Middletown transcript., 1882-03-24

her that in handsome yet penniless
Tom there was more Of her ideal than
she had yet met.
But, naughty by nature, she would
not reveal this to him, and he, equally
naughty, despite his poverty, and, in
deed, on that very account, would not
betray himself.
Thus the two lovers, for such they
were in soul, were kept at everlasting
loggerheads, state Of feeling which
would have existed mercy knows how
long, had it not been for lucky hap
pening which happily served to bring
about an understanding between them.
A horseback party had been planned
by the ladies Of the Crystal Lake Club,
and Tom was one Of the escorts upon a
certain damsel, by name Miss Frothing-
ham.
Lively and talkative she proved, and
also an admirable horseWoman, man.
aging the high-spirited thoroughbred
which she rode with a skilled hand.
Minnie Stockwell, with Hartley
Brandon as an escort, led the cavalcade,
and gay party they formed, as in their
bright hunting costumes, they gallOped
across the fields. About FairvieW eX-
tended an admirable tract of country
for the hunt, and Of this Fairview was
well aware and took due advantage.
Their ride upon the present day led
out over the old turnpike to Baltimore,
and, though a trife dusty, was, never
theless, pleasant gallop.
After getting well out into the coun-
try, the party broke up in couples,
some going ahead and some falling be-
hind.
Miss rockingham was lively rider,
and soon Tom found himself well in
advance Of the main party and at part
of the road but mile and a half from
a series of steep descents, into what
was called the DEVILS Gorge, deep cut
between the hills, through which ran a
foaming torrent.
Suddenly upon the hearing Of the two
smote a series of frightened screams,
and the hoarse halloo Of excited men.
Then the next moment behind them
came the thunder of hoofs, and ere they
could realize the nature of the trouble
there leaped past them with frightful
speed, the white-faced bay thoroughbred
of Minnie Stockwell, the broken bits
dangling from his lower jaw, while up
on his back, with fearfully pallid face,
sat the peerless beauty of FairView,
clinging resolutely yet despairingly to
the saddle.
AS she swept past Tom her face was
turned upon him. and in its wild terror
there was an expression Of pleading and
faith which seemed to say to him:
You are a man-you can save me"
With grOan of horror, and a terrible
resolution uppermost in his breast,
Tom Hathaway dug both spurs deep in
to his thoroughbred S fianks.
Like an arrow the noble animal re-
sponded and shot forward in pursuit.
1t was terrible race for life or death,
and Tom, well realizing it, rode as he
never rode before.
Nearer he drew, gaining momentari-
ly. such was the superior speed of his
own horse.
Out of sight of the rest of the party
they swept.
Now the black is alongside of the lit
tie bay.
A rise in the Stirrups and Tom eX-
tends his powerful arm, encircling the
waist of the proud capitalist S daugh-
ter; she is plucked skillfully clear of
the saddle and landed safe upon the
wethers of the black, who now beneath
the double weight slackened his speed.
The naughty beauty was saved, and
by the very man whom she in secret
loved above all others.
What was the result
Her naughty spirit broke down, and
she lay limp upon his broad bosom
while the choking tears flowed in tor
rents.
We will not depict the scene which
followed on the verge of DEVILS Gorge
before the rest of the party came up,
but suffice it to say in brief that from
that moment there existed between the
two a perfect understanding.
And this is why our hero dreaded the
denouement of the disgraceful duel into
which he had been unwisely drawn, not
from its criminal consequences so
usual, as the reproach he knew he would
merit and receive from the one girl
whom he loved on all the wide earth.