Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-11-02

The noble steed l rode needed neither whip
nor spur to urge him on; the bracing air and
binding snow seemed to have fired his blood,
and laughed aloud at the idea of any other
animal being able to overtake him, the speed
he made through the soft snow being perfect
ly wonderful.
On and on we went once or twice L drew
rein and listened, only to be assured that l
was still followed and that, too, very closely.
Again laughed and shook my fist at my
invisible foe and then. suddenly surrounding
me on every side, | beheld multitude or
demons, each mounted on horse the counter
part of the one rode, and in their midst, ap-
pealing to me for help, was the lovely girl
whose favorite steed had appropriated.
Frenzied at the sight, l brought down the
switch carried heavily on the horses flank.
He Indignantly responded with fierce side
leap that landed him in the midst of deep
snow drift and pitched me headforemost into
another.
But was up again in moment, and wad-
ed out into the level track, my blood on fire
with the determination to rescue the heautl-
full maiden seen from the legion of demons
who were carrying her into bondage.
But 10 ! they had vanished, one and all-no
demons were to be seen, no horses no maiden
Nothing was stirring on the great white plain
except myself and the proud beauty from
whose back had so suddenly dismounted,
and he was some distance off, having EVIDENT
ly concluded that it was time to return to
more comfortable quarters in his stable, TO-
ward which he was quickly making his way.
So | stood still in the midst of the fast deep
ening snow, half blinded by the driving flakes,
half frozen 10y the cold that now began to
feel for the first time, and wholly bewildered
by the disappearance of the maiden all for
lorn, whose rescue had resolved to effect, or
die in the attempt.
How my troubled brain solved the problem
of the sudden vanishing of my foes l cannot
say for my recollection halts abruptly ut this
point, and recommences in widely different
scene.
A large, handsomely furnished apartment,
myself lying in it's midst on a luxurious couch,
my father bending over me, his face haggard
and careworn, and, standing at his side, a
lovely young girl, whom had no sooner look
ed upon than she vanished-these are my
next Notwithstanding OF leap you
see from the lonely SnOW-cOVered plains.
BY and by, as l came back slowly to health
and strength the gap in my memory was filled
up.
"DOn't worry about it, my lad," said the
man whom had sought to rob of the horse.
''It was not you who stole my horse; it was
brain fever, and we all know he is an eccen-
trio fellow, not responsible for his misdeeds.
No one blames you in the least-in fact, no
one knows anything about it but your father,
May and you and l. Naturally l supposed
was pursuing a regular horse thief, until: after
meeting my horse returning riderless rode
on and found you senseless in the road.
The first glance at you puzzled me. You
were no common criminal, that was certain !;
both face and dress denied it. So lifted you
on my horse and held on to you somehow
until reached home.
| told them there that had found you in
sensible in the snow, and after getting you
to bed and sending for the doctor l set about
examining your pockets to find your identity,
if possible. Your letters furnished me with
your fathers name and address, and when the
physician pronounced yours case of brain
fever, sent a messenger to him. He came
at once, and for the last three weeks has help
to nurse you back to life.
1t was curious how that horse kept haunt
ing you through all your delirium-''the glo-
rious black and the lovely girl'' were all you
could talk about. You were always riding at
her side and fighting for her."
"That lovely girl, haunts me still, said !;
'and hope | may ride at her side and fight
for her through life.'
''Who knows % laughed her father. ''Stran-
er things than that have happened. Perhaps
you may"
And so / did.