The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-06-10

MISTAKEN FOR A IIIGHWAYNAS.
A stalwart. but tired-lookinc horse
man was rid ng toward the village 81
Messy Brook. ~ the close OF 4 sutry after
noon last summer as fast as the iaded ba,
mare he bestroded could lessen the
tedious distance. His face was hand.
some. but he wore an anxious EXPIRES.
sion, and he stared about tile country.
rs he rode on. with the air OF a stranger
in those parts His dusty feet. M
pale yisagc and the foreign cut Of his
apparel, with the watchiulncss OF his
manner. would have led an observer
70 consider him one who had travelled
far that day. and who was not ONLY
from foreign country. but aborinc
under some deep distress Of mind. sor-
row or fcar--perhaps remorse.
As he climbed the hill which looked
down upon the village his face
frightened somewhat.
THANK Heaven! there shall find 4
few hours rest and refreshment for nv
self and this exhausted beast he NUT
tered And the mare pricked up her
ears as size saw the village and heard
his voice. and fastened her pace, as II
she knew her riders intention.
Care for her WELL said the
stranger 70 the hostIer. as he alirhted.
~ am 10 sup and TO sleep few hour:
and. at ten tonight have her ready
saddled II the door: for am IN cre,f
haste 70 continue my journey, and must
The hcstier promised. and the stran-
GER after eating q hearty supper. re-
tired TO rest.
Having well-hestowed the mare. the
hos!ler flung himself down before the
stable door, and. considering he had -
much right to rest as any other man or
himself.
whether he had worked or drank too
much that day. certain il was that he
overs ept his time: and when Ne started
up, and hastily saddied the mare mon I
which the stranger was ID continue |
his way, i was eleven o'clock. and
pitch-dark.
A. the stranger. also. had oversight \
ms hour he did not 50 much blame the \
hostler. but paid his bill. mounted 4
quickly. and rode Dff. making NO
answer 10 the remark Of the man thar \
there would be heavy storm before
morning, As the clouds were already
black and threatening.
Valuable inforniationr' sneered the
traveller. as the mare made unusually
quick time over the road. .Couldn't
zee for myself? Had | not been IN
haste 70 get ~ 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
y n my luck. 10 be roasted br dav and
pair drowned By night. as this an
preaching storm seems 10 forcbode.
"a what vivid fash, the tempest Il
coming sooner than 1 expected. How
'ast the marc goes A few hours have
worked wonders with her; or. perhaps.
instinct bids her speed 10 escape the
cmpest. fpossibIc. N,
a heavy crash OF thunder lust then i,
'tartled both horse and horseman the ,
'pening cannOnadc OF the elemental |
'a''le which was soon 10 sweep furious /
around them. In
She has been ovcr-fed. or she Il
ei2 skltfish." thought the horscman.
4 ne felt the tremor Of the frightened Z
n'mai' : limbs, and her gait Tor 4 short
Instance became irregular. .Our road 4
IN through awoOd for few miles. a. | =
~ told; and when the shower Il on Is d
iull force. what with the lightning.
AZ thunder. the rain and the darkness. q
IN may become unmanageablc Per Il
als had better stayed alter an. The n
'3re haste thevorsc speed sometimes. A
u ilasl' after flash, peal after peal. now y
'''owcd rapidly, with binding and j
7, ening effect upon man and beast. N
m soon the wind and rain combined Il
'Ah fearful power and volume. ~ II ID n
'stract and discomfort the benichted b
'rsc and rider. Here and there. over !,
'eir rough road. the torn branches III
ees incumhered II ~ II 10 dispute u
WIZ passage. Twice. as The scared al
'ast galloped franiically on. She stun 81
ea and nearly threw the cavalier. III b,
y nI'ng All his efforts ID recover her ii.
N Keep The saddle; ana once 4 III
'nM''ng bolt and 4 fearful simultaneous N
w N thunder caused the poor beast n,
swervc madlv aside, rear and thcn
~ pack Ia her. track FOR short ,Iis. ~
W. while tall tree, cleft BY tho 81