Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1880-02-06
ARIDE ron LIFE.
From new Novel, Of Life at the south, "a
Fools Errand-"
BY ONE OF THE FOOLS.

| glow, when ahorseman came in sight
and rode up to the gate. After a
moments scrutiny of the premises he
seemed satisfied, and uttered the
usual halloo which it is customary
for one to give who desires to com
municate with the household IN that
country. Lily rose, and advanced
to the steps.
"IIere's a letter." said the horse
man, as be held an envelope up to
view, and then, as she started down
the steps, threw it over the gate in
to the avenue, and, wheeling his
horse cantered easily away. Lily
picked UP the letter. 1t was direct
ed in coarse, sprawliug hand
@CoLoNEL COMFORT SERvossE,
WARRINGTON"
In the lower left hand corner, in a
more compact and business like
hand, were written the words, 'Read
at once" Lily read the superscrip-
ton earelessly as she went up the
broad avenue.
She went into the house, and call
ing for light, glanced once more at
the envelope, and then broke the
seal. thread:
COLONEL SERvossE.-A raid of
K. K has been ordered to inter
cept Judge Denton on his way home
tonight (23d inst. 1t is under
stood that he has telegraphed to you
to accompany him home. Do mot do
| it. Ifyou can by any means, give
him warning. It is big raid, and
means business. The decree is, that
he shall be tied, placed in the mid.
die of the bridge across the river,
the planks taken up on each side, so
as to prevent a rescue, and the
bridge set on fire. I send this warn
ing for your sake. Do not trust the
telegraph. / shall try to send this
by safe hand, but tremble lest it
be to late. 1 dare not sign my name
| bat subscribe myself your
UNKNOWN FRIEND"
The young girl stood for mo-
ment paralyzed with horror at the
danger which threatened her father.
It did not once occur to her to
doubt the warning she had received.
She glanced at the time piece upon
the mantle. The hands pointed to
eight o'clock.
'Too late, too late!" she cried as
she clasped her hands, and raised
her syes to heaven in prayerful
agony. She saw that she could not
reach Verdenton in time to prevent
their taking the train, and she knew
it would be useless to telegraph af-
terwards. 1t was evident tn at the
wires swere under the control of the
Klan, and there was no probability
of a message being delivered, if
sent in time to prevent the catastro-
phe.
@Oh, my dear, dear papa!'' she
cried, as she realized more fully the
danger, go GodI can nothing be
done to save him?"
Then new thought flashed upon
her mind. She ran to the back
porch, and called sharply but quiet
"WiIiami oh williamen
=
civilian, .said Lily as the stable
boy appeared, 'sput M saddle on
Young Lollard, and bring him
round as quick as possible" T"
'But, Miss Lily, you know dat
hoss"-the servant began to espostu-
late.
81 know all about him, William.
Don't wait to talk. Bring him
out"
"All right, Miss lily he replied,
with bow and scrape. But as he
went toward the stable, he solilo-
quized angrily, ''Now what for Miss
LILY want to ride dat pertickerler
boss, you s'pose? Never did afore.
Nobody bat the kannel ebber on
his back, an be hab his hands
full wild him sometimes. Desc fur
rer-bred hosses jes' de debbil any
how! Dar's dat young Lollard now,
It's jes' bout all a mans lif's wath
ter rub him down, an saddle him.
Why can't she take de old an? Here
you, Lollard, come outen dati"
He threw open the door of the
log stable where the horse had his
quarters, as be spoke, and almost in.
stantly, with short, vicious whinny,
powerful dark-b brown horse leaped
into the moonlight, and with ears
laid back on his sinuOus neck, with
teeth bare and thin, blood-red nos
trils disteuded, rushed towards the
servant, who with loud "Dar now!
Look at himI Whoa! See de dam
rascal" retreated quickly behind
the door. The horse rushed once or
twice around the little stable
yard, and then stopped suddenly be-
side his keeper, and stretched out
his head for the bit, quiHering in
every limb with that excess of vital
ity which only the thorobred horse
ever exhibits.
Before the horse was saddled, Lily
had donned her riding habit, put
revolver in her belt, as she very fire.
quently did when riding alone, swat
lowed q hasty supper, scrawled a
short note to her mother on the en-
velope she had received-which she I
charged William at once to carry to |
her-and she was ready to start on
snight ride to Glenville.
=
The brawny groom with difficulty |
held the restless horse by the bit; |
but the slight girl, who stood upon |
lie block with pale face and set
teeth, gathered the reiusin her hand,
leaped fearlessly into the saddle
found the stirrup, and said, ,s'Let him
go! without a quiver in her voice.
The man loosed his hold. The horse
stood upright, and paved the air for
.moment with his feet, gave a few
mighty leaps to make sure of his lib
rty, aud then, stretching out his
eek, bounded forward in a race
Fhieh would require all the mettle |
jf his endless line of noble sires.