American fiction; California -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Short stories, American
“Do you know,” he said, “it’s just occurred to me that I’ve been very
remiss. I’ve never even introduced myself properly to you. And I
haven’t the pleasure of your name, either.”
“If people are fond of horses----” began Missy. She fell to patting my
nose.
“My name is England,” went on Thunderbolt’s master, “Edward England.”
Instantly, I felt Missy’s fingers tighten, and I saw her face grow
white. “England!” she said under her breath; “Edward England!”
She was standing on my off side now, and Thunderbolt’s master could not
see her. “I presume it’s a name you’re not unfamiliar with,” he went
on again. “But don’t mistake me for dad. He’s been manipulating wool
lately, and the press keeps pretty close track of him.” And he laughed.
“Yes--I--I have heard,” answered Missy, slowly, and as Peter led me
toward the runway, she followed--without another word. She walked
unevenly, as a horse goes when he’s got the blind staggers.
I was sorry she hadn’t told him who _we_ were. For I must say that, on
the Coast, no family stands better than the Sanborns. But Missy was
changed--something had happened to her.
The very next day, something happened to _me_. Peter came down the
stalls with a strange groom behind him and stopped at my box. For the
swish of a tail, I didn’t think anything of that, for we often have
new grooms. But when Peter put on my halter, and then my hood and
dress-blanket, and the man took my leading-strap, I knew I was to be
taken away somewhere.
I felt so startled and excited that I am sure I misbehaved. But the
groom talked kindly to me, and Peter slapped me on the flank, and so I
tried to go quietly. I think the other horses knew I was leaving--that
strange groom gave them the hint. They looked around at me, and one
whinnied to ask me what was the matter. They were all stall boarders,
and of course I didn’t know them. And I was too unhappy to answer,
anyway. For Thunderbolt was out in the trap, and, if I was going, I
could not tell him good-bye.
“What if I’m _sold_?” I kept saying to myself as I went down the runway
and out to the street. “What if I’m _sold_?” I shivered, for all my
covering. “Oh, Missy, you _wouldn’t_ do that!”
Then another terrible thought: Is Missy going to get an auto? But that
couldn’t be--Missy _hates_ autos.
Soon enough, I found out what had happened. The strange groom led
me toward the Hudson, then north again--I am never mistaken in
directions--and, finally, into a good-sized stable that stood midway
of a block. Here, I was led upstairs--_and into a standing-stall_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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