The Penn's Grove record., 1882-07-29
Haunted by a Horse.

E1duI1LCQ ny k1OAS~'
It seems an odd thing to say-and
very likely you will not believe it
but there was a time In my life when
[ was haunted by q horse, just as truly
and irresistibly as ever q wretcLed
sinner was haunted by remorse ana
that, to my mind, means a good deal
more than IT l said haunted 10y a
ghost - for l don't believe in ghosts,
and | d } believe in remorse, for l have
felt it ard been haunted by it my self,
and that, not tor any very great sins
either.
NV father was q merchant in one OF
our great western cities-a good hon.
orable man, hut, withal, stern and
harsh to his children in his endeavors
to guide them Alright.
The result of this unwise rule was
such as might have been anticipated ;
one of my brothers ran eff to sea, and
was drowned on his first voyage an
other enlisted in the army and L,
after a violent quarrel with my fat er,
turned my back on my home, as l be-
lieved, forever.
l was the youngest son, and, after
our mothers death, had met with
more indulgence than my brothers ;
but there were times when the flint In
nay fathers disposition and the steel
in mine came into violent contact.
And so it came about that Ia hot
headed youth of twenty, just home
from college, the proud winner Of
hard won ~prizes-went out into the
world to seek my fortune.
/ CHANGED to'have $50 in my ocket,
and this sum sufficed to carry me the
greater part of the way TO the point |
had fixed upon as the scene OF the
first act in the drama of my future
fortunes.
There were no railroads in those
day across the great western prairits;
they had to be crossed on horseback or
In wagons, and to do either required
money-more money than l POSSESSED,
by far.
Aud so my march came to a sudden
halt on the verge of the great plains,
and | was forced TO look on, while
caravan after caravan of eager ers
after gold rolled out of the little town,
where my last dollar had stranded
me.
Gola-seekers-for the Calf MIA
fever was at its height, aud hundreds
aud thousands of men, reckless n
desperate as | was myself, were rush.
ing to the gold-ields with all possible
speed.
Weary and heartsick, with aching
head and dragging limbs, I wandered
out beyond the town. 1t was a cloudy
day, with a cold wind. clustering
wind that told of snowtiakes near at
hand; but | paid no heed to the
weather-the inner storm eclipsed the
outer.
"Hellow / Thought, there comes
some one IN q tearing hurry. Clear
the road, my boy, or look out for a
knock-down argument
I stepped to n side, as a horse ut
full speed came dsshing by. l had
only time for a brief glance at rider
and steed, but thst IN glance was
enough.
Such a horse and such q rider!
Coal black, with shining coat,
arched neck, flowing name and tail
and slender limbs, with a long, gentle
spring, that would scarcely have
| stirred a child la the saddle i had
always been fond of horses and had
prided myself on owning fine animals,
| tut never bsfore had I seer a horse
that so took my heart by storm.
And its rider, too la beautiful girl
of not more than eighteen summers,
with flowing ringlets, rosy cheeks and
bright eyes that seemed to read me
through and through, rs abe turned
them on me in passing.
Involuntarily 1 removed my hat
and stood gazing after the well
matched pair as the horse made 9
sudden turf and halted with his rider
at the door of q large house close by.
The latter leaped to the ground and
entered the dwelling while the horse
walked quietly 10 a neat stable, open
ing on the road.
/ stood motionless till both had dis
appeared, then drew a long breath
like one awakening from sleep, anC
returned to the town where q few
quiet inq liries furnished me with tn,
inform alton that the animal | so much
admired belonged to the chief magis
trate of the little town, its rider being
his only child.
All through the rest of the day th'
figure of that beautiful horse haunted
me. l could not throw 1t off. / Ia
down to sleep and / dreamed thar
was mounted on its back, speeding
across the wide plains, no longe,