The Red Cloud chief., 1881-07-07
MISTAKEN FOR A HIGHWAYMAN,

man was rid ne toward the village OF
Messy Brook, ut the close of aSultry after
noon last summer, asfast as the faded bay
mare he beStroded could lessen the
tedious distance. His face was hand
some, but he wore an anxious express
sion, and he stared about the country.
as he rode on, with the air of a stranger
in those parts. His dusty feet, his
pale y;sagc and the foreign cut of his
apparel, with the watch 'ulness of his
manner would have led an observer
10 consider him one who had travelled
far that day, and who was not only
from a foreign country, but laboring
under some deep distress of mind. sor-
row OF fcar-perhaps remorse.
As he climbed the hill which looked
down upon the village his face
frightened somewhat.
Thank Heaven, there | shall find a
few hours rest and rcfreshmcnt for my
self and this exhausted beast" he NUT
tered. And the marc pricked up her
ears as she saw the village AMI heard
his voice, and FASTENED her pace, as if
she knew her riders intention.
Care for her WELL" said the
stranger to the hostler, as he alighted.
Il am to sup and TO sleep n few hour;
and. AT ten tonight have her ready
saddled ct the door; for | am in great
haste To continue my journey, andmust
then depart"
The hoStler pr, missed, ard the stran-
GER, after eating a hearty supper, re-
tired to rest.
Having well-beStowed the mare, the
hostler flung himself down before tne
stable door, and, considering h. had Is
much right to rest as any other man or
beast in a free country, went TO sleep
himself.
Whether he had worked or drank too
much that day. certain it was that he
overs cpt his time: and wh.n he started
up, and hastily saddlcd tie mare upon
which the stranger WAS to continu"
his way, it was eleven O'Clock, and
y ritch-dark.
As the stranger, also. had OVERSIGHT
khiS hour he Il Il not so much blame the
hostlcr, but pad his bill, mounted
quickly. and rode off, making nc
answer TO the remark of the man tina,
there would be a heavy storm before
morning, IS the clouds were already
black and threaten NJ.
Valuable information!' sneered the
traveller, as the mare made unusually
quick time over the road. "Couldn':
, see for myself? Had | not been in
haste 10 get at the end of my journey
/ should not. of course, have gone on
before morning, after forty miles OF
travel under a summer sun. The deuce
is in my luck. to be roasted by day and
ahalf drowned by night, rs this APP,
preaching storm seems TO forebode.
IIa, what a vivid flash! the tempest is
coming sooner than | expected. How
fast the mare goesi A few hours have
worked wonders with her; or, perhaps,
instinct bids her speed TO escape the
tempest. if possible"
4 heavy crash of thunder Just then
startled both horse and horseman the
y ~onenino cannonade of the elemental
battle which WAS soon to sweep furious
" around them.
..She has been over-fed. or she is
very skittish." thought the horseman,
as he felt the trcmor of the frightened
animals limbs, and her gait for n short
distance became irregular. "Our road
lies through a wood for a few miles. as
am told; and when the shower is on Us
III lilil lOitt. via w ~
the thunder, the rain and the darkness
she may become unmanageable. Per
shars | had better stayed after all. HI,
more haste the worse speed sometimes
Flash after flash, peal after peal, nov
followed rapidly, with binding anC
dea ening effect upon man and beast
and soon the wind and rain combined
with fearful power and volume, as II Il
distract and discomfort the benightec
horse and rider. Here and there. owe
their rough road, the torn branches o
trees ~incumbered it, as if TO dispute
!. their passage. Twice, as the scared
beast ealloped frantically on. she STUN
bled and nearly threw the cavalier, lie
curing all his efforts to hel
and Keep the saddle; and once :
dazzling bolt and fearful simultaneou
clan of thunder caused the poor beaSt
TO Swerve madlv aside, rear and thcr
>urn back in her track for a short dis
tauce-whiie a tall. tree, cleft by thu
LIGHTNING. scattered half its might,
bHnlk over the spotfrom which the mare
had shrunk back.
But. with STEADY hand and coaxins
voice. the horseman finally caused he
to return again; and, vaulting over the
Yprostrate trunk, they resumed thell
stormy course. while broken boughs
I torn from taiieSt trees. whirled danger
ously through the dark air.
Thus, through the night, they pro
ceeded, the storm gradually abating a
the dim dawn of day approached; and
when the cheering sun at last broke
with merry face over the glistening hills
the drenched stranger was far beyond
the perplexing forest through whish ht
Mad ridden.
esThank YOU for nothing" he e1
claimed. mockingly saluting the sun
THE world is full of such friends, wh'
give their aid only when the trouble il
over. The sun should shine in the nigh
q at such times.
The mare made the best OF her wa.
tog'he ne ghboring village. where TIL
rider now determined TO stop, recrui
and pass hall a day at least.
Dirty. drenched, sore with travel
harvard as he was, it may be supposed
tbst he did not feel over-communica
five to the people at the tavern, wh'
-stared at the stranger the harder
Tbey thought him not at all proposes
inp.poor, proud, no baggage, and, yer.
likely, no money.
The mare, however. was stalled; no
without being closely regardedby ever.
Nav / never eat meat" said one
..;f that isn't Amos Dunbars mare
NJ wish / may be shot if don thin
so. too. White fore,feet, and just sucl
shape, height. head and gait; man'
ot ony rate.
an" Couldn't be, possibly" said anoth
.eHe left yesterday to be gone
mook he said; and he would not ALLOW
IN live man but himself to ride hi
NIB "But there she is, hoAsomedever,