The Republican journal., 1876-10-05

| Wnlle brlgand hat, with long feather an(
iaunty cloak, turned Oscar into very
handsome gypsy
Our appearance was greeted with louC
applause. Shaking the bells of my tam.
BOURNE, we sang the Troubadour song,
from Trovatore, Oscar taking the tenor,
to my soprano Two or three other songs
followed, and then | went around tol
money, as if we had been real gypsies
Dropping deep courtesy. as approach
ed Mr.. Rhysdale, |. in my choicest Ital-
ian, requested dono After moments s
hesitation, he threw off heavy seal ring
which he always wore on the little finger
OF his left hand, and dropped it into my
hat With murmured 'grazia,n pass
ed on to the next All gave me some
thing. Rejoining my companion, we
sang The Last Rose OF Summer" for
Uncle Ned, who being strictly English
! in his tastes, enjoyed it lar more than
what he called Italian glbberish" Then
we wound up with Il comic recitation BY
Oscar, which occasioned great laughter
Uncle said it was now time to 90 home,
especially rs there seemed to be a storm
brewing And, sure enough, the clear
blue OF the Sky had been overcast bv nu-
HitlouS lNlile clpuuS, ol IN OmlnOuS
black. In the hurry ana confusion of
starting, did not get an opportunity Of
returning Mr., Rhystlales ring Slipping
it on my finger, thought ! would give 1t
to him after we reached home.
After leaving the Glen, the road was
level for more than a mile. and rs smooth
as a board. Here | determined to have
my race | had managed in starting, to
be directly in front of Mr. Rhysdale; and
when we reached the level, | turned sud
denly in my saddle, and called out. laugh
ingly,
'Arace! My heart and hand to the one
who reaches the crossroads before me 7
The gentlemen gallantly accepted my
challenge, and away we all Went, in wild
confusion. For the first quarter of mile
| kept ahead; then Mr. Rhysdale's black
gained Oh ne. We rode steadily, side hv
side, for the next three minutes, leaving
the rest far in the rear At last saw
would he beaten, unless | made use of the
forbidden whip.
One glance at Mr.. Rhysdale's face, and
| struck Il sharp blow across the horse.
The chestnut reared madly. as if stung by
the insult, and then shot forward at light
ming speed. On, on she went, like the
wind. Would We never stop in our mad
career? had lost all control of her be-
fore this, and could only cling to the
mace. Far ahead | saw the cleaning of
Silver Creek in the distance, which ran
deep and wide along the road for more
than a mile.
still heard the clatter Of horses hoofs
behind me, and knew that Mr. Rhys,iale
was straining every nerve to reach ne
had beaten in the race; but at what u
cost. ALI, how bitterly regretted my
rashness And all tor the sake of hum
bling a man professed to despise
We were nearing the creek. A mo-
ment more, and would be plunged in it.
Already felt the waters gurgling around
me, when suddenly the horse SHE'D and |
was flung off.
lost all consciousness for time. When
| recovered, | found myself lying on the
roadside supported by Mr. Rhystiale, who
was gazing into my face with Il look so
solicitous and tender, that could not help
thinking, incongruous as it may seem,
like the old woman in the fairy tale, Can
this be p
Are yon hurt p asked he, as | made an
effort TO raise my head from his arm. Lie
STILL he continued. authoritigely seeing
how faint grew
! glanced down at my arm which hung
M At r. w Vas sc natna t1 # fsef f1h fei ""'' h'"
'Ihe arm, is it?' following the direction
of my eyes and touching it as he spoke.
groancd with pain He was sur
gcon by profession, having studied for
amusement but not practlcing After
making an examination. as we'll AS he
could, he said he thought it was dislocat-
ed
or, if had not been 50 toclsh.' /
groaned-
There is no help for tnow, he replied
gravcly, What we have to consider is
getting home You cannot ride by your
self owing to your arm ard your horse
has taken French leave. You cannot walk
for we have more than seven miles to 90.
cannot 90 for a carriage, even
NO, no. do not leave me! broke out
halt-sobbing
The only way continued ne, will be
for YOU to ride in front OF me-
In front OF YOU y repeated, mechani-
cally. looking at him doubttully, as he
tore his handkerchief into strips to form 4
support for my arm,
"Certaialy,' he replied, in the most un-
concerned manner possible Il can sup
port you very readily, and guide my horse,
too. You are no such great weight said
he, with II smile, placing my arm in the
sing.
There was nothing tor me to do but
submit.
tn It az 81
owing to the joItng which hurt my arm,
and which made me feel so sick and faint.
The storm, which had been gathering
ever since we left the Glen, now made it
sell heard in the sullen muttering of its
thunder, and an occasional flash of light
ming. At last, n BIC drop Of rain which
tell on my face showed it was gcry near.
III we can only escape the drenching,
said Mr.. Rhysdale. who could scarcely see
his way it had grown SO dark
just then light flashed in the darkness
ahead, and well known voice called,
'halloon
10 our great joy it was Oscar, in the
carriage, who looked in amazement at
our singular mode of travelling
Mr. KhysClale cut all his questions short,
and, lifting me into the carriage, arranged
me as comfortably as he could, and bid.
ding Oscar drive. as gently as possible, he
shut the door, and mounting his horse, he
galloped off, to prepare the family to re-
G. i've us.
They are all immensely alarmed about
you at home said Oscar. AT first, we
thought YOU had prolonged your ride fol
fun, but Violet said you would not do
that, in the face of the storm. SO | came
in search of you
We reached the Ferns at last. Uncle
Ned met us ut the carriage door, will
lantern and umbrellas, for the rain was
descending in torrents.
Mr.. Rhy opened the door, and, tax
ing me in his arms as easily as if hat
been feather. carried me into the hall
up the staircase. and into my own room
Here found Violet and Aunt Sophy await
ing me. Violet almost went into mysteries
when she saw me carried in, and laid up
on the bed. Immediately felt it my duty
to faint. and she, of course, concluded
was dead.
After being deluged with cologne ant