The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-12-10

the next we saw Of her, she was creepino
along the pole between the horses. steadv-
ing herself with her both hands on their
backs.
The horses went tearing on like wild
horses, their names flying, and their great
bodies quivering all over.
Every instant the girls were becoming
more excited.
Queeny was holding Mrs. BANDS cous-
in with both hands, to prevent her leap
ing out. Kate cried:
1--WE are almost to the turn. What ia
Ray doing9 She will brighten the horses
worse than ever!'' and she covered her
eyes.
The brow of the hill was not tortv
feet off. Far behind, we could hear
Ooed's voice screaming to the horses to
stop. The keeper of the tower was flving
toward us.
But they were too far away to do anv
good. There seemed not one chance in a
Thousand for us. But that very instant.
when we all believed we were lost, we
looked at Ray.
We saw her reach forward with one
hand, and grasp the reins which Joined
the heads of the horses together. Just
where the connecting straps crossed one
another, her fingers clutched them.
One sharp, fierce jerk of those great
heads backwards, and the horses slacken-
ed their speed, and in an instant mors
stopped.
The wagon stood still, although the
horses were plunging yet But that
small hand of Rays held on with a
deathlike grip, and in a moment more,
Obed caught the horses by their heads.
His face was as white as ever it could
be, and he spoke one word only. TWAS:
"Hornets!"
The horses had been stung in more
than twenty places. They were unhar-
messed at once, and we were all out on
the ground directly.
We laughed and we cried, and Mrs.
BANDS cousin distinguished herself by
1ainting away.
II don't blame the horses in the least,'
Queeny said. "One sting is bad enough,'
and she showed where her eye was be-
ginning to swell. "The hornets came
swarming out of the woods there" As
tor Obed, he was Inundated man.
"But was the one to blame" he said.
II thought the horses would "a stood till
Their hides dropped off'n Their ribs; but
1 tell ye Their never was the team hitch
ed up that 'ud STAN hornets. Blarst the
creeturs!' he added, in an undertone.
"But Ray Tinkhamv" cried Kate, and
she went up to where the little thing was
sitting on rock, looking pale. "You
saved us all. you blessed child. How
did you ever think of doing that?''
my grandmother stopped some run
away horses in that way once,'' gasped
Ray. II didn't know whether I could
stop these, but knew somebody must
do something, or we should all be dashed
to pieces.''
SWELL" spoke Obed, give known O.
that things bein' done just once afore IN
my lifetime, but it was boy that did it.
There's sayin' 'mongst teaming men
that, when you haint got the reins, you
can stop runaway if you walk out on
the pole and grip hold of the brides, but
faint every horse that'll stand it,"
''But wasn't it splendid of Ray?" cried
Loua, going over and putting her arms
round her.
"Never knew girl could have so much
pluck" answered the driver. IF she
hadn't "a been light on 'er feet, an lev
ell in 'er head, she never cd "a done it. I
tell you if these horses hadn't been un-
common good horses. nothing on airth
would "a stopped 'em." -.
And Ray?I never meant to make SO
ong story of it, but l must tell you
that we gave her party sooa after this.
All the fathers, and mothers and brothers
went, and we carried her a carpet for her
room and new chamber set, and nice
new clothes all through; and a few of
the gentlemen gave her handbook,
whatever that may mean. I only know
that she was to have the income of GER
tain money, and that it was enough to
educate her thoroughly. We had the
best time that night, and Queeny's
father took Ray out to supper, and she
sat at his right hand, and everybody
treated her as though she had been prin-
cess of the blood. g.. 80. -
10 believe there never was happier
girl on earth than Rachel that night.