The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-01

like torn 1iear.5 It illumincd thu dread
tnl mountain and the gaunt forest with
the ghost of q light that shimmcred and
wavered half way between q lear and =
smile But the little maid kept her wav.
flying, as it seemed to herself. a,wavs IN
the dark, while the shuddering shadows
on either side Of her made great Jumps
over her head, and reached and drew
back their black-gloved hands. Mi
Ii "Why, Johnny, she said to herself. at
once, Johnny, / never shall find YOU:
and may be your wheels have gone over
the side of the mountain in this dreadful
dark" And then she was half CRYING.
and she put her hands over her ewes: but
the little mare felt her way on and on.
and with her good horse-sense stepped
now to this side, now to that, ACCEPTING
the warnings her sensitive feet took from
bad ground. They left behind them the
great rock from whose solid heart the
road had been hewn, the clump Of fra
that blackened all one side of the hill,
the round, bare-headed mountain that
through the whole year stood uncovered
among it's fellows. A hundred stream
they dashed through that sputtered and
splashed and made their outcry, and the
night was now hideous, now musical
with the sounds that walled or sung
through it. The sough of the pines filed
the ears set to every sound; SILVER like
a moan came up through the branches: a
dozen sighs at once breathea across the
startled lips; every twig, every stone
and stick seemed to echo like the
failing twang of harp, and the rushing
waters rollicked family afar off. or
burst into chorus behind or before.
Ehs but 1T was wild ride! Up hill
and down hill, through mud and through
mire, alone in the dead night among
the lonely mountains, with great cry in
the heart OF 80! where are you JOHNNY
Win, and how shall find you at all?''
Despairing eyes pcered through the dark,
and itsl darker imaginings, and fancy
pictured dead man far down the hill
side-perhaps this spot, or this, or this,
had witnessed the first false step, and
such sobs broke through her Ii s that
they came to agony just of themselves.
Her thoughts were wild animals feeding
on her heart, and a hundred times almost
she leaped from her saddle at something
that was like human moan. Calls from
north and south and east and west whis-
pered in her ear, smuggled in under GOV
er OF creaking branch or dashing stone,
like letter under an apron. ssRosie,
my grip s"Rosie Mcguire" "Here 1
am, Rosie, mockin' ye, Rose, an it's
here am, not over there" ooh, Rose,
Rose!" 81 am on the hill now, watchin'
the holses Dance" "No. Rose, no; it's
crawlin' at your stirrup am, waitin'
the lift of your hand" 'Rose, Rosie,
darln'w s:... -
But like hero fighting in battle, she
struck them down, lowering upon her
saddle out of very fear, and shrinking
first from one side to another, uncertain
as to where danger lay. A young girl,
full of her shiverings, her fears. and her
tancles, in thick, dark cut by the
trghtful moon-rays, miles and miles
from an abode: what If some bold fellow
should hear her mares gallop and ride
to her side now? Is it a wonder that she
put her hand over upon the horses neck,
just to make sure of something that was
really alive anda friend?
But, hurrah my brave little Rose, nv
brave bay mare! What is that really
down IN the gulch this time, its fore
wheels in rut and the water plavine
like mill-raceit Through them? As YOU
live, SIX horses, weary and worn. stand
patiently In harness, and 10! man on
the ground with a broken leg and his
reins round his hands, waiting the pain
ful night through till day~and help shall
come; come IN nay, never scream, my girl, nor
lnmp from your saddle so. You've found
him, Rose, you've found him, spite of
OF road and rain and night, and your
two slender wet arms franticallv cling
ing round his neck are like angel touches
to him. gu. 5asa.s-rrs ,.asts ~. :.
Now chirrup to your horses, Johnny
Win, and get your stage out of the rut as
you lie on the ground; then up, man.
over the wheel, dragging your leg after
YOU. Wouldn't that brave girl by YOUR
side make the heart of the very mountain
leap to its mouth2ais% fit =sagra
Slowly and cautiously along the road
they went, the tired mare following be-
hind. Through the shadows and the hills
and the voices. of the night, robbed of
its terrors now, went Rose, and johnny,
and the stage, and the pretty mare across
the treacherous streams, and the thou
sand rayines, and the stones that Law
by the way, and the shadows that
had sprung like wolves to the dainty
stirrup. Slowly, and O, carefully, the
horses ears hanging from very WEAKNESS ::
but, behold! the breaking of the day
brought them to the highest peak of ali,
and the fair down grade was all that Law
between them and rest. Then the horses
pricked up their ears, the wheels spun.
and down they whirled, with Roses own
little foot helping on the break. Well,
we'll, but it was glad they were to see
the houses, though not a soul was STIR.
ring; what with Jonny's broken limb,
and Roses cheeks ,feverish with excite
ment, the night she had spent, the deed
she had done, which must go to the
world, and the bushes of her own
ashamed and confessed love.
Astonished the, hostler was when he
came running, half asleep, and there
was Tim Mcguire staring aghast from an
upper window, and dozen others round
by the numbering stage But Roses ride
was ended, and down she stepped and
Slipped away to hide her face in her o1yn