The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-24

II he needed any assistance, aud receiving
negative answer, snuggled back into his
wIapplngs. Presently the stage moved on
and the incident attracted no further atten.
ton. In little while another stoppage
occurred and the passengers had vague
consciousL ess that the driver again descend
cd to- arrange something about the wheels
or traces. The rain battered INCREASINGLY
upon the roof, the wind moancd through
tlle forest branches and weary, exhausted
and bchumbcd, our friends were only semi
conscious of the fact that the stage again
resumed Iits journey. Suddenly the gen
tlcman became impressed with the idea
that they were travelling ut too high rate
OF speed, and this conviction became 80
strong that he finally leaned out of the win
dow far enough to ascertain that the driver
had Disappeared and his horses were, run
ming away.
Without awakening his wife to a sense
OF their danger he attempted to perform Il
feat which few mon would have the nerve
to do in broad daylight. This was to climb
out OF the window while the team was run.
ming ut full speed, and swing h nlself up on
to The driycr's'scat SO as to secure the reins.
IL required the strength Of au athlete aud
The courage OF Il hero to accomplish this
".
he gained the drivers scat he reached for
The rclns which he expected to find twisted
ahout the bake, and to his utter horror
found they were gone. Meantime the horses
were running ~ the top Of their speed the
hack Was being violently joltcd and tossed
from side to side, and the oninous darkness
INTO which they were plunging threatened
lnsant obstruction. Leaning over tho boot
trying To reach down and ind the reins, the
stage gave sudden lurch and the genll.-
man Was hu'lcu hcaalong under the wheels
lhcrc was mOmcna:ily stunned SEN
saLon, Il sharp pain as the wheels pu ,sed
over MS legs, and there was Il rush and cll.-
ter OF hoofS is the runaway team dls.lJ-
ptarci III the darkness. Ihe wife was
gone IN III runa Nay s a,c. Fiction never
tonJur.d up many sllua .lulls more Uniquely
uncoln!O Orlunlc. Tumblcu uucere non ,ou
~ out INTO the mud III wu.cr, with Il half
broken Ley and il full knowledge that his
wife would Dc dn he'd speedily TO Il horrible
d,a h, our friend wax III most fra tic when
H. Illally arose aad commenced cropping
i'll my Ill tho darkness.
1t was not very long before tho driver
came rushing Il .ong i'll pursuit of the Stage
and his pa 'Scngcrs, and gloriously asJ onlsh-
cd hc was to meet with one of them under
such circumstances. There was nothing u
do Du. follow the road uud await the ter
Inm ion OF affairs. Suddenly, Us they
were pa ssing over Il brushy knoll, they
heard II sound which they ra lilly knew
must be octasioncu by The runaway tca II.
LII; wondci OF IL, however, Wa, that tho
team was evidently coming toward them.
By some means the horses had turned
a.ound aud were coming back. 1t was no
| cnSy matter to check TIC frightened uul-
mails, but by vigorous shouting aid hurral-
lng tn " were turned into the brush uAd
! Cadgnt. flushing 10 the stage 10 see what
hal become OF his wife, LII, gentleman
lound her all wrapped up rs he IN lett he:
and totally 0ul,vIous OF The iuct that she
ha1 been lhc object OF ANY pa.tlcular solc-
| lllidc Oh his past, or that he had been uD-
sent from hcl side, Or tha. she Ii III been III
any .angcr. She knew the stu &c was go-
ing very rapidly, but innuccnily supposed
tna. the driver was muktng up tor lost lime
No. thng was broken uDuuL tn. curriu.e
! II In. ness.