The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-01

suggested that doff the one and don the
other. To this assented more readily as
l reflected that would have to pass one
night at least in the car, with no better
bed than the straw under nay feet. l had
barely time to undress before the cars
were coupled and started. l tossed the
clothes to my friend with the Injunction
to pack them in my trunk and express
them on to me, and waved him my adieu
Iarrayed myself in the nice, cool flannel
and locke around. The thoughtfulIess
of my friend had anticipated every want
An ola cane seated chair stood in one cor
ner The unch-basket was large and
we'll supplied. Amid the oats l found a
dozen oranges some bananas, and pack
age Of real Havana cigars. How I called
down blessings ON his thoughtful head as
took the chair and lighted one of the
fine favored fgoros, gazed out on the fields
past which we were gliding, yet wet with
morning dew. As | sat dresmily ad-
miring the beauty before me, Gulnare
came and, resting her head upon
my shoulder, seemed to share my mood.
AS / stroked her fine-haired, satin like
nose, recollection quickened and memo
ries of our companionship in perils
thronged into my mind. / rode again that
midnight ride to Knoxville, when Burn
side lay intrencbed, desperately holding
his own, waiting for news from Chatta-
nooga Of which was the bearer, chosen
bv Grant himself because of the reputa-
ticn of my mare. What riding that was
We started, ten riders of us in all, each
with the same message l parted company
the first hour out with all save one, an
iron gray stallion of Messenger blood.
Jack Murdock rode him, who learned his
horsemanship from buffalo and Indian
hunting on the Plains-nOt bad school
to graduate from. Ten miles out of Knox
vile the gray, his flanks dripping with
blood, plunged up abreast Of the mares
shoulders and fell dead and Gulnare and
| passed through the lines alone. l had
ridden the terrible race aoitt0ut ichtp or
spur. With what scenes of blood and
flight she would ever be associated And
then thought of home, unvisited for four
long years-that home 1 left a STRIPPING,
but to which was returning a bronzed
and brawny man. l thought of mother
and Bob-how they would admire her !
of old Ben, the family groom, and of that
one who shall be nameless, whose picture
l had so often shown to Gulnare as the
likeness of her future mistress had they
not all heard of her, my beautiful mare,
she who came to me from the smoke and
whirlwind, my battle gift? How they
would pat her soft, smooth sides, and tie
her name with ribbons, and feed her
with all sweet things from open aud Ca
ressing palml And then l thought of one
who might come after her to bear her
name and repeat at least some portion
Of her beauty-a horse hOnored and re-
nOwned the country through, because of
the transmission Of the mothers fame.
about three o'clock in the afternoon
change came over Gulnare. L had
fallen asleep upon the straw, and she had
come and awakened me with touch
of her nose. The moment started up l
saw that something was the matter Her
eyes were dull and heavy. Never before
had L seen the light go out of them. The
rocking of the Car as it went jumping and
vibrating along seemed to irritate her.
She began to rub her head against the
side of the car Touching it, l found that
the skin over the brain was hot as fire.
Her breathing grew rapidly louder and
louder. Each breath was drawn with a
kind of gasping effort. The lids with
the lustreless eyes. The head sank lower
the floor. The ears, naturally so lively
and erect, hung limp and widely apart.
The body was cold and senseless. A
pinch elected no motion. Even my voice
was at last unheeded To word and touch
there came, for the first time in all our
intercourse, no response. | knew as the
symptoms spread what was the matter.
The signs bore all one way. She was in
the first stages of phrenitis, or inhamma-
tion of the brain. In other words, n1y
beautiful mare acas going mad.
81 was well versed in the anatomy of
the horse. Loving horses from my very
childhood, there was little in veterinary
practice with Which | was not familiar.
Instinctively, as soon as the symptoms
had developed themselves and | saw un-
der what frightful disorder Gulnare was
laboring, put my band into my pocket
for my knife, in order to open a vein.
There scas no knife there Friends, l have
met with many surprises. More than
once in battle and scout have been nigh
death; but never did my blood desert my
veins and settle so around the heart, never
did such a sickening sensation possess me,
as when, standing in that car with my
beautiful mare before me marked with
those horrible symptoms, | made that
discovery. My knife, my sword, my pis-
tolls even, were with my suit in the care
of my friend, two hundred miles away.
Hastily, and with trembling fingers,
L searched my clothes, the
lunch basket, my linen; not even pin
could l find. l showed open the sliding
door, and swung my hat and shouted,
hoping TO attract some brakeman's atten-
ton. The train was laundering along at
full speed, and none saw or heard me. l
knew her stupor would not last long A
slight quivering of the lip, an occasional
spasm running through the frame, tod me
too plainly that the stage of frenzy would
soon begin MY God | exclaimed in de-
spair, as l shut the door and turned toward
her, must see you die, Gulnare, when
the opening of a vein would save you? I?
Have you borne me, my pet, through all
these years Of peril, the icy chill of winter,
the heat and torment Of summer, and all
the thronging dangers of a hundred bloody
battles, only to die torn by fierce agonies,
when so near a peaceful home?'
but little time was given me to mourn.
My life was soon to be in peril, and /
must summon up the utmost power of eye
and limb to escape the violence of my
frenzied mare Did you ever see mad
horse when his madness is on him. Take
your stand with me in that car, and you
shall see what suffering dumb creature
can endure before it dies. In no malady
does horse suffer more than in phrenitis,
or Inflammation of the brain. Posi-
bly in severe cases of collie, probably
in rabies in its fiercest form, the
pain is equally intense. These three
arc the most agonizing of all the diseases
to which the noblest OF animals rs ex-
y.