Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-07-19
ThunderbOlt's Victory"

And he will take thee for his own.
Oliver johnson.
ThunderbOlps Victory"
There are still few towns in Massachu.
sets where the railway train is never seen
and where there is no telegraph. An un.
painted farmhouse, big and square, with
long barns and sheds in the rear, stood in
such a town. 1t was day in September,
as hot and sultry as if it were midsummer.
A doctors sulky had just driven up to the
gate, and the horse stood hitohed at the
post In the yard, lying under one of the
elms, was boy of about thirteen. He was
thin and pale, but there was bright, reso-
lute look in his eyes that attracted one.
couple months. He had been sent out by
his uncle, that he might have the benefit Of
country air after long and prostrating fever.
The boys eyes were fixed on the open door
that led into the hall. Everything in the
chickens were "craking" about the yard
and making sudden runs at insects.
Now low groan from the room at the
left of the front door made Fred start and
grow pale. His hands shut themselves hard
Wlbh du lhNOluntdly IhOblOus INOu huOtuci
sound was heard for nearly half an hour,
and then steps approached from within the
house and the doctor came out on the piazza.
woman. Neither of them appeared to notice
Fred, and both stopped at the gate.
"Doctor, how is It ?" asked Mrs. Morris
in voice that was not steady.
"Bad very bad It's case where I
xxyifh nm otxful
fall from that scaffold. Take care of her as
have said it's all that can be done. 1t is
heartbreaking to hear her call for her
father
The doctor was evidently in hurry. He
jumped into his carriage and drove away,
leaving Mrs. Morris standing there. The
woman looked after him moment with un-
seeing eyes; then she rung her hands vio-
lently, while she exclaimed in low voice
" If Charles had not gone If he could
only be detained !"
Fred Appleton rose, came quietly forward,
and touched the womans arm.
ais Clara going to die 2" he asked.
Mrs. Morris Immediately made an effort
to control herself, and said
3" l am afraid so. 1t was bad fall. Oh,
it is very hard !"
" You just spoke about her father. Can
not word be got to him before he goes on
board the steamer ?" the boy asked.
Mrs. Morris trembled. The girl lying in
the house was her niece, and about the same
age as Fred. She was the only child of her
brother, Charles Roth, and dear as an own
daughter to her. The father had gone. He
was on his way to Boston, to embark on
a Cunard steamer for Europe. He had re.
mained in Warnham until the last moment,
and had Just time to reach the city if moth
ing delayed him.
!" 1t can't be done" Mrs. Morris answered.
1T can't be done The telegraph station
is ten miles away. Before any one could get
there Charles will have left, and once on the
water nothing can reach him. God help
him The first news he hears the other
side of the Atlantic will break his heart -
Fred stood for an instant with his bright
glance fixed on his companions face.
Isn't there time to reach Northport 2"
he asked.
There is not horse in the town could
do it," was the reply.
Fred's eyes frightened.
"Thunderbolt could" he said, quickly,
Sand, Mrs. Morris, / will ride him. Clara's
father shall know"
The boy started away, but was followed
and his arm caught, as Mrs. Morris cried;
He will throw you You know you are
afraid of him You must not do it And
you couldn't reach there"
"There's a chance of my doing it, ism t
there 7" he turned back to ask.
"Just chance"
"And no time to lose |" cried Fred, as he
bounded towards the barn.
1t was true that Fred was afraid of Thun-
derbolt, for the colt had kicked him when
he first came to the farm, and his health
was not robust enough to enable him to
overcome fear as he otherwise would have
done.
When the boy entered the barn shrill
whinny greeted him, and long black head,
with big, black-looking eyes, was turned
toward him from one of the stalls. Fred.
as he had said, had no time to lose. He
could not stop to think whether he wished
to go into the stall or not. He stepped in
quickly with the bride on his arm, and in
two minutes more the saddle was on the
horses back, and the boy had flung himself
ON also and gathered up the reins. He knew
how fierce of temper the young horse was,
and that he might take notion to stop and
kick, and throw himself about, that he
might unseat his rider; and he also knew
that Thunderbolt, if he chose, might cover
ten miles in SO short a time that he might
hope to reach Northport in season.
Mrs. Morris, sitting by the insensible
girl, heard the rush of the horses feet as
they went out of the yard, and an inaudible
prayer was in her heart. She glanced at
the clock which was ticking on the mantel,
and told herself the thing the boy was try
ing to do was impossible.
There was not braver boy for many a
mile than Fred Appleton, and he had made
up his mind that it should take a very
powerful effort to get him off of Thunder
bolts back. Had he been more robust in
health he might have really enjoyed this
furious start and as it was, after few
moments, when the colt had settled down
into its tremendous stride, Fred grew ac-
customed to thus cleaving the sultry air,
and sat more securely, while he felt that
savage exultation which comes to one who
sits on an animal that appears to have
power to annihilate space.
Fred flung up his hand and uttered shrill
whoop. He was monarch of force as good
as any in the Arabian Nights" He would
not exchange his seat on Thunderbolt for
any magical gift in that book. At the sound
of his cry the colt lurched forward still
faster, and snorted, as if the heavy, fragrant
atmosphere were something which made
him drunk.
The boy told himself that he must reach
Bucket village by certain time, and Buck
ct village was half way to Northport. 1t
was place whose whole business was the
making OF pals of different kinds. Now,
just as he reached sharp turn in the road,
there came around the corner the first of
three tall, long wagons, piled high with
wooden pals. Fred, warned by the pricking
up of his horses ears, gathered the lines
more firmly in his hands and made himself
as strong on his seat as possible and all his
precautions were necessary, for Thunderbolt
leaped to one side as he shot by the wagons.
The boy swayed fearfully, but he stuck and
then the colt rose high in the air, his front