The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-25

the saddle was on the horses back, and
gathered up the reins. He knew how
fierce of temper the young horse was,
and he knew that it might take the no.
ton TO stop and kick and throw himself
about, that he might unseat his rider;
and he knew, also, that Thunderbolt, if
he chose, might cover ten 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
inaudible prayer was in her heart. She
glanced at the clock which was ticking
on the mantel. and she told herself the
thing the boy was trying to do was inn
possible. She knew that Thunderbolt
had made great speed, and that he
promised wonderful things, if he could
be trained; but how could he have suf-
ficient endurance for this trial, and how
would he go over the hills that lay be-
tween this and Northport. No, she
must not hope that her brother would
be brought back. He would sail; and
every hour would take him farther from
the child whom he idolized and who had
met with such a fate, As the moments
went on, and the girl was still quiet
under the influence of the opiate the
doctor had given her, Mrs. Morris
thoughts dwelt more on the cour-
age of the boy who had just
ridden away. She knew that no man
would have liked that ride, and that it
was dangerous to any one. Then she
fell to fearing that she ought not to have
allowed him to 60. What if he should
be thrown, and be brought home Grip
pied or dead? But it had all been so
sudden that she could not stop him.
There was no man about the place. Her
husband and the hired man were two
miles away, attending to some late-cut
grass. They would not be at home I'M
til dark. Mrs. Morris must do what so
many women have to do-wait and
pray.
Along the narrow country road Fred
Appleton was riding at a pace that made
him breathless at first, and his heart
was beating all through him in way
that felt as if it would kill him; but he
had no thought of abating his pace.
! That must not be.
There was not drawer boy for many
mile than Fred Appleton, and he had
made up his mind that it should take a
very powerful effort to get him off OF
Thunderbolt' back. Had he been more
robust in health, he might have enjoyed
| this furious start. As it was, after a
few moments, when the colt had settled
down into its tremendous stride, Fred
grew accustomed 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 who
seems to have power to annihilate space
Fred for the moment forgot his erranc
! in the intoXication of so flying through
the air. 1t was no longer hot. The all
swept against his face with force al
most like that of a continuous blow
Thunderbolt appeared to have power
beyond the power of a mere horse. He
was puissant genie, who could make
space as if it were not.
Fred flung up his hand and uttered {
shrill whoop. He was monarch of ;
force as good as any in the "Arabiar
Nights He would not exchange hi
seat on Thunderbolt for any magica
gift in that book. At sound of his CRY
the colt lurched forward still faster anC
snorted, as if the heavy, fragrant atmos
phere were something that made hin
drunk.
Already they had passed through on,
village, which was three miles ava,
from the farmhouse he had left. TIL,
boy was by this time filed with the in
ebriation of his strange ride. He wanted
I 90 g., i
red and his eyes burned.
He told himself that he must reacl
Bucket Village by certain time, anC
Bucket Village was half way to North
port. 1t was place where the Who'll
business was the making of wooden
pals of different kinds.
Now, just before he came to a shar
turn in the road, there emerged fron
round the corner the first of three tall
long wagons, piled high with woodel
pals. Fred, warned by the pricking VI
OF his horses ears, gathered the line
more firmly in his hands and made him
} self as strong on his seat as possible
and all his precautions were necessary
for Thunderbolt leaped to one side as h
, shot by the wagons. The boy swaye
fearfully; but he stucln and then tn
colt rose high in the ar, his front fee
paving out, his whole figure the pictur
| of terrible beauty. Fred had reache
that pitch where it was impossible fo
him to fear anything; he was too thor
oughly filled with excitement; but h
, was afraid that Thunderbolt would nov
''cut up some of his antics" and thu
delay their arrival in Northport. H
pulled sharply at the lines and pounde
his heels into the horses side, calm
| out authoratively to him.
! The man on the last wagon ha
jumped down from his seat and wa
running up.