The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-09-21
SOLD.
A gOOd old-fashioned house Of


summer time you might dose away
upon a rattan settee, while the bird;
in the thick foliage sent you into
dream. land with a sweet song il
your ears, was the country residence
of Abner Walden. Happy the man
who was lucky enough to re-
ceive an invitation to spend few
weeks in the hot season at this de-
lightful place.
There was beauty without and
beauty within; but 1 take it, a man
would hardly care to admire the
beautiful walks, trees, sshrubbery and
artificial lakes, if he could be per-
mitted to do homage to the lOveli>
ness which reigned within those old
gray walls, and which was found in
the person of Elsie Walden, only
daughter of Mr.. Abner Walden,
merchant.
1 will not attempt to describe her,
for 1 can't do it; neither do 1 be-
lieve there is a pen capable of giving
full idea of her surprising beauty
and her amiable disposition. There
is only one remark l dare venture in
regard to her personal appearance,
and in uttering it I feel how poor is
the power of language to convey my
meaning, when I say she had large,
dreamy, blue eyes, out of which her
very soul seemed to gaze.
l met her first at her fathers city
residence, where, through business
transactions, 1 had the pleasure Of
being a frequent visitor. The invi-
tation he extended to me of visiting
him at his country house during the
summer, was as gladly accepted as
it was cordially given.
1t was a pleasant day for August
when l placed my travelling bag in
the bottom of my driving wagon, and
whirled away from the hot, busy
city toward Mr.. Walden's house.
My horse, a high spirited creature,
seemed to enjoy the odor of the green
fields as much as did his master; and
he tossed his name and neighed as
he drank in the pure air that was
waited across the country.
By noon 1 was in a mile of my
destination, and, although 1 knew
it not, was in the immediate vicinity
of a quarry of fine blue stone which
Mr.. Walden mad recently opened,
and was then working. The first
impression 1 had of any thing being
wrong was man springing out into
the road directly in front Of me, and
waving his hat as he shouted:
"Stop, sir, quick; you haven't a
minute to loose"
Ere 1 could heed his injunction my
horse had taken fright, and getting
the bit between his teeth, dashed
furiously onward.
"Be jabers, but you are goner,"
cried fellow, as I few by him,
vainly endeavoring to wrench the
bit from the animals teeth. The
next instant a heavy explosion, which
almost lifted my wagon from the
earth, caused the maddened creature
to redouble his terrible speed. Earth
and stones darkened the air for sew
eral moments, and although they fell
thickly around me, 1 was unhurt.
Onward the horse dashed, while
a constant stream of fire seemed to
fly from his hoofs. / turned my
head for an instant and looked over
my shoulder to perceive party of
workmen hurrying along the road,
endeavOring to keep me in sight. 1
knew 1 was in the power of the in
furiated beast, who was probably
carrying me to swift destruction,
but had no means to arrest his
fight. In my efforts to check him,
l braced my feet firmly against the
iron at the bottom of the dasher,
and throwing all my strength in the
attempt, one of the reins broke, and
he now had free head.
1 don't know what reflections
passed through my mind-perhaps l
did not think at all; but suddenly
there came a crash, then a bright
light seemed to flash in my eyes,
while a dull, painless sensation af-
fected my head, and that's all re-
member or care to remember.
What followed is better known to
others than myself.
1 had not much idea of the situa>
ton until l opened my eyes to con-
seriousness the next day. l found
myself in a comfortable room with
two persons standing by my bedside,
and basin of bloody water and
some bandages lying on a table. My
mind was so confused that l could
not recollect what had happened,
and scarcely recognized Mr.. Walden
and the surgeon who were at my
side.
"Collar bone broken and severe
confusion about the head" said Mr..
Walden, as if he were repeating the
surgeons words. "That's pretty
bad"
"Oh, he'll get along nicely" re-
piled the doctor, "only keep him
quiet. I'll stop again tomorrow. -
When the morrow came it found
me sufficiently composed to recall
the accident that had befallen me.
had an acute pain in my shoulders
and chest, and my head, from which
they had cut quantity of hair, felt
very sore.
"YOu had a narrow escape" said
Mr.. Walden; eve had to shoot your
horse, he was so badly injured. /
fear your visit will be attended with
little pleasure, but we'll try and make
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