St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-04-16
VOLUME 80 NUMBER 1f55

e through her, and the eyes, wild in theil
brightness, stared directly at me. Anl
what eyes they were. The membrane
grew red and redder until it was of the
color OF blood, standing out in frightful
contrast with the transparency of the
cornea. The pupil gradually dilated un-
Ill 1t seemed about to burst out of the
socket. The nOstrilS, which had been
sunken and motionIess, quivered, swell
ed and glowed. The respiration became
snort, quick, and gasping. The limp and
dropping ears stitfened and stood erect.
prlcked sharply forward, as if to catch
the slightest sound. Spasms, as the car
swerved and vibrated, ran along her
frame. More hOrrid than all, the lips
slowly contracted and the white, sharp
edged teeth stood uncovered, giving an
mdescribable look Of ferocity to the par
TALLY opened mouth. The car suddenly
reeled as 1t dashed around a curve, sway
ing her almost off her feet, ard, as a
contortlon shook her, she recovered her
self, and, rearing upward as high as the
car permitted, plunged directly at me
7
lodged. Then followed exhibitions of
pain which | pray God may never see
again. lime and again did she dash
herself upon the floor, and roll over and
over, lashlng out with her feet in all di
rectlons. Pausing moment, she would
stretch her body to its extreme length.
and, lying upon her side, pound the floor
with her head a. if it were maui Then
like flash she would leap to her feet,
and whIrl round and round until from
very gldd!ness she would Stagger and |
fall. She would lay hold of the straw
with her teeth. and shake it as dog
shakes struggling woodchuck; then
da>hlng 1t from her mouth, she would |
seize hold OF her own sides, and rend !
herself. Sprlnglng up, she would rush
against the end OF the car, falling all in .
a heap from the violence of the concus-
SION. For some fifteen minutes without
lntermlssion the frenzy lasted. | was
nearly exhausted. Ny efforts to avoid
her mad ruShes, the terrible tension of
my nervous system produced by the spec
tacle OF such exquisite and prolonged
suffering, Were weakening me beyond
what l should have thought it possible
an hour before for any thing to weaken
me. y terror such Il, had never vet
felt was taking possession of my mind.
l >lckened at the sight before me. and at
the thought of agonIes yet TO come. NV
God, | exclaimed, must | he killed by
my own horse in this miserable car. =
Even a | spoke the end came The :
mare raised herself until her shoulders
touched the root, then dashed her body l
upon the floor with violence which {
threatened the stout frame beneath her.
leaned, painting and exhausted, against
The side of the car. Gulnare did not stir.
She lay motonless, her breath coming
and going III lesseuiug respirations !
tottered toward her, and is stood above
her, my ear detected low guroling
sound. | canno. describe the feeling
that followed. Jov and grief contended
within me. | knew the meaning of that
sound. Gulnare, in her trenzied violence.
had broken a blood-veSsel. and was
bleeding internally. Pain and If. were
passing away together. | knet down :
by her side, | laid my head upon her {
shoulders. and sobbed aloud. Her body .
moved Il little beneath me- crawled !
forward, and lifted her beautiful head in
10 my lap. ., for one more -ign of re-
before she died | smoothed
he tangled masses of her name. | WHIP ,
'd, with fragment of my coat. torn in ,
he struggle. the blood which oozed from i
lo>tril. | called her 10y name. Nv de-
ire was granted. In moment Gunare >,
'pened her eyes. The redness of frenzy Il
lad passed out Of them. She saw and +
ecognlzed me. | spoke again. Her r.
ye lighted moment with the old and II
Intelligent look of love. Her ear moved ;,
Ter nostril qulvered slightly as she strovc y
o neigh. The effort was in vain. Her h
owe WAS greater than her strength. She y
moved her head little, rs if she would l.
'e nearer me, looked once more with her i
lear eyes INTO my face. breathed LONG .
'reath, Strengthened her shapelv limbs. .
md died. And there, holding the head r
Vt my dead mare in my lap, while the Il
.rcat warm tears fell one after another |
Iowm my checks. sat until the sun wen, +
Iown. the shadows darkened in the car. /
nd night drew her mantle, colurcd like |
ny gret. over the wOrI,I - 4