River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-24
TIE SHADOW OF FATE.
KsY JUDGE JARVIS.


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 ofthe
Rappahannock river.
The man himself mi ght be described in the
same language, as far as 1t would apply. Be
yond this his age was about thirty-three, his
hair brown and full in lock, his eye of a gray
lsh blue.
His way quickly brought the traveller to a
stream now running over its banks. Slipping
easily from mis- saddle, he frightened the girths,
slackered the crupper, and, gently patting his
animal, addressed a few attectionate words to
him. Remounting, he fixed himself firmly in
tina saddle, gathered his bride in a manner to
mpart to his companion his own energy and
determination, and moved into the creek.
Turning up the stream, he proceeded for
about a hundred yards along the bank, and
then strack boldly across in direct line, with
the horses head slanted up current. The
depth of the water did not sepsibly increase
in the course Of eighty yards, and the stranger
was congratulating himselfup the probable
ity of getting over without 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 mane OF the horse IN his left hand,
and slipped smoothly out OF the saddle to the
lower side where he 1oated along.
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,
pause in the precipitate course OF the beasts
but in that instant 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 char
ger, he saw dimly outlined upon the waving
and shimmering surface a dark AMI uhdlhnaoie
object. The next moment the desperate
plunges of the beast had DISTRACTED his vision,
when with the self-command of one accus-
toned and nervcd to the hardship of athletic
sports and a soldiers danger, he swung his leg
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 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 it
seemed as though man, woman, and beast must
all succumb, aud twice the noble struggles of
the animal cheated the trugid grave of its vic
Tins.
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 he felt
slight fiutter of the pnlse. Tearing open the
dress, he pressed his hand against the heart
and found it still warm.
His efforts to resuscitate her were soon re-
worded. and, after a few moments, the woman
made an attempt to speak, which resulted,
however, only in a moaning cry.
At this point he began to look for other
assistance, when he observed light upon the
hill above the creek. Once more raising the
body to the pommel of his saddle and mount
ing behind 1t he sought the road.
One stepped around to receive the woman,
and another entered the house to procure the
stimulant.
whats this q said the one who was assist
ing the traveller in dismounting the woman.
"Send for the nearest physician at once.
They lifted the motonless butreviying form
into the house and deposited it upon a sofa.
The stimulant was soon brought and, upon
a small portion OF it being administered, the
woman indicated an increased vitality by
broken gurgle. This, after a while, gave way
to clearer articulation, in which, however, only
sylIables were emitted. These were in turn
succeeded by one or two sharp cries of pain,
which gradually subsidized into a moaning
chatter of waing, in coherent 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 bleedingr' he calculated; ''see
If there is a cut anywhere
An examination soon revealed CHASTITY
nd 11prly
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 stranger
clipped the hair from around the wound, and,
after bathing it with feminine tenderness, he
gave the patient over to the charge OF the
ladies Of the house who were in attendance
presume YOU are the host, sir" said he, at
once, addressing the elder of the two. "lfyou
win be kind enough to let me have bed I'M
til can rest for an hour or so and dry nay
clothing | shall resume my journey under
great obligation to you Matters OF impor-
lance urge me to lose no time, ard shall only
DELAY until my horse can recruit for the bal
ance of my ride. In fact, but for the incident
Of til ding the unfortunate lady Ia the creek,
should have continued on the road without
consulting my comfort SO far
"Will you tell me how yoa happened upon
the adventure, how you account ioT me lazy
wound and present condition.
The traveller gave brief account Of the
events, without, however, throwing any light
upon his own identity or business.
MAY ask your name, sir|' inquired the
host whom we will Introduce to the reader
as Mr. Thornton, or Squire Thornton, as he
was dubbed BIZ his neighbors in honor Of his
being justice Of the peace.
II beg pardon for the misconstruetion. My
name is Gaspard Durer, short while since
soldier in the French service. DO You see any
thing in my appearance or anything else
about this case which iuthes you IN mterro
eating me ofliciallyw
until 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."
IF I must be detained to satisfy the law, !
yeild to the annoyance with as little impa-
thence as possible where the officer OF the law
exercies his duties so courteonsly.0
After few remarks were passed, the squire
babe his son Eddie conduct the gentleman to
his room and see him well provided for the
night.
After the traveller had left, the vagrant still
fingered. Shifting his hat restlcssly but me
chanical1y. he seemed to resume converse
ton which had 1-obably been interrupted By
the strange exit from the stable
Pears to rue now''--an expression which
indicated the result of some mighty reflection
for his calibre-" Pears to me as he amt tellln
the truth, He amt named Casper Deray, be.
looks like old Raoul Dupuy, and CASTOR afos'e
him, and, if / ain mistaken he's been in these
parts afore."
| aWho,s the woman. Raudy!s