Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-12-21

Gu 11er great starry Dluc eyes WncH came
down in the skirt and a half. tight seal skin
jacket, and shrugged her own well-habited
shoulders when we walked out T. mount
our horses, and she saw that very hand
some brown gelding had been prepared for
me. Then she turned away. and Guy
pomfrct put her up on her own beautiful
mare Guincyere, and when she was mOunt.
ed, she (Ida) realized Tennyson's dpscrip.
tion Of that peerless queen very well.
thought
..she looked SO lovely as she sways
The rein with dainty iuger tips,
man had given all other bliss,
And all his worldly hope. for this,
To waste his whole heart in one Kiss
Upon her perfect lips"
Then my turn came, and 7 was horribly
afraid lest might fail to rise like bird to
the saddle as Ida had done, and was pro-
portiOnatcly grateful to Mr.. pomfrct said,
as he settled me. Then he added, good
naturedIy. almost in q whisper, Don't let
him get his head, ride him OH the curb.
Thanks. Ill attend to your direction,
J replied ; and then MIR. POnfret mounted
his own powerful hunter. and we started.
Though it was winter,-ChristnIas Eve
in fact,-thcre was no crispncss in the
air and no frost on the ground. The roads
were muddy and heavy. and the atmosphere
mild and humid. We rode slowly for three
or four miles along the highway, and then
Ida proposed that We should go on some
downs that bordcrcd the road, aud have
sharp canter in sharper air.
Remember Mr.. Guy Pomlret mutter.
ed, as We took the turf, and nodded as
sent, and drew my curb rein trific tighter.
Puck went alOuy over the billowing
downs in grand charging cantcr for about
couple Of hundred yards. Then Ida
Pomtret's mare flashed past us, the rider
sitting erect and fair, her horse evidently
well i'll hand thongh it was going at :aciug
speed. As she bounded ahead, Puck did
something extraordinary with his legs at
once (Guy told me afterwards that he buck
cd). threw up his head, then lowered it
the wake of the mare at u pace that stretch
ed him out flat nearly, and made my brain
whrl.
do not think that was terrified, though
| was well aware that had 10 more con-
troll over Puck than had over destiny.
was diuly conscious of Ida branching off
to the right, while was borne straight on
towards what lookedlikc wall of blue sky.
Another moment and knew was near
ing the brow of a steep hill. Another aud
other hoofs than Puck's SOUNDED in my
ears close behind mc-then something
rose with crashing noise, and crushed
against me-a sharp pain smOtc through
my chest "a roar sounded in my cars
horses seemed to he about and around me
lon every side, and it was all darkness.
When it came light again-tllat il, when
opened my cyes-I found myself lying
OH green mound halfway down the slope
of steep hill, with my head resting ON
Guy Polnfret's arm, and Puck standing
close by, looking brightly: unconscious Of
having done any thing wrong. What did
| dol asked, and Guy replied, Came an
awful cropper with puck in galloqing down
Il slope !; but you're not hurt-tell mel
you're not hurt!
Irouse.! myself then, and found that my
foot was in pain and turmad the wrong way,
lily ankle was sprained. in fact. But how
about Puck: | was mnch more anxious
about the handsome, brilliant-lOOking lit
tie brown horse than about myself.
Puck is all right. Mr.. Pomtret said.
And where is she:'
'Ida:'
Yes
Here she comes,' he replied, sravely,
as Miss Ida made her appearance round q
knoll. 'Iscnt her to find boy to come
and take Puck back
Miss Ida Pomfiet came up and leant fow-
ard gracefully OH her pOmmel, still sitting
well back in the saddle. to speak to me.
Il hope you're not hurt; but l never saw
such rash riding in my life. Miss Dunbar
Nor did l but it was not Miss Dunbar's,
Mr. Pomtrct replied; and ISaid,-
Il really think it was you started Puck.
[ said it most iunoccntIy, and saw with sur
prise that she colorcd like fire.
Il suppose you have nerve enough to ride
home, ifth.s boy leads Puck she asked !;
and sad.-
% YES but Mr.. Pomfrct shook his head.
Miss Dunbar has spraincd her ankle,
Ida
Then how is she to get homc?' Ida ask
ed. il YOU won't let her ride; she cant walk.
You will 500 how she is to get home. he
answered, picking me up in his arms. rs he
spoke. Then he mounted his own horse,
holding me easily the while; and / submit
ted passively through sheer anlazomcnt.
.Kcallv, Guy Miss Ida exclaimed, in
dignan,lv, do YOU think Yam going to make
one of such Il procession:
That you'll please yourself about he
replied, eoolly; then he told the boy to lead
Puck home carefully, and started up the
hill at II slow pace.
was half faint with the pain, and pres
emily he saw that l was, suppose, for he
sad,-
The sooner get home, the better for
your ankle. Miss Dunbar. This old fellow s
gallop is like Il rocking-chair; tell me II
YOU can bear it:'
lie slackcncd the rcins, and the horse
went oil like an arrow ut once.
Yes, Ican bear this murmured, rs
he graspcd me more firmly, and Guy Pom
fret sad,-
That's right, that's plucky,' and then
''Graut licbchen auchs Der Mond scheicnt hell.
Ilurrah! die Todtcn rciten schnell
Graut lebchen auch yor Iodteu:"
SAY more Of ,Lenore' reused myself to
utter. as he paused; but he merely repeat
ed the three lines he had already sung
and promised to read me the whole of the
marvellous ballad that same afternoon.
j l heard Mr.. Pomfrcl tell his aunt when
we reached home that "lda had started oil
in the way that she knew Puck woull new.
er stand. and that Miss Dunbar managed
him clcvcrIy till he went down with her.
And saw Miss Rachael and hcr nephew
exchange queer little sympathetic glances
but did not know what they meant.
think that was almost glad that my
ankle was spraincd. 1t was well wortl
enduring all the pain did endure, to bt
made so much Of by the two people liked
hest at the Towers. Sir Guy came ant
looked at me as wac stretched out on
couch in Miss Iacllael's boudoir (she wOuis
: not have mo imprisoned in my be droom