The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-08-01

fore, rather ignorant OF some OF the
prin' ipal duties of life than unmindfui
of them. The bluff common sense OF
Bessie's father had compelled me to con
slider matters from a practical point Oh
view. and / was now, perhaps, more
ngry with myself than with any one
else. l walked on, but finally deter
mined to return to the cottage and sad
die Moro for ride. Moro mad been
my fathers charger. and had been left
to me, with partic dlar Instructions as to
his care. He was splendid horse of
let black color and enormous strength.
By the kindness of my host had been
permitted to bring him with me, and
many pleasant ride had l on his back
with Bessie Clavering.
As 1 re-entered the pleasant garden
attached to the cottage, l strOve in vain
to catch glimpse of Bessie, and reach
ed the stable without having met any
body but the old gardener, who saluted
me with the usual How'ee do, sir !" /
was soon by the side of Moro, who gave
neigh of delight as / entered. 1t did
not take me long to put on his saddle,
and as / left the yard learned from the
old groom that Miss Clavering had rid
den out alone about a quarter of an hour
before me. L was certainly much cha
grined at this, and made several mental
resolves to be fully .revenged as
soon as l could get convenient oppor-
tunity. / turned down lane that led
to the bride path along the top of the
cliffs, and letting the reins down over
Moro's neck, abandoned myself to build
ing castles i'll the air, in the erection of
which Bessie took very prominent
part. The spot was admirably adapted
to meditation. To my left a small wood,
through the breaks in which glimpses
of the rising upland were caught now
and then straight ahead a broad ex-
panse of purple cliffs, at the foot of
which lay a vast tract of sand, as the
sea, owing to the fiat shore retires a
distance of nearly four miles far away
in the distance the bright, dancing wa
ters, with sail or two in sight, and
over the whole glorious expanse of
blue, across which the light morning air
blue few white, scudding clouds.
Some three and half miles from the
shore there extended right along the
coast a low sandbank, which was ut once
source of pleasure and danger to the
inhabitants and fishermen. When the
tide flowed, the sea beat against the
bank for some time, till at last, with an
angry roar, it surmounted the obstacle and
came tearing down the incline like a
very avalanche. Many accidents result
ing in loss of life had taken place,
owing to the ignorance or carelessness
of tourists and others, who, lulled into
state of fancied security by the distance
of the sea, and unaware of the peculiar
tiles of the place, would wander about
on the sands till overtaken by the tide,
when they were placed, as it were in an
instant, beyond human assistance, and
were invariably lost. Danger signals
and notices had been put up in every
prominent position by the authorities,
who were accustomed also at the turn
ing of the tide to fire signal gun; but
with all that the sands were very tempt
ing, and the very breeze that waited
across them so delicious, that day sell
dom passed without some party or other,
generally mounted, venturing upon them.
As / looked down | could see nothing
but solitary speck mt Il distance, which
l soon made out, through little pocket
glass / always carried, to be person on
horseback cantering along. [ paid no
particular attention at the time, and con-
tinued on my way, gathering up the
reins as Moro broke into trot. [ was
now on the very edge of the cliff, where
a single false step would have precipi-
tated me on to the sands below, and, con-
scquently, although Moro was wonder
fully sure-footed and well acquainted
with the path, | moved along with con-
siderable caution. The beauty of the
scene and the exercise soon dispelled the
gloominess that oppressed me, and as
my blood began to circulate more quick
ly my spirits rose, and / commenced to
sing right merrily. The path now took
a sudden turn by a deep gorge, and as
did not wish to go round it, a distance
of nearly mile, resolved to put Moro
across it so, patting him gently on the
neck, for 1 never touched him with a
whip or spur, l called to him, and the
noble old horse understood me at once,
and increased his speed. On we went,
the pace getting faster and faster, till,
at the gorge, Moro rose with splendid
bound, and alighted safely on the other
side. | now had full view of the
sands again, and found that l was con-
siderably nearer the person on horseback
below-in fact that we had been moving
toward one another. At that moment
Moro suddenly stopped, and tossing his
head high in the air, gave n loud neigh.
Somewhat astonished at this proceeding,
/ looked more carefully, and perceived
by the fiutter of the dress that the per.
son on horseback was lady. L became
more interested, and taking out my
glass discovered that it was no other
than Bessie, who had been cantering
along on the sands on a mare that hel
father had lately bought her. Moro had
no doubt recognized his stable compan.
ion. L debated with myself whether
should return, and by taking short cut,
meet her on her way home, in order tc
upbraid her with her misconduct in go
ing out alone. While / was cogitating
the question, Moro uttered snort OF
alarm. looked and beheld a sight that
for a moment took away my breath
From some cause. or other, Bessie's
horse appeared to have taken fright anG
become unmanageable all at once il
tore away like the wind in the direction
of the sea. At the same moment
heard the distant boom of the sigma
! O1n which announced that the tide was