Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-05-06
"THUNDERBOLTs.- VICTORY.

CuuoctUS Wuoic tiic railway tIdlI Is never
seen and where there is no telegraph.
An implanted farm house, big and
square with long barns and sheds in the
in September, as hot and sultry as if il
were midsummer. A doctors sulky had
just driven up to the gate and the horse
stood hitched to the post. In the ward.
lying under one of the elms, was a bow
of IL. He was thin and pale; but there
was bright resOlute look in his ewes
that attracted one. Fred Appleton had
been in Warnham for a couple of months.
He had been sent out by his uncle, that
he might have the benefit of the cOun-
try air, after long and Frustrating fe-
yer. The lads eyes were fixed on the
open door which led into the hall. Every
thing'in the house was OminOusly still.
Out OF doors the chickens were "crak-
ing about the yard aud 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 them
selves hard with an involuntary motion.
Not another sound was heard for nearly
half an hour, and then steps approached
from within the house and the doctor
came out on the piazza. He was follow
ed closely by middle-aged woman. Meth
er of them appeared to notice Fred, and
both stopped at the gate.
Doctor, how is ii" asked Mrs. Morris,
in voice that was not steady.
"Bad! very bad! It's a case where
cannot speak with hope. 1t was an awful
fall from that scaffOld. Take care of
her as have said. It's all that can be
done: 1t is heartrending to hear her
call for her father"
The doctor was evidently i'm hurry.
He jumped into his carriage and drove
away, leaving Mrs. Morris standing
there. The woman looked after him mo-
ment with unseeing eyes, then she wrung
her hands violently while she exclaimed
in low voice: IF Charles had not
gone! Ii he could only be detained!'
Fred Appleton rose, came quietly for
ward, and touched the woman's arm. "Is
Clara going to die?"
Mrs. Morris Immediately made an eff
fort to control herself, and said:
Il am afraid so. 1t was a bad fall.
Oh! it is very nardp'
You just spoke Of 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 on
ly child of her brother Charles Roth, and
dear as her own daughter to her. The
father had gone. He was on his way to
Boston, to embark on board q Cunard
steamer for Europe. He had remained
In Warnham until the last moment. and
had just time to reach the city. if moth
ing delayed him.
1T can't be dOnep' Mrs. Morris an
swered. ut can't be done! The tele-
graph station is 10 miles away. Before
anyone can go there Charles will have
left, and once on the water nothing can
reach him. God help us. The first news
he hears the other side the atlantic will
break his hearth
Fred stood an instant with his bright
glance fixed on his companions face.
isn't there time to reach NOrthpOrt?"
he asked. rar
'There's not horse in town could It,"
was the reply.
Fred's eyes lightened. "'Thunder-
bolt could" he said quickly, land Mrs.
Morris, l will ride him. Clara's father
shall know"
The boy started away, bnt he was fol-
lowed and his arm caught, as Mrs. Nor
ris cried:
HE will throw you! You know you
are afraid of him! You must not do it'll
And you cOuldn reach there"
There's chance of my doing it isn't
there?" he turned back to ask.
"Just chance"
"And no time to lOse!" cried Fred, as
he bounded toward the barn.
1T was true that Fred was afraid of
"ThunderbOlt," for the colt had kicked
him when he had first come to the farm,
and Fred had naturally felt little timid
afterward, for his health had not been re-
bust enough to enable him to overcome
fear as he otherwise would have done.
When the boy entered the barn, a
a shrill whinny greeted him, and long, |
black head, with big, Withholding eyes
was turned towards 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 in 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 the reins. He knew how |
fierce of temper the young horse was,
and he knew that it might take the no
tion to stop and kick and throw him
self about, that he might unseat his |
rider; and he knew also that Thunder |
bolt" If he chose, might cover 10 miles
in so short 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 inau-
dible prayer was in her heart. She
glanced at the clock which was ticking |
a m a nd oh FOL
thing the boy was trying to do was i'm
possible, There was not Drawer boy
for many mile than Fred Appleton,
o. nd ha rad mada I'M hia mind fhat IL