Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-06-03
MISTAKEN FOR A HIGHWAYMAN.

Messy Brook, at the close of sultry after
noon last summer, as fast rs the laded 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 q stranger
in those parts. His dusty feet, his
psle visage and the foreign cut of his
apparel, with the watchiulness of his
manner, would have led an observer
toconsider 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-
rowor fear--perhaps remorse.
tAs he climbed the hill which looked
down upon the village his face
frightened somewhat.
r'Thank Heaven! there shall find
few hours rest and refreshment for my
self and this exhausted beast" he NUT
tered. And the mare pricked up her
his voice, and hastened her pace, rs il
she knew her riders intention.
.Care for her well," said the
stranger. to the hostler, as he alighted.
II am to sup and 10 sleep a few hours;
aud, at ten tonight have her ready
saddled at the door; for | am in great
haste to continue my journey, and must
then depart"
The hostler promised, and the stran-
ger, after eating q hearty supper, re-
tired, to rest.
Having well-bestowed the mare, the
hostler flung himself down before the
stable door, and, considering he had as
much right to rest as any other man or
beast in free country, went to sleep
himself.
Whether he had worked or drank too
much. that day, certain it was that he
overs 'ept his time; and when he started
up, and hastily saddled the mare upon
which the, stranger was to continue
his way, ii was eleven o'clock, and
pitch dark.
As the stranger, also, had oversight
his hour he did not so much blame the
hostler, but paid his bill, mounted
quickly, and rode off, making nc
answer to the remark of the man thai
there would be n heavy storm before
morning, ,,s the clouds were already
black and threaten ng.
Valuable information" sneered the
traveller, as the mare made unusually
quick time over the road. "Couldn'
i see for myself? Had | not been in
haste to get at the. end of my journey
i should not, of course have gone on
before morning, after forty miles ol
travel under summer sun. The deuce
is in my luck, to be roasted by day and
half drowned by night, as this ap
proaching storm seems TO forebode
Halwhat vivid flash! the tempest is
coming sooner than expected. How
fast the mare goes A few hours have
worked wonders with her; or, perhaps
instinct bids her speed to escape tn,
tempest, if possible"
A heavy crash of thunder just thet
startled both horse and horseman the
opening cannonade of the eementa
battle which was soon to sweep furious
ly around them.
"She has been over-fed, or she il
very skittish,h thought the horseman
as he felt the tremor of the frightene,
animals limbs, and her gait for shor
distance became irregular. "Our roal
lies through wood for few miles, as
am told; and when the shower is on u
in full force. what with the lightning
the thunder, the rain and the darkness
she may become unmanageable. Per
haps had better stayed alter all. Th
more haste the worse speed sometimes
Flash after flash, peal after peal. nov
followed rapidly, with binding an,
dea ening effect upon man and beast
and soon the wind and rain combine,
with fearful power and volume. as if t,
distract and discomfort the benighte
horse and rider. Here and there, owe
their rough road, the torn branches O
trees incumbered it, as If to disput
their passage. Twice, as the scarce
beast galloped frantically on, she stun
bled and nearly threw the cavalier, Ic
guiring all his efforts to recover he
and keep the saddle; and once
dazzling bolt and a fearful simultaneou
clap of thunder caused the poor beas
to swerve madly aside, rear and the
turn back in her track for short dis
tarce while tall tree, cleft by tn
lightning, scattered half its might
bulk over the spotfrom which the mar
had shrunk back.
- But, with steady hand and coaxin
voice, the horseman finally caused he
,toreturn again; and, vaulting over th
prostrate trunk, they resumed thci
stormy course, while broken boughs
torn from tallcst trees, whirled danger
opsly through the aark AR,
ceeded. the storm gradually abating a
.ne .'.,a a'ii III uawn ol uay approacheu; ano
with merry face over the glistening hills
sho ulunIneu sspanser n WAS iar peyoh
me perplexlng forest through which h
. a "Thanl i vou for no,h;nn -, ho -,
;o,a;,nad ;g"n no,,;,l yyI .H niutins' iniis' he eN
t.The worlJ IL f,siiy 90 'S,nI snah ; ahe sun sur
ING woriu - luil OF such friends wh