The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1884-10-03

under his protection. But Mrs. lsrae
had a recurrence of certain spells t,
which she was subject, and the Cap
tains departure became indefinitei,
postponed.
Molly, however, determined 10 90 OF
the day set. She rode BaaI, n coal
black horse, one that she had ridden
and petted all summer, and which he
father had consented to buy for her use
and had bargained for on Captain Israel
visit. Molly had no fears at all abou
riding the twenty miles alone thougl
eight of them led through 4 thicl
woods.
For the first five miles her way lay
| between sunny reaches of farms, will
here and there a farmhouse. Grea
! heaps of yellow pumpkins lay in tn,
cOrn-tieIds, and piles of greetings ant
| goldCn-sweet under the trees IN tn,
orchards. The sunny, hay air was de
liciOuS with fragrant, fruity smells, ar,
Molly was conscious of n quiet happi
ness rs she rode along, her summer
work successfully ended Many regrets
had been expressed that she would not
stay till after the huSkinv frOlic n. Seth
Blackmer's; the husking feast was
already in preparation, and as she drew
rein at the great gate, in obedience tC
n signal, Love Blackmer came running
down to the road TO bring pound
cake and a mfnce turnover for Molly
refreshment by the way. Her father
came along behind her.
You'd better stay, Molly" said Seth.
EFF yOu's my gal, 1 wouldn't risk yer
through that woods alone, n ] don't be-
lieve but Squire Crowded be my way o
thinkin'.'
But Molly only laughed What is
there to he afraid OFF" she said. Ii
there are any wolves or wildcats in
ManOmct woods they dom roam by
daylight; and as for Indians, there
isn't wild Indian within hundreds OF
miles"
eff there amt any -1erI! -Iniun
there's drunk ones cnough,'I said Seth.
Anyhow it's borne in on (nott hat 'tain'
right flyer to 20 alone "
The golden rod and LIE, deep purple
blue astcrs blOOmcd 10y tho ways:de in
great lush crowds and the corners o.
the aggling fences; and there afar OF
IN the east 81 AIMED the blue line of the
ocean. The ar was of that c'cctric
quality that CNhilaratrs Ike an intONi-
eating draught, and it was i'll blk
and cheerful mood that Molly rode away
and plunged into the forest. Then. a
most at once the bright sunshin" gave
place to shade, pleasant but dense. Her
was truly Primcval forest, Ferns grew
close and high. Grape and bitt 'r-swcet
vines linked trees and shrubs into al
most impcnetrable thicketS.
Molly had ridden but a mile when she
was surprised to find herself conscious
of feeling of uneasiness, q feeling we
should call, in our modern phrase,
nervousness" The least sound, the
flight of partridge, the fall of n nut
dropped by a squirrel, startled her.
She caught herself peering into the
thickets by the roadside, and looking
ahead with feeling of apprehension at
every turn and wind of the road, which
made a gradual ascent for about three
miles to the crest of the ridge, known
as Saddleback, which separated Mano-
met from the adjoining town of Seaside.
Baal cantered slowly along, Molly not
caring to urge him up the ascent. 81
am almost tempted to go back, Baal,"
she said. Thcreat Baal bent back one
ear and listened. They two hal had
many condolences during their sum-
mcr's intimacy, and understood each
other. but | should be ashamed to
do it. What would my grandmother
say if | was such n coward? 1t was
my grandmother, you know, Baal, who
was cooking her dinner one day bend
ing over the fire place when she heard
an Ugh! ugh and turning saw an
Indian in his war-paint standing in the
doorway with his tomahawk raised,
and she never hesitated moment-if
she had she would have been scalpcd,
went towards him, laughing,
with both hands held out in welcome
and gave him meat; but that very night,
sure all was not right, fed TO the
with her baby-that was
my father whom you have never seen,
that very week the Indians
ravaged the whole country and killed
forty people. My grandmother's grand
ought 70 have mor3pluck than
to be SIRED by q sGnirreI rustling
leaf. I5a.sl.
However, Molly was Enthusiastically
nervous, and one result e nervous
ness was that she hell tight
ly and sat firmly in -ofic0. le. It
was often her habit while . to let
tho reins lie loosely on her h9rse's
neck while her thoughts were busy
elsewhere; but well was it for her to-
lay that something-an occult influence
N sky or air, Pcrhaps-had made her
uneasy.
The road, after reaching the crest of
suddenly dropped, begin
hing the descent by passing through an
opening in the granite ridge, but little
more Shan sufficiently wide for wagon
o 90 through. Just as MolIYwas riding
through this miniature mountain
lotch, out from the dense thicket at the
DOT of the rocky wall man sprang
md, endeaYoring to grasp her bride,
3aal SHE'D then and shot on like a
lash, and the same instant brave Molly |
'rowde was herself again, her nervous
less gone, her grandmother qualities
Using in her blood.
"Ah. Baal, that was the right thing |
o do"' she said, with T6agg-drawn |
heath. "And now, my brave fellow, |
'Ou have got some steady work to do"
or she had seen, as she dashed past, a |
lOrsG tied TO a tree and she knew,
whether drunken Indian or mIrderous |
White man, that in n moment he would
re on her track, and the open country |
nd safety Il long five miles away.
Nobody witnessed that ride for life
Mt tie squirrels and rabbits and, per-
nance. Il wild deer.
No poet has ever sung it, no story
cller chroniclcd it. But | should like
0 have seen it-thc flying coal-blark
Dung horse, with blazing intent eyes,
patched by those of the girl. he bore,
or erect figure, her looSened hair
treaming in the wind. her fearless and
allant air-I would like to have seen
=! And, please do not tell me that
;aal did not know and understand the
eril. and his duty.
Once the saddle-girths loOsened and
Jolly felt herself slipping. There was
othing TO do but to stop F7Nt> tighten
lem. She sprang to the ground and
rev the straps with firm strong fingers
lat did not tremblc, while Raal bent his
cad and touched her neck caressingly.
4 the silence she heard the coFipg quick
lnter of her tpersucr. CAGSain and
way! down by the border 2! l>b4.-'Srook
lat trickled unsteady undefthe bend
lg alders. On through the learing in
re heart of the woods Where. the
.inged gentianS lifted their eyes of
eadfast blue to the blue heaSens
bove, a mere flash of SILVER ana-hlqe
l Molly's eyes as she fled phst; on ard
n, under interlacing oIh,ts-1t through
hich only an occasional sunbeam
TERED dropping its glory on the flying
air; over beds of yielding pine needles
lat gave back no echo to BaaPs quick
Hing hoofs, through sunlight and
ladow without pause they fled, and al