The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-10-17

and now with Wild rush he darted iron
the spot, the handkerchief being entan
gled about the bride and futtering il
Lis eyes as he ran. There was no on
TO stop the runaway while it was easy {,
do, or rather the few who might hav,
done so were quite as badly frightened
as the trembling girl who now chung t.
the careening vehicle and strove to ar
rest the demoralized horse by her voice
Loud shouts of " Whoai" from the side
walk do not accomplish much at sucl
times.
; Wash Jones saw the handkerchief
fluttering down toward the horse, as il
, stood in front of the village bank, and
made "A testing remark that brought 8
roar of laughter TO the lips of those who
heard it. But when the mischief which
had been wrought was apparent, very
| sudden change came over the manner
of the loafer.
"Go in and save the gall" shouted a
. fellow-loafer. -
The words were spoken in Jest, but
Wash caught at the idea, and with a
bound away event through the rolling
dust in fierce pursuit of the flying horse.
Hearty cheers of encouragement rang
out as he passed, but no attention was
given to aught save the one object of
his desire. Surely there was something
heroic in the efforts he was putting
! forth, but was it possible that he could
maintain his fearful speed long enough
to reach the horse and check him in his
fight? For moment the animal slack
ened his speed, then changed his course
/ toward the river, bringing him almost
within reach of his pursuer's hand. But
as Wash gave mighty spring, hoping
/ to grasp the flowing reins, his foot
! struck loose pebble and he fell heavily
to the ground.
A cry of despair went up at this mis-
hap, but even as it rose he was upon his
feet again, and comprehended how
many precious yards of distance he had
lost. "Clear the way, therel" he
shouted, and with series of springs
which seemed more like those of some
desperate wild animal than of human
being, he was alongside the runaway
again. And not alongside only He
caught the reins, wound them about
one strong hand, and then, by great
spring forward, the other hand grasped
the bits. For a moment only was the
result in doubt, then the mastery was
won, and half dozen hands seized the
trembling horse. Wash Jones relaxed
his grasp, dropped upon the ground,
and reaching out his hands drew him
self along till his face rested in the wa
ter of the splashing river
Ellen Brent was saved, but not an in
slant had there been to spare. Before
his last mad plunges ceased the horse
stood knee-deep in the margin of the
stream, and some of those who held him
were foundering about up to their waists
in the water. By main strength the
horse and carriage were pulled back to
point of safety, and then the trembling
maiden, who had crept back upon the
seat and relapsed into state of uncon-
seriousness, was lifted out and carried
into the most respectable of the adjoin-
ing houses. - ...-. f. IN
While this was being done, her father
arrived on the spot, excited and breath
less, fourishing in his hand quantity
of crumbled bank-notes. He had Just |
received them from the teller at the
bank, and was about to count the
amount, when the runaway was noticed. |
His first thought was for the safety of |
his daughter, and he ran as quickly as
possible to the scene of her rescue.
81 never knew the old horse to run
before, he exclaimed, soothing the ex-
cited nerves of his daughter; "what |
was it frightened him?"
r. The rescued girl could not tell; she
had seen nothing till the horse sprang
forward with force that nearly threw |
her from the seat; but there were those |
present who had seen the entire occur
renee and the heroic pursuit of Wash |
Jones.
Wash Jonesi" the father repeated. |
g You don't mean to say that he over
took a runaway horse and stepped it?n
81 Yes, he did" retorted big fellow !
of not very savOTy appearance or repu-
tation. "YOuT kind of folks make a
great ado agin Wash; but kin tell You,
mister, if it. hadn't been for him YOU
wouldn't he'd any darter now.",
And the doclaration was confirmed by !
all who had seen the heroic act.
"Where is the brave fellow? / want
TO see him. VIII some of you bring
him IMP"
Several started to summon the res
cuer, but he was not to be found. He
had risen to his feet and disappeared
without word. When his horse was
again in proper mood for driving, Mr..
Bent started homeward, calling at the
house of Mrs. Jones, but her son was
not there, and after leaving a very earn
est message of gratitude s'for the Young
man y when he should return, the hap
ply father drove TO his home. 80 --
That home was pleasant one, some 7
two miles from the village, with a beau
tltul farming region about the house
and grounds, in pleasant contrast with
the humber farm-houses in that vicini-
"; Tor Mr.. Brent. had by careful thrift
and moderate Inheritance made him.
self the master of a comfortable little
property. The money he had that day |
drawn from the bank wasnotto be used
until the following afternoon; SO he put
le-carefullyina little iron-beund trunk,
placed the key in a private receptacle,
and at the usual hour sought his couch,
quite exhausted with the duties of the /
day and the severe nervous trial through
which he had passed.
-OBSS- -hS~hAit DUbcOiuS LlLlC III
the nightwhat seemed an unusual pres
ence of some sort in or about his room
reused him, and thinking first of Ellen,
he called her name. An instant hush
followed, if indeed it had been any
thing more thar. fancy that woke him,
but re repeated the name, this time
louder than before, and rising in bed. !
The next moment a brilliant flash of
light struck full in his eyes, almost
him by its intensity but he
,oald see, only few inches from his
lace. the deadly gleam of revolver
md three dark forms in his room. -
another yell like that III be yer lasti
Back into bed with yerl" Kissed saw
lge voice, and the point of q knife was
dressed to his breast by way of en-
1hasis. = ''d q. ; fr-slt
Quite helpless as he was, there was
nothing for Mr.. Brent to do but to sub
nit. Possibly a few moments would be