The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-01-24
THE SHADOW OF FATE.
BY JUDGE JARVIS.

of the Rappahannock river. 81 saT 81
& e.
The man himself might be described in the
same language, as far as it would apply. Be.
You'd this his age was about 23, his hair brown
and full in lock, his eye Of a grayish blue.
His way quickly brought the traveller to .
stream now running over its banks. Slipping
easily from his saddle, he frightened the girths
slackened the crupper, and, gently patting his
animal, addressed few affectionate words tt
him. Remounting, he fixed himself firmly in
the saddle, gathered his bride in manner tt
impart to his companion his own energy and
determination, and moved into the creek.
Turning up the stream, he proceeded fol
about a hundred yards along the bank, ant
then struck boldly across in direct line, will
the horses head slanted up current. The
depth Of the water did not sensibly increase II
the course Of eighty yards, and the stranger
was congratulating himself upon 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. nan instant the rider had seized
the name Of the horse in his left hand, and
| slipped smoothly out of the saddle to the lower
| side, where he foated along.
Man and beast battied bravely with the flood
for 8 moment, when the former was startled to
| feel the horse finch and turn with terrified
snort down the current Aquick jerk upon the
left rein served to procure but an instant's
IN, %foY foo
| in that instant the stranger became aware OF
another presence by the touch of clammy OBJ
| iect against his hand. T 81 8Yip Of 6ai
Raising his head above the neck of the
charger, he saw dimly outlined upon the wav-
ing and shimmering surface dark and unde-
Unable object. The next moment the desperate
plunges of the beast had obstructed his vision,
when, with the self-command of one accus-
toned and nerved to the hardship of athletic
sports and soldiers danger, he swung his leg
over the back of his animal and gathered him
self into his saddle.
Reaching out hand, he was about to seize
the object of his horror, when it exposed the
CHASTITY features of woman.
For an instant 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 water
upon the pommel Of his saddle.
AuEHL1S LIS u0Gu dSd1uA up StI6aIl, ne Tt
newed the combat with the tide. Twice ii
seemed as though man, woman, and beast
must all succumb, and twice the noble strug-
giles of the animal cheated the turgid grave OF
it's victims. J
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
o1o nh Init bo l.
felt slight futter of the pulse. Tearing open
the dress, he pressed his hand against the
heart and found it still warm. ~
His efforts to resuscitate her were soon re.
warded, and. after few moments, the woman
made an attempt to speak, which resulted,
however, only i'll a moaning cry.
At this point he began to look for other as
sistance, 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 it, he sought the road.
One stepped around to receive the woman,
and another entered the house to procure the
stimulant. 7t
"What's this? ?" said the one who was assisting
the traveller in dismounting the woman.
"Send for the nearest physician at once
They lifted the motionless, but reviving,
form into the house. and deposited it upon a
sofa.
The stimulant was soon brought, and. upon
small portion of it being administered, the
woman indicated an increased vitality by a
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 or two sharp cries of PAIN
which gradually subsidized into moaning chat
ter OF wailing, incoherent sentences.
At this point the stranger, in raising his hand
10 11ars haod 11os-,
brow, noticed clot Of blood upon the wet skin
OF his finger; rubbing it off, he found no trace
Of q wound.
"She must be bleedingp' he CALCULATED :;
"see if there is cut anywhere"
An examination soon revealed a CHASTITY
wound, an ugly, gaping abrasion upon the
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
it's 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 10 attendance.
ST presume you are the host, sir" said he,
at once, addressing the elder of the two. "If
you will be kind enough to let me have a bed,
until can rest for an hour or SO and dry my
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"
"Will you tell me how you happened upon
the adventure, and how you account for the
ladys wound and present condition."
The traveller gave brief account Of the
events, without, however, throwing any light
upon his own identity or business.
"May I ask your name, sir?" inquired the
host 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.
ST beg pardon for the misconstruction. Ny
name is Gaspard Durer, short while since a
soldier in the French service. Do you see any
thing in my appearance or anything else about
this case which justi6es you in interrogating
me officially2"
"Until one who is found with body that
has been murdered or dangerously assaulted
has accounted satisfactorily for his presence
there, there is 8 legal suspicion fixed upon
him."