American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-12-27

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with sigh that his wife anti little one,
should not have their quota of the good
things of this world, he passed on.
Suddenly a confused cry-a wild tu
mult-the drawing away of teams upor
either side, or dashing into cross streets
startled him and he knew something
unusual was taking place. Then came
the shout of 50 runaway! run-lway'
and he felt that life or property, oil
both, were being whirled on to destruc.
ton.
Are you mad? Do you want to b,
killed." hurriedly asked many, as they
ran to places of safety, and he remained
standing upon the curbstone.
He gave no heed to the warning He
had braved death far too often to shrink
from it in any event, and most certainly
when at such a distance, His eyes were
fixed up the street upon team of noble
bays that were tearing along, mad with
fright, and surging the sleigh from side
to side-were running ut their utmost
speed, each striving TO Guido the other,
away, driverless. Had that been all, he
would not have troubled himself, deep
as was his affection for biooded steeds,
for he was not at the moment par
ticularly in sympathy with wealth. 1t
was quite another matter that chained
him.
At the first cutlery he had sprung to
and half climbed a lamp-post, and so
obtained a clearer view - one that
thrilled his heart to the very core,
caused his breath 10 be more deeply
drawn, and his pulse to momentarily
cease to beat.
In the sleigh was young and beauti-
full woman, pale with terror. and clasp
ing two lovely children to her breast.
Orion thought of his Jenny and their
little ones, and resolved to save. The
impulse was noble, bu, how was it to be
accomplished Far beyond any human
control We're the frantic horses. To at
| tempt to seize the reins as they dashed
past, and to stop them, would be mad
ness-would be to be dragged down and
| trampled to death. He saw this-saw
that the course of the horses would bring
them directly upon him, and though the
crowd furiously warned him of his dam
ger, he stirred not, only braced muscles
and nerves, and set his teeth with de-
| termination.
"My Godi" exclaimed a man, who
holder than the rest, sprang forward
grappled and would have drawn him
away. 60 You will be killed. Instantly
killedin
Tom Orion shook him off Just as the
horses reached him, watched his oppor-
tunity, seized upon the harness as they
were sweeping past, sprang lightly upon
the back of the nearest, grasped the
reins, and turning to the affrighted
woman and screaming children, shout
ed:
"Keep quiet. Twill save you
And save them he did. Before a
block had been traversed the horses
were made to realize that he was their
master, and the sharp curb cutting deep
ly into their mouths brought them to a
standstill.
The crowd cheered lustily-the police
assisted the woman and children out
and carried them to a neighboring store,
and as soon as the former had in a
measure recovered her senses, she asked
for her preserver, that she might thank
and reward him. But he was not to be
found. All that could be learned was
that as soon as the trembling steeds had
been taken charge of by others he had
disappeared.
"Who could he have been?" ques-
and bloodless lips.
Cant say" answered policeman,
constituting himself spokesman, but
he was brave fellow, anyhow. l would
not have taken the risk he did for thou
sands
"a brave fellow, indeed was the re-
Spouse; "and would give very much
to know his name and where he is to be
found''
So would the policeman, that some
thing of the glory might attach to him
self. But the lady departed homeward
without obtaining the desired informa-
ton, and the sensitiveness of Tom Or
ton caused him to lose the one oppor-
tunity of his life to have risen above
ron-handed poverty.
Meanwhile he was hurrying to bust
ness; more time had been occupied in
the rescue than he thought possible, and
though applause was dear to him Gas to
ally, yet he could not stay to listen, and
as risking his life for money, he had not
even dreamed of such thing.
Out of breath he dashed into the dress
ing-room, and was received with reproof
for being late.
"Couldn't help it, he replied; 81
saw a pair of fiery horses running away
with sleigh and a woman and two
children; thought of my Jenny and
children, and had to stop and save
them"
He told the story very briefly and
modestly while getting ready; didn't
seem to fancy he had done any thing
wonderful, and soon was dashing around
the arena upon spirited steed, switch
ing the world with wondrous horseman-
ship"
The audience applauded to the echo,
and, carried way by the excitement, he
rashly determined to execute his most
daring acts-those given only upon the
greatest occasions, forgetting that the
horse he rode had not been trained to