The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-12-16
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
. RIDE FOR LIFE
BY AN OLD CONTRIBUTOR.

By An IL CONIhlbtlOh-
In the fall of the year 1925, a single horsemau
light have been seen rushing at the utmost possible
,eed, which the united efforts of both whip and spur
uld command. along the old highway on the south
lie of the Cafawba river, that led to the famous
land ford in the state of North Carolina. The in
vidual mentioned was a hnely-formed, handsome
Suth on the verge OF his majority, with a frank,
2 IL arless countenance, and frey gray eyes, betraying
III passionate temperament and q viii Of strong, per-
.,ps reckless energy.
elf in the wild eagerness Of his looks and the hot
I'll rste Of his motions. The powerful animal beneath
al $ saddle had evidently travelled a long distance at
e present unnatural rate of velocity, as his smoking
% INKS were silvered with foam and the painting breath
al sued from the purple nostrils in that painful, snort
q, o sound which betokens the last frightful struggle
NJ the vital forces with fatigue; but the rider still
h ged him on with resistless fury, devouring space
!, miles in minutes, as if determined even to conquer
II ne, and defy the very laws Of nature. The perspi-
81 ton rolled. like rain drops, from his own bold brow,
"a $ rich clothing was soiled with mud from the slime
th the road, and his entire visage and appearance
\. owed his fight on some mission Of life and death.
W On reaching the Catawba, he seized a bugle de-
CT nding from the bough Of an adjacent tree, and
SC ew a blast so loud and fierce that it startled every
tn I'd in the forest, and was Immediately answered by
e boatman's ringing voice on the other shore OF the
User, who in a few minutes, that seemed as many
SO es to the impatient traveller, appeared with the
be "what Is the name of your master 90 inquired the
ar nth, as the African Charon rowed him rapidly
r ross the current.
vi Colonel Banks" replied the slave proudly.
Ell els he at home?"
tie "No, master; he's gone to the races"
IN "Where is the overseer?"
"Gone with him."
Oh 90 Are his family at the house,"
cIt 'sThe colonel is n bachelor"
lei Have You any fast horses in the stable?
81 The negro eyed the stranger with a look OF susPi-
ii On, and gave a negative response. The boat soon
'" ucbed the bank, and the jaded beast of the traveller,
CO ter struggling with difficulty up the ascent, fell
pc Jon the earth unable to proceed farther.
be The young man uttered an exclamation Of mingled
;s, ge, grief and disappointment, but instantly per-
living a splendid black horse tied near the door of
su e neighboring mansion, he wildly exclaimed. "I
OIL ust have that animal, and will pay you literally"
TT Impossible calculated the astonished African.
w Master would not part with him for his weighti
oney.''
on "Here are two hundred dollars, and if that is not
SUI ,ough I will make it good another time" said the
IN: ,uth; counting out the coin. 'Here is my address"
added, writing with his pencil on q slip of paper
:, e name, John Fitch. Fairy Dell. Wilkes county,
- 6 But you shall not take Selim, asserted the slave,
OIL Igrily, and crying with all his strength for help
the His shouts drew a number of Africans and two
tin or white laborers to the spot, but the traveller,
- rowing down the money and his address, snatched
P,t pistol from his bosom, and keeping off the opposers
Iet his desperate deed, mounted the black horse IN
Nj spute, and flew away like the wind Many persons,
car different points on the road, witnessed with wonder
e fury of that reckless ride, and with feelings of
rror the wild looks of the traveller. Over hill and
W Hey, through forest and field. in defiance of stones
Is I'd streams, he rushed without rest or pause through
1t It the long burning day, and still the speed and
10, idurance of the high-blooded Seim bore him gal
-, ntly on
At length the weary sun sank to repose beneath
esq pavilion of purple clouds, and let fall its golden
tioI rrtains; then deeper shadows fell from the soaring
for mmits of the Blue Ridge, and soon Heavens dark
he's ed daughter, the mystic mother Of dreams and sill
= r dews, the sleep inspiring night, spread her black
vi antle over the world-that mantle which would
exI EN- like q mourner's veil, were it not adorned by
e burning beauty of ten thousand stars. But still
NJ, e fiery gray eyes Of John Fitch glanced not round
\ T the tokens Of a tavern, and his Impotence urged
ne m as wildly as ever towards the mountains. lit
INC 2 before the noon Of darkness he entered a small
he cturesque valley, shut in by lofty hills, and must
We i with the everlasting song Of a large r1ll that
h., eandered, like the folds of q silver serpent, through
, velvet green.
