The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-08-01
the greatest caution. I guided Moro, and


the greatest caution, guided Moro, and
after few moments of agonizing sus-
pense, gained the sands. L knew L had
only one course before me-to pursue
the mare and then attempt TO race the
tide. Moro" shouted. Moro, ride
to save my love Moro shook himself
as though he knew that tremend-
GUS effort was demanded of him,
and settled down to his work. BY this
time Bessie was quite half the distance
to the sea. Would reach her in time !?
In order to tighten the weight l threw
away my overcoat, hat and waistcoat. L
called upon Moro; he seemed to fly.
We were gaining upon them, but still
the awful question arose to my lips,
Would it be in time?" / could al
ready hear the roar and surge OF the wa
ter, and the rising warned me that the
tide would that morning probably ex-
coed its usual height. My blood was
thoroughly up. L determined either to
save my love or to perish with her. We
were now about half mile apart. l
shouted until / was hoarse, but all to
no effect, for the wind was dead in our
faces. Moro seemed to participate in
our excitement, and strained every nerve
to Overtake the mare. We were not
more than two hundred yards from the
sand bank, against which the waves were
dashing with unwonted force. Another
second and the mare would have passed
the bank, be overwhelmed by the raging
waters, and all would be lost. L screamed
in my agony. 1 thought 1 heard a low
wall in response. l shut my eyes, as L
could not bear to look, but opened them
Immediately as Moro gave Whitney of
pleasure. "Ah, what is that?" The
mare has stumbled and thrown Bessie,
and then plunged wildly, in her terror
and fury, into the waves. In an instant
was alongside my love, and dismounted
and kneeling by her. Bessie Bessie !!
oh, my darling, are you dead? Oh,
speak to me?" After few moments,
opened her eyes and said family, Jack,
my best beloved, save yourself, the tide
will be over the bank in second or two.
Give my love to dear papa" Then, ex-
hausted, she fell back in dead faint. 1
tore my hair in despair L raved like a
mailman. What could do? At last L
became calmer, for desperate resolve
had taken possession of me. Moro
should have double burden, and we
would try and outstrip the tide 1--WE
would race with death / soon placed
my darling across the saddle and leaped
up behind her, just as the first spray
came dashing over the bank. We
started for tht shore. l patted Moro.
I said to him, Moro, you bore my
father through the ranks of death at
Balacklava. Oh, save his son." To add
to my agony, l now perceived that a
storm was impending. The sky was
overcast heavy drops of rain began to
fall, and every now and then lurid
flash lightened the darkling air. We
were now but two miles from the shore,
and if / could reach the gorge in time /
knew we were saved. called again upon
Moro. The noble horse for the first
time uttered cries of distress. A new
terror now seized me-would Moro
strength last? L turned and looked,
and through the binding rain saw to my
horror that the sea was already breaking
over the bank. 1t would be upon us
directly. 1 urged Moro afresh, but the
poor animal appeared to be unable to
increase his speed. Boom boom
"Ah, what is that? Thank God, we
have been observed, and they are
Fastening to our help The signal gun
Moro, my Moro, but few seconds long
er" We tore along. Bessie still lay in
sensible in my arms. The cliffs now rose
frowning before. Another hundred
yards and we are saved son, Moro,
on L hear the roar of the descending
tide" Once more turned, and as the
lightning flashed, saw the raging and
surging waters almost at the horses
heels. At that moment Moro staggered.
The sea was upon us and over us. j
heard ringing in my ears. l gave one
last, agonizing shrek, and remembered
no more.
awoke and found myself in warm
bed, surrounded by compassionate faces.
Mr.. Clavering came forward. "You
must not excite yourself, my boy" he
said. "Bessie is we'll.
And Moro ?" l asked.
Is well, too" he said.
Do you want to know whether mar.
ried Bessie or not? If you do go to
Morecombe bay, ask for the Hawthornes,
and maybe you'll see an old black mill.
tary charger, almost blind, with two OF
three curly-headed little urchins on his
back, all laughing and clapping then
hands as he carries them dantily up and
down the path.