The Osceola times., 1878-01-26
THE SHADOW OF FATE.
By JUDGE JARVIS.

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 gray
ish blue.
His way quickly brought the traveller.t to a
stream now running over its banks. Slipping
easily from his saddle, he tightened the
girths. slackened the crupper, and, gently
pattiug his animal, addressed few affection.
ate words to him. Remountng, he fixed
himself firmly in the saddle, gathered his
bride in 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 direct line.
with the horses 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 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 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 instant's 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 clsmmy object
against his hand.
Raising his head above the neck of the
chsrger, he saw, dim.y outlined upon the
waving and shimmering surface, dark and
undeinable object The next moment the
desperate 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 q soldiers danger, he
swung his leg over the back Of his animal
and gathered himself into his saddle.
Reaching out hand, he was about to
seize the object of his hcrror, when il ex,
posed the ghastly features of woman.
For an instant only he hesitsted; then,
recovering 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.
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, and twice the noble stru..
g!sa 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 slight luta~a of the pulse. Tearing
open tbs dres., he Gresssd his haad against
ths hsayt md found ! still warn.
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