The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-06-12

of jet-black color and enormous
strength. By the kindness of my
host l had been allowed to bring
him with me, and many a pleasant
ride had / had on his back with
Bessie CLAW ering.
AS l re-entered the pleasant gar
den attached to the cottage, strove
in vain to catch a glimpse of Bessie,
and reaching the stable without hav.
ing met any one but the old gardener
who greeted me with the usual
"How de do, sar !" / was soon by
the side of Moro, who gave a neigh
of delight as l entered. 1t did not
take me long to put on his saddle.
and as left the yard I learned from
! the old groom that Miss Clavering
had ridden out alone about quarter
of an hour before me. was certain.
ly much chagrined at this, and made
several mental resolves to be fully re-
venged as soon as l could get con-
venient opportunity, l turned down a
lane that led to the bridle-path along
the top of the cliffs, and let the reins
fall over Moro's neck, abandoned
myself to building castles In the air,
in the erection of which Bessie took
very prominent part. The spot
was admirably adapted to medita-
ton. To my left a small wood,
through the breaks in which Gimp
ses of the rising upland were caught
every now and then, straight ahead
a broad expanse # purple heather,
to my right the rugged steep cliffs,
at the foot of which lay a vast tract
Of sand, as the sea, owing to the flat
shore, retires a distance Of nearly
four miles; far away in the distance
the bright dancing waters, with a
sail or two in sight, and over the
whole glorious expanse of blue,
across which the light morning air
blew few white scudding clouds.
Some three and half miles from
the shore there extended right along
the coast a low sand bank, which
was at once a source of ofpleasure and
danger to the int abitants and fisher
men. When the tide flowed the sea
beat against the bank for some time,
till at last, with an angry roar, it sur
mounted the obstacle and came tear.
ing down the incline like a very ava
lanche. Many accidents resulting in
loss of life had taken place, owing to
the ignorance or carelessness of tour
lists and others, who, lulled into a
state of fancied security by the dis
tance of the sea, and unaware of the
peculiarities of the place, would wan
der about on the sands till overtaken
by the tide, when they were placed,
as it were in an instant, beyond hu-
man assistance, and were invaribly
lost. Danger signals and notices had
been put up in every prominent po-
sition by the|auth critics who were &C.
eustomed at the turning of the tide
to fire signal-gun but with all that,
the sands were SO tempting, and the
very bleezes that waited across them
so delicious, that scarcely day pas.
sed without some party or other,
generally mounted, ventured upon
them. AS looked down l could
see nothing but solitary speck at a
distance, which l soon after made
out, through small pocket glass ]
always carried, to be person on
horseback cantering alone. paid
no particular attention at the time,
and continued my way, gathering up
the reins as Moro broke into a gen
tie trot. l was now on the very
edge of the cliffs, where single
false step would at once have pre-
cipitated me to the sands below, ant
consequently, although Moro wal
wonderfully sure footed, and wei
acquainted with the path, l moved
along with considerable caution
The beauty of the scene and the ex
ercise soon dispelled the gloominesl
that had oppressed me, and as my
blood began to circulate quickly my
spirits rose, and began to sing righ
merrily. The path now took a turl
by the deep gorge, and as | did no
wish to 60 around it, distance o
nearly mile, l resolved to put Mo
ro across it +; so, patting him on th'
neck, for never touched him will
a spur or whip, I called to him th'
noble horse understood me at once
and increased his speed, on he went
the pace getting faster and faster
till, at the gorge, Moro rose with
splendid bound, and alighted safel.
on the other side. | now got ful
view of the sands again, and foun,
that l was considerable nearer tn
person on horseback below, in fact
that we had been moving towar'
one another. At that moment Nor
suddenly stopped, and tossing hi
head in the air, gave loud neigh
Somewhat astonished at this pre-
seeding, 1 looked more carefully
and precieved by the futter c
the dress that the person on horse
back was lacy. l became interest
ed, and taking out my glass, disco1
cred it was no other than Bessie
who had been cantering alone on tn
sands on mare that her father ha
lately bought her. Moro had n
, doubt recognized his stable compaI
, ion. / debated with myself whethe
l should return, and, by taking
short cut, and meet her on her wa
home, in order to upbraid her for h
{ misconduct in going out alone, whi
! was cogitating, Moro uttered
, snort of alarm, looked, and behel
r a sight that for moment took aws
my breath. From some cause {
| other Bessie's horse seemed to ha,
/. taken fright and become unmanag
able all at once it tore away Lii
D wind in the direction of the sea. 1
!. the same moment heard the di
!. tinct boom of the signal.gun whit
{ announced that the tide was about
0 turn. The full horror of the stu
J, ton now flashed across me; unle
y the mare could be stopped in tim
D my love would be overtaken by Il
!, sea, and lost before my very eyes,.
8 A cold chill took possession of n
4 and for a moment / stood motto
a less. Bessie's figure was already b
:. coming smaller as she was borl
4 rapidly onward. "Now or neve
!. Moro !" / said, as / rose in the ST
It rups; and the gallant old hor
d seemed to understand me, for
I lmpatiently paved the air with
a fore feet. The next thing was he
r to get upon the sands. "The gore
oh, the gorge!" / touched MOI