Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-01-27
THUsDE8BoLT'S NcToRy.

Massachusetts where the railway
train is never seen and where there
is no telegraph. An unpainted
farmhouse, big and square, with
long barns and sheds in the rear
stood i'm such town. 1t was a day
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 al
the post. In the yard, lying under
one of tine elms, was a boy of about
thirteen. He was thin and pale
but there was a bright, resolute
look in his eyes that attracted one
Fred Appleton had been in Warn
ham for a couple of months. He
had been sent out by his uncle, that
ne might have the benefit of coun.
try air after a long and prostratine
fever. The boys eyes We're fixed
on the open door that led into the
hall. Everything in the house was
ominously still. Out of doors the
chickens were 'cackling' about the
yard and making sudden runs at in.
sects. .. -.....s ......
Now a low groan from the room
at the left of the front door made
Fred start and grow pale. His
hands shut themselves hard with
an involuntary motion. Not an.
other sound was heard for nearly
half an hour, and then steps ap-
preached from within the house
and the doctor came out ON the
piazza. He was followed closely
by middle-aged woman. Neither
appeared to notice Fred, and both
stopped at the gate. -a
doctor, how is it?'' asked Mrs,
Morris, in voice that was not
steady.
bad! very bad! It's case
where l cannot speak with hope.
1t was an awful fall from that scat.
fold. Take care of her as l have
said it is all that can possibly be
done. 1t is heartbreaking to hear
her call so for her father"
The doctor was evidently in a
hurry. He jumped into his carri'
age and drove away, leaving Mrs.
Morris standing there. The woman
looked after him with unseeing
eyes then she wrung her hands
violently. while she exclaimed in II
low voice: ''If Charles had not
gone. If he could be detained!
Fred Appleton arose, came quietly
forward, and touched the wOman's
arm.
SIS Clara going to die ?" he ask
ed.
Mrs. Morris Immediately made
an effort to control herself, and said:
81 am afraid SD. 1t was Il bad
fall. Oh, it is very hard ~
"You just spoke of her father
Cannot word be got to him before
he goes on board the steamer ?' the
boy asked. ....
Mrs. Morris trembled. The gir
living in the house was her niece
and about the same age as Fred
She was the only child of hel
brother, Charles Roth, and dear a.
an own daughter to her. The fat
had gone. He was on his way Il
Boston, to embark on CunarC
steamer tor Europe. He had re
manned in Warnham until the las
moment, and had just time to reacf
the city if nothing delayed him.
"It can't be done!" Mrs. Morri,
answered. 1T can't be done"
The telegraph station is ten miles
away. Before anyone could gel
there Charles will have left, anC
once on the water nothing Cal
reach him. God help hiln! Th'
first news he hears on the OtheI
side of the Atlantic will break hi.
heart!"
Fred stood for an instant with hi
bright glance fixed on his compan
ions face. E ---.....
"ls not there time to reach North
port? ?'' he asked.
"There is not horse in tOWr
could do it," was the reply.
Fred's eyes frightened.
"Thunderbolt could" he saiC
quickly, "and Mrs. Morris, I'll ride
him. Clara's father shall know
The boy started to go away, bu
he was followed and his arm wa:
caught, as Mrs. Morris cried:
"He will throw you! You know
your are afraid of him You mus
not do it! And you could not reach
there" ...- ..-.....
sThere's chance isn't there ?'' ht
turned back to ask.
"Just change"
"And no time to lOseE" crieC
Fred, as he ran to the barn.
1t was true that Fred was afraiC
of Thunderbolt, for the colt hae
kicked him when he first came t
the farm, and his health was no
robust enough to enable him II
overcome fear as otherwise WOulC
have done. 1
When the boy entered the barn &
shrilI Whitney greeted him, and
long black head, with big, black
looking eyes, was turned towards
him from one of the stalls. Fred
AZ he had said, haG no time to lose
He could not stop to think whether
he wished to go into the stall or not
He stepped in quickly with the bri
die on his arm, and in two minutes
more the saddle was on the horse:
back, and the boy had flung him
self on also and gathered up the
reins. He knew how fierce of tenn
per the young horse was, and tha
he might take a notion to stop ant
kick, and throw himself about, tina
he might unseat his rider; and h'
also knew that Thunderbolt, if HI
chose, might cover ten miles in 81
short time that he might hope t.
reach Nortkport in season.
Mrs. Morris, sitting by the insen
sible girl, heard the rush of th'
horses feet as they went out of thu
yard, and an inaudible prayer wa
in her heart. She glanced at tn
clock which was ticking on the man
tel, and told herself the thing wa
impossible. ..-..r..
There was not braver boy 70
MANY a mile than Fred Appleton
and he had made up his mind tina
it should take very powerful effor
| TO get him off Thunderbolt's back
Had he been more robust in health
he might have enjoyed this furiou
start; and as it was, after a fey
moments, when the colt had set
tied down into its tremendOu
strides, Fred grew accustomed t
thus cleaviug the sultry air, and sa
more securely, while he felt tha
savage exultation which comes I
one who sits on an animal tina