IN "Thank God, 1 am here at last Oh. that it may
t i 1t be too late ~ murmured the young man in
vii ournful accents, as the light of a cottage became
=, sible among the trees. Then he drove his spurs
~ ably into the side Of Selim, and a few more bounds
ih rought him into the yard, where the horse fell ex-
en- austed as the rider sprang from the saddle, and
ne 1rst into the door, crying, in tones of unutterable
"a ndernes1" Mother my dear mother are you
ct alive?"
re A faint sound. betwi1t a sigh and a groan, an
eel vered, My son ~
as The latter instantly kneeled by the couch of the
OK woman, kissing her pale lips. and bathed the
md bosom which had Graded his infancy with the
Gu liter tears oflove and hopeless sorrow. 81 started
e said, or rather sobbed, " as soon as I received the
,n tier informing me of your illness, and ! have ridden
az and night; bat, oh, dearest mother, say, are you
OF improving! Is there not still some hope!"
~ "None even in the opinion Of the DOCTOR" replied
IN ne feeble voice 9. and, but for the attentions Of that
'rt ind lady, I should perhaps now be in my grave 20
The youth glanced round and perceived the blush
4. ~ face of q fair girl that, in his grief and agitation,
e had previously failed to notice. This beautiful
eing was nearly his own years, large for her age,
"a ut well formed and symmetrical as a piece of an
IA iaue sculpture. With all the fascinating charms of
Il. be lovelest of her sex her countenance presented the
roud air of q queen, and her tears beamed with a
" re, denoting the energy of an iron will unaccustomed
o. D any control, save its own free and fetterless choice.
re Miss Juliet Hale, how shall / thank you for so
IN luch goodnesss" faltered the young man, almost
rnable to credit the evidence of his own senses.
= Her features flushed to a brighter crimson, but she
q nswered not Then the dying mother beckoned the
{ eautiful girl to the bedside, and taking her hand,
m laced it, in that Of the astonished son, murmuring,
8 she did So Ny dear children, you love each
= ther, and give you both my last blessing !"
DC sOh, this must be madness 20 exclaimed the aston
n shed youth. 81 have ~worshiped her, as the magi-
AZ ian doth the star, for years, yet never dared aspire
A o much as to touch her hand before; but she, the
:. sealthy, the adored idol Of fashion, cannot love the
~ ,oor, friendless teacher. The idea is impossible -
s. "I have loved you since the first moment we met
al ighed q most musical voice.
"Then be happy, my son and daughter said the
: lex woman, with an angel smile. eye have no
elative on the earth; bereaved orphans of the heart,
~ ee that ye be everything to each other, as my spirit
Y, will pray for you in its heavenly home 20 And worn
tut with the unusual effort, the pale invalid dropped
rf If into q seeming slumber.
: And thus those young and yearning souls strangely
!" ,lighted their faith-there by the couch of death,
; ,efore the dim candle Pickering on the humble table,
L and beneath the spectral shadows of the midnight
NJ tsrs, while the winds Of autumn moaned among the
!, zine tops, and strewed withered leaves on the roof
,bove their heads Was the weird magic of the hour,
{ u the silent sadness Of the scene, an eloquent emblem
K If the coming doom, Alas everywhere, as in the
most gloomy as we'll as the gayest seasons. the black
n winged Fates hover in the air around their chosen
victims, nor give q sound Of warning till the thunder
~oIS braats and The 0loamin0 castle of youth and
hope lies smoking in a mass Of fiery ruins
y Al that night the lovers watched. and the sick
mother slept, or appeared to sleep, until the diamond
lawn. But just as the first refracted sunbeams began