Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-24
rily [ removed my hat and
: after the well-matched pair


entered the dwelling while the horse
walked quietly to neat stable, opening
on the road.
/ stood motionless till both had dis
appeared, then drew long breath, like
one awakening from sleep, and returned
to the town where few quiet inquiries
furnished me with the information that
/ the animal so much admired belonged
to the chief magistrate of the little town,
its rider being his only child.
All through the rest of the day the
figure of that beautiful horse haunted
me. I could not throw it off. I lay
down to sleep and l dreamed that was
mounted on it's back, speeding across
the wide plains, no longer spread as an
impossible barrier between me and every
hope OF fortune.
| awoke and the same idea chung to
me. All day long demon whispered in
of night, to enter the stable [ had seen,
lead out the coveted horse, mount him
and away, away!
Urged by an irresistible impulse, I
left the town once more, and inspected
the magistrates premises, entering the
stable, on pretext of inquiring my way
of boy who was at work within.
The horse, the glorious black, was
there, and my heart beat high as closer
inspection confirmed my first opinion of
his quality. How long I might have
fingered there, feasting my eyes on that
noble piece of horse-hesh, who can say !?
| / was infatuated, and could, verify
believe, have gazed on it for hours, had
not the sudden apparition of May Morris,
the magistrates daughter, impelled me
to hasty fight.
| And then-not till then-as I glanced
at the pure, proud face that had SO in
terested me the day before, did I realize
in all its blackness the true import of
the thought that had taken possession
of me.
A horse thief I to become horse
thief! [ pressed my hand to my head,
| bewildered. Had I indeed fallen so low
as this, that / should seriously contem-
plate the stealing of another mans
horse, and even take pleasure in the
idea?
My brain reeled with horror at the
dark pit yawnlng beneath my feet, and
yet still felt the temptation strong upon
me to follow to the end the plan had al
most unconsclOusly mapped out for seiz-
ing the coveted animal.
And so went back to the town, at one
moment shrinking from the thought of
the depth te which had fallen, at an
other filled with delight at the ease with
which l could seize upon him, and speed
on his back across the plains.
l lay down to sleep, and sleep fed
from me. The beautiful girl and the
| beautiful horse she rode; the horse and
the girl, the girl and the horse-these
| two ideas, and the all paramount one
that sprang from them, kept surging to
and fro in my brain, until at last l
sprang up, resolved to go out into the
stormy night Cfor it was showing hard),
and cool my feverish blood.
I seemed to myself to be two persons
nay, three-in one body. One was
wicked and urged the theft of the horse;
another was honorable and recoiled at
the very idea; and these two held hot
argument together, while the third look
ed quietly on, saying: Look here,
what's all this nonsense about I? You
are getting brain fever, my boy, that's
what it means, neither more nor less.
Better go home to your father while you
can, that's my advice"
Every one in the little tavern had set
tied down for the night, but found no
difficulty in letting myself out, and then
I set forth to walk as rapidly as the deep
snow would permit-whither
As I live, my sole object and intention
was to walk in the cool air until I felt
tired enough to go hack to my bed and
gain the sleep SO much needed; yet,
without my own volition, my steps led
me direct 10 the stable where my covet-
ed beauty was tethered; not only to the
stable, but into it, for the door was inse-
curely fastened and access easy.
The result? All, you have already
OWNED it. felt around in the darkness,
found a bride and saddle, and in mo-
ment more led the black out into the
road; and there l paused, my head
whirling with exultation, regardless of
the fact that dog was barking furious
~ at hand, and that light was rapidly
approaching from the neighb boring dwell
ing.
I waited quietly until beams of the
lantern almost flashed into my eyes, and
then, with one loud "Hurrah I" Ieaped
into the saddle, and plunged down the
road at a wonderful speed, considering
/ that the ground was already deeply
covered with the fast-falling snow,
which, here and there, had drifted into
huge heaps, almost bloekading the way.
It was not long before I heard sounds
behind me that proved I was being fol-
lowed, yet the knowledge troubled me
not, but only lent additional zest to the
adventure on which had embarked.
The noble steed 1 rode needed neither
whip nor spur to urge him on; the brac-
ing air and binding snow seemed to
have fred his blood, and I laughed aloud
at the idea of any other animal being
able to overtake him, the speed he made
!. through the soft snow being perfectly
wonderful.
On and on we went; once or twice
drew rein and listened, only to be as
sured that 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, I beheld