Middletown transcript., 1871-11-04
Selrtt Storn.
\ DISAPPOINTED LOVER

a good od.fashioned house Of stone,
surrounded on all four sides by cool.
shady poriico, where in summer time you
might desc away upon rattan scttcc,
while the birds in thick foliage sent sou
into drcamland with sweet song in your
ears, was the country residence Of Abncr
Walden. Happy the man who was lucky
enough TO receive an invitation to spend II
few weeks in the hot season ct this de-
iighttul place.
There WIS beauty without and beauty
within; but | take it, a man would hardly
care TO admire the beautiful walks. trs,cs.
shrubbcry and artificial lakes. il he could
be permitted to do homage to the lowell
ness which rrignei within those old gray
walls, aud which was found in the person
Of Elsie Walden, the only daughter Of Mr.
Abncr Walden, merchant,
will not attempt to describe her. for
can't do it; neither do | believe there is a
pen capable Of giving full idea of her
surprising beauty and her amiabe dispo-
>ition. There is only one remark dare
venture in regard to her personal appear
ance, aud in uitering it feel how poor is
the power Of language to convey my mean.
ing, when say she had large, dreamy
blue eyes. out Of which her very soul
seemed to gaze.
met her first ut her fathers city resi-
aencc, where, through business transac.
tions, | had the pleasure Of being fire.
qucnt visitor The invitation he extended
10 me Of visiting him u, his country house
during the summer, was ms gladly accepted
AS il was cordially given.
Ii was pleasant day in August. when
| placed my travelling bag in the bottom
of a driving wagon. and whifled away
ffom the hot, busy city toward Mr. Wal
dens house. Ny horse, a high-spir,ed
creature. seemed To enjoy the oder of the
green fields as much as did his master
and tossed his name aud ncighcd as he
drank in pure air that was waited across
the country.
by noon vas il mile Of my dc4iina-
ton, and although ! knew il not. wa. in
the immediate vicinity Of quarry of line
blue stone which Mr. Walden had recent, :
ly opened aud was then working The
first impression | bad Of anything being
wrong was mnn spfinging ou, into the
road directly in front OF ne, and waving
his hat as be shouted:
Stop, sir, quick; you haven't min
ute to lnsc"
Ere ! could heed his iniuction my horse
had taken fright, and getting the bit be.
tween his teeth, dashed furiously onward
BE jabers, you nrc goner," cried a
fellow as ilcw by him, vainly endeavor.
ing to wrench the Bit FROM the animal,
teeth. The next instant heavy explo.
sion, which almost lifted my wagon from
tho earth, caused the maddcncd creature
to redouhlc his terrible speed. Earth and
stones darkcncd the air for several mo.
mcn,s, and although they fell thick around
me was unhurt.
Onward the horse dashed, while con.
slant stream Of fire seemed to fly from bis
hoofs. turned my head for an instan,
and looked over my shoulder TO perceive
party Of vorkmcn hurrying along the
road, opdcavoring to keep me in sight
l knew ] was in the power Of the infuria'
ted beast, who was probably carrying N,
to swim destruction, but l had nc mean.
to arrest its fight. In my efforts to CHECK
him. | braced myself firmly against III,
iron at the bottom Of the dasher. and
throwing all my strength in the attempt
one Of the reins broke, and be row had ,
free head.
l don't know what reflections passct
through my mind--perhaps did not ihinl
at all but suddenly there came . crash
then bright light seemed to fash in ny
eyes, while dull. painless sensation az
fected my head, and that's all l remember
or care to remember. WhIs followed i
better known 10 others than myself.
had not much idea Of the situation
until | opened my eyes to consciousness
the dext day found myself in a comfort
able room with two persons stapding b,
my bedside. and basin Of bloody wste
and scms basdascs lying on I table. N,