The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-02-01
THE SHADOW OF FATE.
BY JUDGE JARVIS.

BY JUOGE J1hllN.
A rider was threading his way over a
road which lay along the hills at the base of
the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the region
known as the Piedmont of Virginia, about
the sources of the Rappahannock river.
The man himself might be described in the
same language, as far as it would apply. Be-
yond this his age was'about twenty-three. his
hair brown and full in lock, his eye of a gray
ish blue.
His way quickly brought the traveller. to a
stream now running over its banks. Slipping
easily from his saddle, he frightened the
girths. slaekened the crupper, and, gently
patting his animal, addressed "a few affection
ate words to him. Remounting, ne fixed
himself firmly in the saddle, gathered his
bride in a manner to impart to his compan-
ion his own energy and determination, and
moved into the creek.
Turning up the stream, he proceeded for
about ahundred yards along the bank, and
then struck boldly across in a direct line,
with the horse's head slanted up current.
The depth OF the water did not sensibly in
crease in the course of eighty yards, and the
stranger was congratulating himself upon
the probability of getting over without a
wetting when the animal in two steps in
creased the depth until he could no longer
hold his footing, and sprung boldly into the
middle of a deep, rushing channel. In an
instant, the rider had seized the name of the
;,,l 80 Left 4 LIT To
out of the saddle to the lower side, where he
fioated along.
Man and beast battled bravely with the
flood for a moment, when the former
was startled to feel the horse finch and
turn with a terrified snort down the cur
rent. A quick jerk upon the left rein served
to procure but an instants pause in the pre-
cipitate course of the beast, but in that in
slant the stranger became aware of another
presence By the touch of a clammy object
against his hand
Raising his head above the neck OF the
charger, he saw, dim!y outlined upon the
waving and shimmering surface, dark and
undefnable object The next moment the
desperate Plunges of the beast had obstructed
his vision, When, with the selfcommand of
one accustomed and nerved 20 the hardship
Of athletic sports and soldiers danger, he
swung his leg over the back of his animal
and gathered himself into his saddle.
Reaching out a hand, he vas about to
seize the object OF his horror when it eX>
posed the CHASTITY features OF a woman.
For an instant only he hesitated then,
recovering from the thrill, he grasped the
head firmly by the loose flowing, tangled
mass Of raven tresses, and raised 1t above
the water upon the pOmmel of his saddle.
Turning his head gain up stream. he re-
newed the combat with the tide. Twice il
seemed though man, woman and beast
must all succumn, and twice the noble stTu--
giles of the animal cheated the turgid grave
of it, victims.
Finally, the hoofs once more crunched
the firm bottom Of the stream, and ten PAGES
brought the party safely to the shore.
Feeling the forehead, he found it cold; the
hands were also chilled, but he thought ne
felt slight tiutteI of the pulse. Tearing
open the dress, he pressed his hand against
the heart and found it still warm
His efforts to resuscIIate her were soon
rewarded aud, after few moments, the
woman made an attempt to speak, which re-
suited, however, only in a moaning cry.
At this point he began to look for other
assistance, when he observed "a light upon
the hill above the creek. Once more raising
the body to the pommel OF his saddle and
mounting behind II, he sought the road.
One stepped around TO receive the woman,
and another entered the house to procure
the stimulant.
'Whats this ?" said the one who was as
sisting the traveller in dismounting the wo.
man.
"Send for the nearest physician, at once"
They lifted the motloniess but reviviDg
form into the house, and deposited it upon
a sofa.
The stimulant was soon brought, and,
upon a small portion of il being administer
ed, the woman indicated an increased vital
ity by broken gurgle. This, after a while,
gave way to clearer articulation, in which,
however, only syllables were emitted These
were in turn succeeded by one two sharp
cries of pain, which gradually subsidized into
a moaning, chatter of wailing, incoherent
sentences.
At this point the stranger, in raising his
hand to her head to brush the tangled hair
from her brow, noticed clot of blood upon
the wet skin of his finger; rubbing it of, he
found no trace of a wound.
"She must be bleeding" be CALCULATED.
"See if there is a cut anywhere"
An examination soon revealed a CHASTITY
left side of the head, above the ear, and just
behind the temple. The locks were matted
over it, and the blood still oozed slowly from
its mouth.
Pending the arrival of doctor, the stran-
ger clipped the hair from around the wound,
and after bathing il with feminine tender
ness, he gave the patient over 10 the charge
of the ladies of the house, who were in at
tendance.
81 presume you are the host, sir" said he,
at once, addressing the elder of the two. "If
l. % Lot hav
bed until can rest for an hour or so and
dry my clothing, | shall resume my journey
under great obligation to you. Matters OF
Importance urge me to lose no time, and
shall only delay until my horse can recruit
for the balance of my ride. In fact, but for
the incident of finding the unfortunate lady
in the creek, / should have continued on
the road without consulting my comfort so
far"
"WiIl you tell me how you happend upon
the adventure, and how you account for the
lady's wound and present condition p
The traveller gave a brief account of the
events, without, however, throwing any
light upon his own identity or business.
a May ! ask your name, sir?" inquired the
hos, whom we will introduce to the reader
as Mr.. Thornton, or Squire Thornton, as he
was dubbed by his neighbors in honor of his
being justice of the peace.
\
al beg pardon for the misconstruction.
Nv name IS Gaspard Durer, a short while
since a soldier in the French service. Do
YOU see anything in my appearance or any
thing else about this case which justifes you
in interrogating me officially %
"Un:il one who is found with body that
has been murdered or dangerously assaulted
has accounted satisfactorily for his presence
there. there is a legal suspicion fixed upon
him"
off must be detained to satisfy the Law,
l Weld to the annoyance with as little i'm
patience as possible, where the officer of the
law exercises his duties SO courteously."
After few more remarks we're passed,
the squire babe his son Eddie conduct the
gentleman to his room and see him veil pro.
vided for the night.
After the traveller had left, the vagrant
still fingered. Shifting his hat restlessly
but mechanically, he seemed to resume
conversation which hal probably been in