The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-01-23
THE SHADOW OF FATE.
BY JUDGE JARVIS.

A rider was threading his way over a road
which lay along the hill at the base of the Blue
Ridge Mountains, in the region known as the
Piedmont of Virginia, about the sources of the
Rappahannock river. --~-e--- .--..-
The man himself might be described in the
same language, as for as it would apply, Be-
yond this his age was about thirty three, his
hair brown and full in lock, his eye of a gray
ish blue. - -. .-...
= X
His way quickly brought the traveller to a
stream now running over its banks. Slipping
easily from his saddle, he frightened the girths,
slackeLed the crupper, and, gently patting his
animal, addressed q few affectionate words to
him. Remounting, he fixed himself firmly in
tina saddle, gathered his bride in manner to
impart to his companion his own energy and
Turning up the stream, he proceeded for
about hundred yards along the bank, and
then struck boldly across in q direct line, with
the horses head slanted up current. The
depth Of the water did not sensibly increase
in the course of eighty yards, and the stranger
ity of getting over without a wetting, when the
animal in two steps increased the depth until
he could no longer hold his footing, and
sprung boldly into the middle of deep, rush.
ing channel. In an instant the rider had
seized the name of the horse in his left hand,
lower side, where he floated along. af..
Man and beast battled bravely with the food
for moment, when the former was startled to
feel the horse finch and turn with terrified
snort down the current. A quick jerk upon
the left rein served to procure but an instant's
pause in the precipitate course of the beast,
but in that instant the stranger became aware
of another presence by the touch of clammy
object against his hand. .-5r.
Raising his head above the neck of the char
ger, he saw dimly outlined upon the waving
and shimmering surface dark and undidnable
object. The next moment the desperate
plunges of the beast had Obstructed his vision,
when, with the self-command of one accus-
toned and nervcd to the hardship of athletic
sports and soldiers danger, he swung hisleg
over the back of his animal and gathered him.
elf into his saddle
Reaching out hand, he was about to seize
| the object of his horror, when it exposed the
| ghastly features of a woman.
For an instantly only he hesitated; then, re:
covering from the thrill, he grasped the head
firmly by the loose, flowing, tangled mass Of
raven tresses and raised it above the waterup.
on the pommel of his saddle.
Turning his head again up stream. he re.
newed the combat with the tide. Twice il
seemed as though man, woman and beast must
all succumb, aud twice the noble struggles Of
the animal cheated the trugid grave of it's vic
Tins. ss4s
| Finally, the hOofs once more crunched the
finn 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 he fell
slight futter of the pnlse. Tearing open The
dress, he pressed his hand against the hear
and found it still warm.
| His efforts to resuscitate her were soon re-
whrded, and, after few moments, the woman
made an attempt to speak, which resulted
however, only in q moaning cry.
| At this point he began to look for other
assistance, when he observed q light upon the
hill above the creek. Once mere raising thu