rate's day with the old horse 209 



they ? It is a bit of a wrench to say good-bye to 

 you, Val," said the girl, as she laid her hand lov- 

 ingly on the neck of a great up-standing chestnut, 

 " but you are good enough to find yourself a situa- 

 tion, my boy. Father, though, what about Joe ? 

 We could not let him go into a cab, and he is too 

 old for anything better." 



" True, Kate, and I can't bear to shoot the old 

 fellow, and yet what are we to do with a pensioner 

 now?" 



" Shoot him ! No, father, we'll keep the bullets 

 for other billets. A loyal servant and friend like 

 Joe has as much claim on you as your daughter has ; 

 and whilst we have bread and cheese w T e can find 

 Joe in fodder. Poor old fellow, I believe he would 

 rather eat his litter with us than old oats in a 

 strange stable." 



It was a pretty picture, let latter day aesthetes 

 deny it if they will — the tall, strong girl, natural 

 and unaffected, not a bit angelic, but very womanly, 

 caressing the old horse, who lowered his head to 

 meet her caresses, and shoved his honest old nose 

 against her cheek. 



And Kate was right. It is a hard thing that a 



horse who has risked his neck a thousand times for 



his master, who has never known fear or spared 



himself in that master's service, should be thought 



II o 



