BILLY- BOY AND BELLE. 109 



— the music. Imagining myself in but once — that was the entire stretch, 

 her place 'twas not hard to realize At one point on our return, bringing 

 how her toes (?) must tingle at the our horses to a halt on the lake's 

 staccato passages and marked rhythm brink, we listened, just to note the 

 of that music. When it ceased, she stillness. For several moments no 

 stopped as suddenly, shook herself, sound was audible; not a leaf whis- 

 neighed a long " ha-ha" of satisfac- pered, not a ripple sighed. Suddenly, 

 tion, and panted her weariness, for piercing the complete silence, came, 

 all the world like a girl at her first clear and bell-like, the notes of a sin- 

 party who, having danced up to the gle trumpet — "taps," that most el- 

 last note, shakes her draperies into fective strain of two dozen notes, 

 proper arrangement, sinks into a seat As the last vibration died away, there 

 and between gasps and twitters, in- followed, in succession, others, in 

 vites her partner to fan her. I had different keys — five in all. From the 

 hoped that the company had been left to the extreme right of the field, 

 too attentive to its duty to have per- close by and far in the distance, 

 ceived us, but Belle, again like the faintly, like echoes of the first, came 

 pretty girl, was showered with com- the answering goodnight call, "taps" 

 pliments on her graceful steps. The — "lights out;" and once more all 

 officers, not satisfied with feeding was silent. Slowly and regretfully 

 her lump-sugar, took the liberty of we moved; it was time for us, too, to 

 caressing her neck and patting her say " good night." At my stopping 

 pretty pink nose. place, Farmer A. came out to meet 

 Major R. even fell into poetry, and us, and C. related Belle's little es- 

 while the orderly was dispatched for capade. 



a pail of water with which to quench "Why, gosh all hemlock, Cap'n," 



her thirst, he quoted from Sir John with a grave salute, " Say, ef I'd a 



Sauckling : — knowed that, the madam could a hed 



" Her feet * * * * my best black Pedro. He's just hun- 



Like little mice stole in and out, ky-dory, ef he aint got no gaits — an' 



As if they feared the light: he kin trot "Say!" (confidentially) 



But oh, she dances such a wav ! ^.i • 1 1 / 



No sun upon an Easter-day ' thls here mare was oncet owned by 



Is half so fine a sight." a circus feller, but by ginger ! 1 never, 



Perhaps all this had a revivifying ef- knowed her to go a sky-larkin round 



feet, for she was quite ready to fill lik that." 



her next engagement. Ah! that was it; how expressive ! 



****** " a skylark at twilight." Atall events, 



We started out in the gray twilight, the experience had been delightfully 



C. and I, on Billy-boy and Belle, and unique. I regretted nothing: com- 



rode far into the creamy moonlight, paring this episode with that of one 



taking the six miles around the lake other day, I shall long preserve it in 



at an easy gait, and drinking delight my memory as — a harmony. 



Love hath its drawbacks, we are told, 



And I have found it true; 

 I scarce know if I'll sit or stand 



When next I call on Sue. 



'Twas not from her I met rebuff, 



She favored well the suit, 

 'Twas in the way her father threw 



His No. eleven boot. 



I'd prosecute him even now 



Or biff him in the jaw, 

 But just before I'm married 



I don't want a father in law. 



Capt. Jack.Crawford. 



