Surely you don't suspect Mr. Young!" I exclaimed in horror. The plot was thickening with a ven geance. "You just fee if he offers to refund the twenty five, that's all," answered the worldly wise one. "Well, we mustn't let all this spoil our drive, since it may be the last I ever take behind my beautiful Cceur de Lion." Now that I was likely to lose him, the great horse seemed very near to me. He threatened to be even nearer a few moments later. I was in deathly terror lest he back over the dashboard into my lap, Starting as though the yellow car before us were some hideous, undreamed of thing, Richard, the lamb-like, the -asy-going, reared high in the air and waltzed along after a fashion better suited to the sawdust arena than a crowded street. Ben rose also. He gripped the lines, and the way he laid on with my ivory-handled whip would have called out the humane society in full force. It subdued the Lion-Hearted. He resumed his normal attitude. Bent himself nearly double to gaze back upon us with eyes wherein surprise and injured dignity were plainly evident. He tried the experi ment again that afternoon. Ben's remedy effected a change of heart each time. "All you want is a good strong hand. He'd soon learn who's boss," the boy assured me. "Thank you, but I haven't time to cultivate a strong hand," I replied, I alighted before my door. I couldn't resist forward to pet the great head bent so mr s.d I mourned as for one already lost: "Oh, Richard, Richard, so j i're like all the rest of the world! You have to be true to your own nature, even if it is a runaway horse's. I had hoped to make you so happy, too, and be so happy my self. And now I'm to be a little 'lone' woman, just as I was before you came. Sometimes it's hard to be a 'lone' woman, Richard, though I wouldn't tell anyone but you." These thoughts were in my mind next morning when Mr. Young came to tell me that if I didn't want Dick, he would send someone from the stables directly. Remembering Ben's words, I listened for some mention of the twenty-five dollars. When I heard none, another fragment of my faith in man kind crumbled off. From mv window I could watch Richard daintily grazing in my tiny back yard, with Doc, the old negro I had hired to care for him, standing near. I was thinking how empty that yard would seeni without the graceful yellow form moving here and there, when a sharp knocking at my front door took me quickly toward it. There stood a man who carried the stamp of Ould Ireland on his broad face and a dilapidated straw hat in one hand. "Good mornin', ma'am," said this individual politely, "I hear you don't like your horse." "I don't," 1 said briefly, resenting- his suavity. "Now, what's the matter wld him? Me name's Murphy, ma'am, Timntbv Murphy. I'm a partner of Mr. Lyon's. Thei Aelonjred to me, an' I know he's a good hone." "Well, Mr. Murphy," I said," I bought the horse through Mr. Young from Mr. Lyon, but if he was your horse, I might as well negotiate with you. You refund me my money, take your horse, and end the matter." "Oh, of course, if you ain't satisfied, ma'am, I'm willin' to do the square thing". I'll take him back and give you a hundred dollars." "That you will not I" They had no ignorant woman to deal with this time. "You'll return the price I paid you, or I'll prosecute you and your partner to the full extent of the law!"' I hoped the man would feel the grasp of my iron hand. Evidently he did not. "Much good that'll do you," he laughed. "If you got judgment agin mc, you couldn't collect. I ain't worth a cent. I tell you, I'll take the horse and give you a hundred dollars, or you kin keep him an' make the best ye can of it. And that's the last word I've got to say to you, ma'am." me mst wora i nave to say 10 you, sir, my ire was rising, "is 'Good morning!' " And the door slammed. As I watched him stride down the narraw path and out of the gate, suddenly my little stock of courage went seeping from my finger-tips. I had, as men say. put up a strong talk. Could I make my bold words good? One thing was certain, I would not Rive these men fifty of Uncle Jonathan's hard- .,.;, ,m uie pleasure oi cneating a "lone" woman besides, No one should ever say he had unpen a "Micks." We weren't that sort, "To the full extent of the law!" I had said. Imagine : The Portion of (he yoongesi a little schoolma'am going to law! Well, there was nothing else for it. I would consult with a lawyer, and that without letting the sun go down on my wrath. The hour for action was cornel The tocsin had soundedl A lawyer yes. Well and good. But which law yer? In" all the great cityful I knew not one legal adviser on whom I might call unless oh, dared I? The quick blood flared to my checks at the thought. In a flash memory swept aside my simple room, and I saw again the laughing girl who had lightly tossed away a good man's love. Poor, thoughtless fiirl! How could she guess that he would go from her door that night, never to return? What could she know of weary years, of the world that should some day stand between the paths of a successful man and a little old-maid