The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-06-10
MYEA'S MEANDERINGS.

respondent on the Back Of II Runaway
Steed- Safety In Cemetery.
SAVANNAH, Ga, june 3, 1892.
My DEAR AUNT CHAT:
If the muscles Of my right arm do not
prove too manageable, I shall indite
you the weekly letter this morning. OF
course You ask, "What is the matterf"
Well, feel like the veriest old decrepit,
rheumatic octogenarian that has ever
dragged her slow length along!" 1t
seems strange how few days could rob
one of the sparkle, the glow and elias
ITCHY of youth, and substitute the pro-
nounced tendencies Of infrm old age;
but such il life. You must know, dear
aunt Chat, that this stiffness Of the
joints" is the result Of a conflict with a
runaway horse! Now, don't be alarmed,
for it is all safely over, and the decrepitude
l feel is happily transitory. Unlike the
similar experience which comes with
years, time will restore the spring and
suppleness co-existent with youth. l can
afford to smile and jest at my very serious
escapade now that it is safely over, and
/ have yet sound limbs and unbroken
bones; but when I was helplessly OH
that unruly animals back, and he going
at q furious speed of a mile (my escort
said) in Two minutes, assure you did
not feel it to be laughing matter. 1t
was the first time had ridden this most
rude Beauregard, and never dreamed of
his not behaving himself in his accus-
toned good manner. You know what
fearless horsew oman l am, and it was
always rather a subject of pride with me
that could curb the widest horses; but
when this Beau. began plunging and
rearing, and before my escort could rem
der any assistance raced furiously down
the shell road, felt quite powerless to
do anything save keep firmly on the sad
die seat. If l had had curb, l might
| have succeeded in arresting his speed
| and controlling him, but unfortunately
there was only the bride to depend upon.
| The poor horse is not vicious, but took
fright at something OH the road, and was
hardly accountable, l suppose, for his
sudden freak-which consoling reflection
did not render it any the less difficult to
preserve my balance, however, and keep
a brave front. On, on we went, through
winding roads, past carriages, carts and
buggies and through a gate, still With,
unslackened pace, in spite of almost un-
natural strength on my part directed in
the effort to rein him in and subdue his
evident excitement. What passed in my
mind is wildly remembered. I looked
at the hard, granite-lilSe road, and real
lied with a sense of shrinking, how
dreadful it would be to tumble headlong
upon it, and doubtless be trampled by
the horses heels. And yet my strength
was rapidly falling, and it seemed impos-
sible to endure the roughness Of the ami
mails gait longer, not to speak of other
contingencies which threatened to arise
At one time felt that I could not hold
on moment longer, but must just pas
sively allow myself to be precipitated
from the insecure seat upon the back Of
the foaming, snorting, plunging animal.
Happily, however, when reached this
state Of utter exhaustion and Indifference
the race was well-nigh over, for the shell
road led to the lovely Bona Venture
cemetery, and Beauregard found, after
he entered those consecrated grounds,
that the sand therein was just little
too heavy to justify such speed, and be-
ing rather tired himself he considerably
concluded to halt. Probably his instinct
told him it would he wise to deposit me
just then in cemetery' Be that as it
may, it was with inexpressible relief that
l found could control him at last, and,
though in a weakened condition, prove
still mistress of the situation.
In a short while my escort was at my
side, and when beheld his blanched
countenance and heard the unsteady
tones of his voice, / hardly knew whether
to laugh or cry. 1 believe did the for
mer, however, for I was rather amused
at his almost undue solicitude for me.
II he had beheld me lying stark and cold
upon the white, cleaning shells, he could
not have looked more shocked. So
forgot my own fatigue and fright III the
effort to reassure him. After resting
awhile and drawing several good breaths,
l finally succeeded in convincing him
that l was not the ghost of my former
self and was quite unlurt. Several
other gentlemen soon appeared upon the
scene Of action, and was Overwhelmed
with congratulations, compliments, ETC.,
relative to my presence of mind, courage,
and can not enumcrate what other viz
tues manifested upon the thrilling occa-
sion! You see they We're all SO glad to
welcome me back to their living midst
from which seemed to be stepping, that
they invested me with all sorts of pleas
ant qualities entirely unmerited.
That adventure and hair-breadth es-
cape did not in the least daunt me. In
fact, that very evening 1 persisted in
finishing our ride and stubbornly refused
the offer Of gentleman to seat in
his buggy, as he thought must be thor
oughly tired after the three-mile race.
Indeed, ! could never have borne such an
lngiorious defeat, and finally prevailed
upon my escort to continue our ride to
"Thunderbolt," a summer resort on one
OF the inlets of the sea, about six miles
from Savannah,