The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1842-11-24

| castle I'D the tIrst bend OF the path.
when saw her quietly walking her
horse under the trees at short dis
lance, and the moment after she OBJ
served and came towards me at an easy
canter. | had schooled myself TO a
little more self-possession, but l was
not prepared for such an apparition OF
splendid beauty as that woman on
horseback. She rode au Arabian bay
of the finest blood /; lofty, fiery, match
less creature, with an expression Of eye
and nostril which | could not but think
a proper pendant to her own, limbed
as | had seldom seen horse, and his
arched neck. and forehead, altogether,
proud as steed for Lucifer. She sat
on him as if it were a throne she was
born to, and the flow of her riding dress
seemed as much part of him as his
name. He appeared ready to bound
into the air, like Pegasus, but one hand
calmly stroked his name, and her face
was as tranquil as marble.
"Well met !" she said 81 was Just
wishing for cavalier. What sort of
horse would you like, Mr.. Berryman9
Ellis !" (speaking 10 her groom) sis
old Curtal taken up from grass :"
eyes, miladi 80
"Curtail is our invalid horse, and as
you are not very strong perhaps his
easy pace will be best for you. Bring
him out directly, Ellis. Well just
walk along the road little way for |
must snow you my Arabian and we'll
not go back TO ask mammals p7rmis-
sion, for we shouldn't get it f? You
won't mind riding little way, will
you ~
OF course would have bestrided a
hippogrif at her bidding, and when the
groom came out, leading a thorough
bred, hunter, with apparently a very
elastic and gentle action, L forgot the
doctor and mounted with great alacri-
ty. We walked our horses slowly
down the avenue and out at the castle
gate, followed by the groom, and after
trying little quicker pace on the pub
lie road, pronounced old Curtal wor-
thy of her ladyship's euloginm, and
her own Saladin worthy, If horse could
, be worthy, of his burihen.
We had ridden perhaps mile, and
! Lady Caroline was giving me slight
/ history Of the wonderful feats OF the
: old veteran under me, when the sound
of horn made both horses prick up
: their ears and on rising little ACTIVITY,
we caught sight of pack OF hounds
coming across the fields directly to-
, wards US, followed by some twenty rei-
, coated horsemen. Old Curtal Tem-
i HE'D and showed disposition to fret,
: and i observed that Lady Caroline
dexteriousiy heightened her own stir
e rup and ioosened the belt Of her rid
ing dress, and the next minute the
f; hounds were over the hedge, and the
r horsemen, leap after leap, after them
D and With every successive jump, my
5 own sliced reared up and plunged un-
j managebly.
i "Indeed cannot stand this !" crleo
d Lady Caroline, gathering up her reIns
e "EIlis see Mr.. Bergman home !:
). and away went the flying Arabian owe
e the hedge with vault that lett MT
\ hreathless with astonishlnent. On
. minute | made the vain effort to con
troll my own horse and turn his head II
- the other direction, but my strength
q was gone. l had never leaped ienc'
r in my life on horseback, though toi
"a cradle rider on the road but before
n could think how it was 10 be done. Q
! gather myself together for the leap
- Curtal was over the hedge with me
ar and flying across ploughed field Ink
a the wind-Saladin not far before MN
T. With a glance ahead | saw the re
d coats rising into the air and disappear
/ ing over another green hedge an
70 though the field was crossed III twent
n leaps, I had time TO feel my blood ru
l. cold with the prospect of descrlbln
;, another parabola in the air, and
!, specuIate on the best attitude iof
N proiectle on horseback over wei
Saladin like greyhound, but his mi;
e. tress's riding-cap caught the wind
II the highest point of the curve an
A. few back into my face as Curtal ros
st on his haunches,snd over | went agai'
st blinded and giddy, and, with the ca
~ held fat against my bosom by the pre-.
+. sure Of the air, few once more at a tr'
mendous pace onward. My feet wei
he now plunged to the insteP IN the ssi
~ o,d NV hack. too weak to SUI
no mort me erect, let me down on my horse
to name, and one by one along the SKI
d. of a rising WOODLAND. | could see u
of red coats dropping slowly behlnd'-
leg Right before me like meteor MOVE
D. er, srreamed back the loosened tress
w Of Lady Caroline, aud Curtal ls
10 close on the track of Saladin, neitn
on losing nor gaining an inch apparent
:. l.,d nearer and nearer sounded {