schoolma'am? Ah, had she but knownl The cry was in my heart. It rose to my lips. Almost fiercely I thrust it back. What had the Honorable James Lothrop to do with me or my life? He had forgotten ages ago. The dead past had buried its own dead! Yet there was another picture in the nwimming mist; a face, so boyish, so bronzed, so good to look upon; two keen gray eyes that sought my own so kindly. Ah, after all, what change could centuries bring to such as he? I lis manly, earnest voice rang in my ear: "Nell, if you ever need a friend, promise Vv . ' . My card you'll come to me first of all." Was it these words that made mc take from its sweet-scented covering my best blue gown the one with the ruffles of soft chiffon and lift from the box a hat, girlish with its rosebuds and ribbons and lace? Or was it just a mad longing to hear that voice again. 1 blushed furiously, then smiled a little I could not help it when at last I stood all in brave array. My mirror was very kind to-day, and what if one has left the last milestone of vanity far behind? Isn't it gracious to smile upon so kind a friend? ' II The ridiculous color did not leave my check as I rode down-town. It (lamed to scarlet when at last I came to a massive, gold-lettered door that bore his name. I was sure the young man to whom I cave mv card could hear my heart's wild thumping, and then, wjicn he led me into the luxurious private ()mcf( sud(lenjy lnc heart-beats ceased, and I could only stand, not daring to raise my eyes to those of the tall man beside the desk, gripping the back of his chair with lingers that had grown tense, There was silence for a moment. Then his face lightened. "As I live, Nell!" he cried. "Who could have guessed it would be you masquerading under the nom de nlume of 'Ullcn Jane. TIU crave eyes lingered upon mc. "The world has treated you very kindly these twenty years," he declared. "Old Father Time hasn't been around COPYRIGHT. 1009. with the silver threads he bestows so generously on .. ... . .... .... mc. It was IlKc tllC Old Jim to Say JUSt tile nicest thing. Wc talked of what I can scarcely tell It was enough for mc to sit opposite him and watch the sunlight as it slanted through the heavy velvet cur tains, touching the iron-gray head gently. Presently stern propriety jogged my elbow. I had not come hete to rehearse the past. All my resentment surged back as I thought of Murphy and the. threat that I must make good. My lawyer, for he laughingly con sented to act for me, listened attentively, but gave mc little encouragement. "You'd better take the money, Nell." was his advice, "the fellows arc swindlers, that's sure, and they'll probably go on swindling to the end of the chapter; for, you sec, you can't make Lyon responsible, as the horse was not owned in partner ship, and it's undoubtedly true that the Irishman's not worth a sent. That's the way they work their graft. You'd better take the hundred." "James Lawton Lothrop!" I sat up very straight, assuming my most awe-inspiring, pedagogical air, "I'm surprised! You, an American citizen. A representative of the law of our land. A man to whom your fellows point as the highest exponent 'f principle and integrity. You advise mc to back down before a couple of footpads! Not if it takes explain both questions. Uncle Jonathan's last dollar." "So that's the way of it? 'Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!' Plucky as ever, I ace but what are we to do?" "My opinion of your ability as a lawyer is suffering a severe shock." "And I'll have to get my thinking cap on, or you'll find out that I'm just a great bluff" laugh ingly. A thought that almost staggered me with its daring and deceit flashed into mind. I was up in an instant, crying: "That's it! Now, you've got Oh, I know we could carry it through. What a joke!" "It?" My counsel was puzzled. "The bluff, of course. Don't you see? You just go down there and 'bluff' them into giving up my money. Rear and tear. Scare them good." The Honorable James arose also. "My good woman," he" bent his brows severely, "I could have you arrested for 'contempt of court.' 'Rear anil tear,' indeed. You have a fine idea of the dignity of the law. Besides that, if they don't scare, as the highest exponent of principle and integrity, I'd be in a rather embarrassing position." "They'll scare," I told him confidently, and in the end he consented, though not at all sure in his own mind that he would be a "howling" success. Messrs. Lyon and Murphy looked their surprise at seeing me so soon. The latter came forward with a bland smile, evident iy forgiving the slight I had put upon him. "You've come for your money, ma'am. Very well, Mr. Lyon," indicating the rotund figure. . i. .... tr In 1. . ..... it. -1 a 1 m mc uuuiway, win mane uui me liiclk. i uuu dred, Lyon, you mind." "He needn't trouble to.". The tall figure that stepped forward quite hid my diminutive self from view. "Not until I have had a few words." The men stared. They were unprepared for this. "Who arc you, an' what business is this of yours?" demanded Murphy. "My card will explain both questions. This