St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1858-06-24

Many sorrowing relatives still survive who
know the truth of the following mournful sto-
ry, and therefore, lest they should be panied
by the narration, we shall give only the initials
Of names.
The town Of B., in the West of England,
is skirted ON two sides by wild and extensive
moors. A young farmer, who lived at a VIII
lage seven miles from b, was In the habit
of attending the weekly market of that town,
and, of course, had to ride over the moor to his
home. He was an intelligent and excellent
man, beloved not only by his own family cir
Gle, consisting Of his wife and five little chill
dren under eight years of age, but by the whole
neighborhood, for he had the clear head and
the sound heart that made him good neigh
Dor, friend and master. The horse that he
usually rode was an old favorite, that knew
his masters voice, and would follow him from
the stable to the farm yard like dog.
One winters night, that had set in unusual
ly early, Mrs. N was sitting BY her cheer
full fire, waiting the return Of her husband
from market. All was still in the house, for
the children had been put TO bed and the wo-
men servants were busy with their sewing in
the kitchen. Hour after hour passed, and the
wife had looked out Of the window and tried
to penetrate the darkness with her glance. She
had gone down and listened at the house door
more than once all was still and she felt no
particular alarm. for she knew business or
family connections might have detained him.
So she sent the servants to bed. trimmed her
fire, and sat waiting at the well-lsid supper
table Still he did not cume; at last she fell
into little dnzc, when she started up Suddenly
awakened by strange noise: it was not a
knocking, but seemed like something pressing
=. - u n. r.
felt thrilling fear run like a shiver over her:
but the noise came again. She went trembling
to the door, aud called, as il you, dear 70
There was no answer, but the door evidently
shook with the pressure. She opened it, and
putting out her head, struck her forehead
against something warm and palpitatinc: step
ping back, she raised the light and saw 10 her
alarm it was her husbands horse, standing
completely close, so that his flank had struck
and pressed the door. At the fash of the light
the creature stepped back a pace or two. turn
ed bis head and looked at her, with an expres-
sion almost human in his sorrowftil eyes. To
put her hand % the bride, and feel. II, the fit-
full light Of glimmering candle, along the
neck of the saddle, was the work OF moment
the horse was riderless She turned. with
a cry Of fear, into the house, to alarm the ser
wants, and saw 20 her horror, as she raised her
hand, that it was covered with bloodl In all
haste, maids and men came out To the wild
cry Of their mistress. Yes, there was the
faithful horse standing stiIl, and trembling from
head 10 foot, the saddle wet as q sponge with
gore. Half dressed, the horror stricken group
gathered round their masters steed when, as
soon as the resolution 10 90 instantly in search
Of him was formed, the horse deliberately
turnej, stiil painting and shuddering. and took
the road towartis B.. the men Eillowii,g,
lighted as well as haste permitted 18th Ian
terms poor Mrs. N-keeping close to the
horses side, and regardless uf the bitter night
10 which her bare heal, and somewhat feeble
frame were exposed More than three miles
thus they walked when they came 10 place
where the road, over the moog, dipped abrupt
" between two hillocks, and little spring of
water leaped out upon the highway. Here
the horse stopped. and be,t dcwa his had
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