The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-12
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA, THURSDAY,

stand me, for he impatiently paved the
air with his fore-feet. The next thing
was how to get upon the sands. "The
gorge oh, the gorge ~ I touched
Moro, and in few seconds we had
reached it. 1t was frightful declivity,
and the descent seemed impossible yet
it was my only chance, and I deter
mined to make the attempt. Carefully,
and with the greatest caution. 1 guided
Moro, and after few moments of agon-
lied suspense gained the sands. L knew
L had only one course before me--to
purs,te the mare, and then attempt to
race the tide. "Moro !" I shouted
Moro we ride to save my love u
Moro shook himself as if he knew what
tremendous effort was demanded of
him, and settled down to his work. By
this time Bessie was quite half the dis
tance toward the sea. Would L reach
her in time In order to Tighten the
weight, [ threw away my overcoat, my
hat, coat, and waistcoat L called upon
Moro he seemed to fly. We were
gaining upon the mare evidently, but
still the awful question rose to my lips,
Would it be in time? could already
hear the roar and surge of the waters,
and the rising wind warned me that the
tide would that morning probably ex-
ceed its usual height. My blood was
thoroughly up. I determined either tc
save my love or to perish with her. We
were now but half mile apart.
shouted until I was hoarse, but all tc
no effect, for the wind was dead in oul
faces. Moro seemed to participate il
my excitement, and strained every
nerve to overtake the mare. We were
not more than two hundred yards dis.
tant from the sand-bank, against which
the waves were dashing with unwonted
force. Another second and the mare
would have passed the bank, be over.
whelmed by the raging waters, and all
would be lost. I screamed in my agony
I thought L heard low wall in re.
sponse.
shut my eyes, as I could not bear tc
look, but opened them again immediate.
ly, as Moro gave a whinny of pleasure.
All what is that ?" The mare had
stumbled and thrown Bessie, and then
plunged wildly, in her terror and fury,
into the waves. In an instant L was
alongside my love, had dismounted,
and was kneeling by her. "Bessie
Bessie! oh, my darling, are you dead
Oh, speak to me speak to me p After
few moments, which seemed to me an
age of torture, she opened her eyes,
and said, family, "Jack, my best be.
loved, save yourself; the tide will be
over the bank in a second or two. Give
my love to dear papa" Then, exhaust.
ed, she fell back in a dead faint. L tore
my hair in despair; I raved like mad
man. What could do? At last 1 be-
came calmer, for desperate resolve had
taken possession of me. Moro should
have a double burden, and we would
try and outstrip tile tide. we would ,ooc
with death 1 soon placed my darling
across the saddle, and leaped up be-
hind her just as the first spray came
dashing over the bank. 1 knew not an
instant was to be lost. We started for
the shore. 1 patted Moro. 1 said to
him, "Moro, you bore my father
through the ranks of death at Balakla-
va. Oh, save his son!' To add to my
agony, now perceived that storm was
impending The sky was overcast
heavy drops of rain began to fall; and
every now and then lurid flash lit up
the darkling air. We We're now but two
miles from the shore, and if could
only reach the gorge in time, I knew
we were saved. called again on Moro.
The noble horse for the first time utter
ed signs of distress.
A new terror now seized me-would
Moro's strength last? 1 turned and
looked, and through the binding rain
saw, to my horror, that the sea was al
ready breaking over the bank. 1t would
be upon us almost directly. I urged
Moro on afresh, but the poor animal
appeared unable to increase his speed.
Boom boom! "Ah! what is that
Thank God, we have been observed,
and they are fastening to our help! I!
The signal-gun! "Moro, my Moro,
but few seconds longer-a few seconds
longer!" We tore along. Bessie still
lay insensible in my arms. The cliffs
now rose frowning before us. Another
hundred yards and we are saved. "On
Moro, on! 1 hear the roar of the de.
scending tide" Once more L turned,
and as the lightning flashed, saw the
waters raging and surging almost at the
horses heels. At that moment Moro
staggered. The sea was upon us and
over us. I heard ringing in my ears.
1 gave one last, one agonized shrek,
and remembered no more.
= \ \
Iawoke 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.
SIS well too" he said.
Do you want to know whether I mar.
ried Bessie? If you do, go to More
combe Bay, ask for the Hawthornes,
and maybe you'll see an old black mill,
tary charger, almost blind, with two ol
thre curly-headed little urchins on his
back, all laughing and clapping theil
hands as he carries them daintily up
and down the path.