The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-07-08
MISTAKEN FOR A HfGAWAY-
~ NAV.

A stalwart, but tired-looking, horse
man was riding toward the village of
Messy Brook, at the close of sultry
afternoon last summer, as fast as the
faded bay mare he bestrode could lessen
the distance, His face was handsome,
hut he wore an anxious expression, and
he stared about the country, as he rode
ON, with the air of stranger in those
parts. His dusty feet, his pale visage
and the foreign cut of his apparel, with
the watchfulness of his manner, would
have led any observer to consider him
one who had travelled far that day, and
who was not only from foreign coun-
try, but l0boring under some deep dis
tress of mind, sorrow or fear-perhaps
remoTse,
AS he climbed the hill which looked
down upon the village, his face bright
ened somewhat.
"Thank heaven there [ shall find a
few hours rest and refreshment for my
self and this exhausted beast" he NUT
tered. And the mare pricked up her
ears as she saw the village and heard his
voice, and fastened her pace, as if she
knew her riders intention.
''Care for her we'll, " said the stranger
70 the hostler, as he ahghted CT am
70 sup and sleep few hours. and at 10
tonight have her ready saddled at the
door; for am in great haste to con-
tinue my journey, and must then de-
part"
The hostler promised, and the stran-
ger, after eating a hearty supper, retired
to rest.
Having well bestowed the mare, the
hostler fling himself down before the
stable door, and, considering that he
had as much right to rest as any other
man or beast in q free country, went to
sleep himself
Whether he had worked or drank too
much that day, certain it was that he
oversight his time; and when he started
up and hastily saddled the mare upon
winch the stranger was to continue his
way it was IL o'clock and pitch dark.
As the stranger, also, had oversight
his hour, he did not so much blame the
hostier, but paid his bill, mounted
quickly and rode off, making no answer
TO the remark of the man that there
would be heavy storm before morning,
as the clouds were already black and
threatening.
Valuable information ! " sneered the
traveller, as the mare made unusually
quick time over the road. Couldn't
See for myself? Had / not been in haste
to get at the end of my journey, /
should not, of course, have gone on be-
fore morning, after forty miles of travel
under summer sun. The deuce is in
my luck, to be roasted by day and half
drowned by night, as this approaching
storm seems to forebode. Ha what O
vivid flash Thetempestis coming soon
er than expected. How fast the mare
goes A few hours have worked wonders
with her; or. perhaps, instinct bids her
speed to escape the tempest, if possible. "
A heavy crash of thunder, just then,
startled both horse and horseman-the
opening cannonade of the elemental bat
tie which was soon to sweep furiously
around them.
"She has been over-fed, or she is very
skittish, thought the horseman, as he
felt the tremor of the frightened animal 3
limbs, and her gait for short distance
became irregular. "Our road lies
through wood for few miles. as I am
told; and, when the shower is on us in
full force, what with the lightning, the
thunder, the rain and the darkness.
she may become unmanageable. Per-
haps | had better stayed after all.
The more haste the worst speed some
times"
Flash after flash, peal after peal now
followed rapidly, with binding and deaf
ening effect upon man and beast, and
soon the wind and rain combined with
fearful power and volume, as if to dis
tract and discomfort the benighted horse
and rider. Here and there, over their
rough road, the torn branches of trees
incumbered it, as if to dispute their
passage. Twice, as the scared beast gal
loped frantically on, she stumbled and
nearly threw the cavalier, requiring all
his efforts to recover her and keep the
saddle; and once dazzling bolt and a
fearful simultaneous clap Of thunder
caused the poor beast to swerve madlv
aside, rear, and then turn back in her
track for a short distance while a
tall tree. cleft by the lightning. scat
tered half its mighty bulk over the
spot from which the mare had shrnnk
back.
But, with steady hand and coaxing
voice, the horseman finally caused her
to return again and, valltinR over the