The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-06
THE SHADOW OF FATE.
BY JUDGE JARVIS.

A rider WAS threading his way over q road
which lay alongthe 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 grayish
blue.
His way quickly brought the traveller to a
stream now running over its banks. Slipping
easily from his saddle, he frightened the girths,
slackened the crupper, and, gently patting his
animal, addressed a few affectionate words to
him. ~Remounting, he fixed himself firmly in
the saddle, gathered his bride in O manner to
impart to his companion his own energy and
determination, and moved into the creek.
Turning up the stream, he proceeded for
about q hundred yards along the bank, and
then struck boldly across in a 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 was
congratulsting himself upon the probability Of
getting over without a wetting, when the ami
NAL in two steps increased 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 horse in his left hand, and
slipped smoothly out Of the saddle to the lower
side, where he foated along.
Man and beast battled bravely with the flood
for q moment, when the former was startled to
feel the horse finch and turn with q terrific
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 a Shiny
object against bis hand.
Raising his head above the neck Of the
charger, he SAW dimly outlined upon the wav-
ing and shimmering surface a dark and unde-
Enable object. The next moment the desper-
ate plunges Of the beast had obstructed his
vision, when, with the self command Of one
accustomed and nerved to the hardship of
athletic sports and a soldiers danger, he
swung his leg over the back of the animal and
gathered himself up in the saddle.
Reaching out a hand, he WAS about to seize
the object Of his horror, when it exposed the
ghastly features Of q 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 water 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, and twice the noble struggles
of the animal cheated the turgid grave Of its
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 he felt
a slight fiutter 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 q 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 more raising the
body to the pommel Of the 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.
whats this ?" said the one who was assist
ing 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 q sofa.
The stimulant was soon brought, and, upon
a small portion of it being administered, the
m indicated an increased vitality by a
broken gurgle. This, after q while, gave way
to clearer articulation, in which, however. only |
svllables we're omitted. These were in turn
succeeded by ono or two sharp cries OF pain,
which gradually subsidized into a moaning chat
ter of wailing, incoherent sentences.
At this point the stranger, ia raising his
hand to her head to brush the tangled hair
from her brow, noticed a clot Of blood upon
the wet skin of his finger rubbing it of, he
found no trace of q wound.
"She must be bleeding" he calculated
6 see if there is a cut anywhere"
An examination soon revealed a CHASTITY
wound, an ugly, gaping abrasion upon the
side Of the head, above the ear, and just
behind the temple. The locks were matted
over it, and the blood still oozsd slowly from
ts mouth. ~
Pending the arrival Of a doctor, the stranger
clipped the hair from around the wound, and,
after bathingi it with feminine tenderness, he
gave the patient over to the charge Of the
aides of the house who were in attendance.
IL presume you are the host, sir, said he.
It once, addressing the elder of the two. "If
7ou will he kind enough to let me have q bed,
can get rest for an hour or 30 and dry
ny clothing, I shall resume my journey under
treat obligation to you. Mattersof importance
lrge me 10 lose no time, and I shall only de-
az until my horse can recruit for the balance
# my ride. In fact, but for the incident Ut
hiding the unfortunate lady in the creek, I
hould have continued on the road without
onsnlting my comfort 80 far"
"WIl you tell me how you happened upon
he adventure, and how you account for the
ady's wound and present condition ?"
The traveller gave a brief account Of the
vents, without, however, throwing any light
lpon his own identity or business.
May I ask your name, sir ?" inquired the
whom we will introduce to the reader as
Ir. Thornton, or Squire Thornton, as he was
dubbed by his neighbors in honor Of bis being
justice Of the peace.