lady has retained me, and I am here as her attorney." The natr. block' 1 in corrct type, was enough to quell the numbed man of the firm. Mr Lyon was not as courageous as his name would suggest, but it takes a good deal to intimidate a son of the Emerald Isle. Murphy assumed a bravado that made my heart sink. "You're wastin' valuable time. sir. I made my offer to the lady, an' I made it fair and square. That horse is all right, I tell you, an' I'm a poor, hard workin' man, an' can't lose money for every woman's whim. Lyon, he'll write the check " "No, he won't." I jumped at the stentorian tone. Lyon jumped, too, and looked this way and that as for some avenue of escape. The time was evidently ripe for "rearing and tearing." The Honorable James might have been a terrible Turk, bearing down upon these unlucky horse-traders, with scimitar unsheathed. Ho was splendid awful! "No, he won't! Not till I've had my say. Now, my fine fellows, let mc tell you one thing. You'll refund this woman's money one hundred and fifty dollars, do you hear? by twelve o'clock to-morrow, or I'll prosecute you to the full extent of the law, both civil and criminal. I'll see you landed in the penitentiary for endangering life by selling a run away horse. I'll show you there's a law in this land that protects helpless women and children. Ill make an example of you that'll discourage others from trying the game for many years to come. There's too much of this business going on. it's got to cejme to a stop. I've had my eye on yjur establishment for a long time, and have been waiting fo ; :st Luis cuancc Now, sit," wheeling suddenly on the trembling Lyon, "you may write that check when you please, but remember the hour I men tioned noon to-morrow. Miss Hicks, pardon my subjecting you to this scene. The lines of the law do not always fall in pleasant plac-s." And with out so much as a glance toward the speechless men, he led me toward the waiting carriage. "Well," he asked, when we were about the corner, "did they scare?" "Did they scare?" I echoed, and then we both fell to laughing merrily. "I'd like to sec their faces when they find out that it was all a great 'bluff' that originated in the brain of a clever little woman." Something in hie tone made me glance quickly upward. Then I looked away, and sat more quietly. It all came over me, as we drove through the shady streets; how pleasant it would be to have someone holding th reins with a strong hand; smiling down upon you and calling you "clever little woman" in that half-tender way. Somehow, the loneliness would be harder to bear now when the world claimed him again. This afternoon had been like a little glimpse of paradise. The sun was setting. The shadows lengthened. Why must It all end so soon? At my white gateway I turned. "Won't you come in?" I said. He held out his hand. "Not to-day, little woman," he said, "but if you'll repeat the invitation for say, to-morrow afternoon surely your lawyer would rejoice with you over your check. I hope you'll let me come many afternoons, Nell. It's been more to me than you can guess, this page out of the old life. I hope we will never close the book again. My days are busy ones, and some of them are very lonely. Won't you help to make them less so?" What could 1 answer, but : "Why, yes, Jim. It would make me very happy and very proud, for, you see, my little Adamless Eden is lonely too." When he was gone I did a very un-schoolma'amlike thing. Catching up my skirts, I raced through my tiny house; out of the back door into the yard, and quite re gardless of chiffons and lace, fairly flung myself upon the arching neck of the magnificent Richard, Cceur de Lion, with a laugh that was half a sob, and a sobbing that was not all sadness. "Oh, Richard, Richard, you're a bad, scheming old horse! You're hand in hoof with those trickster, I know. You amble along like the most peaceable of nags till you've won a woman's confidence, then you go through your act and frighten her out of a year's growth. But I love you, you dear old cheat, becaus Richard, if it wercn t for you, this afternoon would never have happened, and then he wouldn't be coming to-morrow. Yes, it's all your doings, Richard, and III never forget jou never!" And I never have. The next morning, when Mr. Murphy, a meek and conciliatory Murphy he had dipped his colors most ingloriously and stood upon my iloorstep, check in hand with fully three hours to spare led him away, I watched teariully from my window till there was onlv a gleam of yellow amid the trees. So passed Richard, Cceur de Lion, out of my life; but I never forgot him. I did not get my next horse throuqh the kind offices of the Egg-and-Butter Man. Jim and I bought her to gether, and a nice bargain we made. Dolly's a dainty little creature, chestnut with four white feet, and wa couldn't love her better, though on the slightest provo cation she has been known to stumble and plough up the earth for yards with her nose, be the road level as a floor. But there is a strong hand at the reins now, and I am not a lonely woman any longer. , By Mary Stewart Cutting