The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
A RACE AGAINST TIME.

A RACE AGAINST TIME.
It was, perhaps, well for the accom-
plishment of her purpose, that, for some
time after setting cut on her journey,
Lily Servesse had emo Ugh to do to main
tain her seat and guide and control her
horse.
Young Lollard, whom the servant had
SO earnestly demonstrated against her
taking, added to the noted pedigree Of his
sire, the special excellence of the Glencoe
strain of his dam, from whom he inher-
tied also darker coat, and that touch of
native savageness which characterizes
the stock of the Emancipator. Upon
both sides his blood was pure as the
great kings of the turf, and what we
have termed his savagery, was more his
excess of spirit than any inclination
to do mischief. It was that uncentroll-
able desire of the thoroughbred horse to
be always doing his best, which made
him restless of the bit and curb, while
the native sagacity of his race had led
him to practice somewhat on the fears of
his groom. With that care which only
the true lover of the horse can appreciate,
Colonel Servosse had watched over the
growth and training Of Young Lollard
hoping that he would rival if he did not
surpass the excellences of his sire. In
everything but temper he had been graft
fed at the result. In build, power, speed
and endurance, the horse offered all that
the most fastidious could desire. In or
der to prevent the one defect of a quick
temper from developing into vice, the
colonel had an inhexible rule that no
one should drive him but himself. His
great interest in the colt, had led Lily,
who inherited all her fathers love for
the noble animal, to look very carefully,
during his enforced absence, after the
welfare of his favorite. Once OF twice
she had summarily discharged grooms
who were guilty of disobeying her faith
er's iniunctions, and always made it a
rule to visit his stall every day, SO that,
although she had never ridden him, the
horse was familiar with her person and
voice. It was well for her that this was
the case, for as she dashed away with the
speed of the wind, she felt how power
less she was to restrain him by means of
the bit. Nor did she attempt it. Merely
feeling his mouth and keeping her eye
on the road before him, in order that no
her by surprise, she coolly kept her seat,
and tried to soothe him by er'voice.
With head outstretched and sinewy neck
stretched to its uttermost, he flew over
the ground in wild, mad race with the
evening wind, as it seemed. Without
jerks or strains, but easily and steadily
as the falcon flies, the highbred horse
skinned along the ground. mile,
two, three miles were made in time that
would have done honor to the staying
quality of his sires, and still his pace
had not slackened. He was now nearing
the river into which fell the creek that
ran by Warrington. As he went down to
the long slope that led to the ford, his
rider attempted in vain to check his
speed. Pressure upon the bit resulted
in but an impetulent shaking of the
head and laying back of the ears. He
kept up his magnificent stride until he
had reached the very verge of the river.
There he stopped, threw up his head in
inquiry, as he gazed upon the fretted
waters, lighted up by the full
moon, glanced at his rider, and with
word of encouragement from her,
marched proudly into the waters, cast
ing up silvery spray at every step.
Lilly did not miss this opportunity to es-
tabi;5h more intimate relations with her
steed. She patted his neck, praised him
lavishly, and took occasion to assume
control of him while he was in the deep
est part of the channel, turning him this
way and that, much more than was need
full, simply to accustom him to obey her
will. When he came out on the other
bank, he would have resumed his gallop
almost at once, but she required him to
walk to the top of the hill. The night
was growing chilly by this time. As the
wind struck her on the hilltop, she re-
membered that she had thrown hooded
She stopped her horse, and taking her
hat, gathered her long hair into a mass,
and thrust it into the hood, which she
drew over her head and pressed her hat
down on it. Then she gathered her reins
and they went on in that long, steady
stride, which marks the highbred horse
when he gets thoroughly down to his
work. Once or twice she drew rein to
examine the landmarks, and determine
which road to take. Sometimes her way
lay through the forest and she was star
tied by the cry of an owl Anon, it was
through the reedy boJtpm-Iand, and the
ASaf wild hogs, starting from their lairs,
nsa1h instant's fright. The moon
casoDSlg &c shadows about her; but still
she pushed on, with this one only
thought in her mind-that her father s
life was at stake, and she alonecpuld save
him. 80
She had written fo her mother to go
'ffback to Verdenton, and telegFaphed to
her father, but she plIt no hoIte IN that.
How she tremb1ed, as She pashsed each
fork in the ough and i1-marked coun;