The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-08-21

Vas riding toward the village ot Mess,
Brock. st the close OF . sultry Aftrrsoor
last summer, ss fast - the jsdsd bay mari
hc bsstrsds could lesssn tAs tedious dis
isnrs. His face wss haadsoms. bnt be
wore an sssious expression. auS be stared
about the country. - be rode on, with the
air Of ssrssgsr in thsss parts His dus.
ty fest. his pale visage. aud the foreign
cut Of his apparel. With the vatohiulsess
sf his manner. would have led any obser'
YER 10 consider him one who had travelled
far that day, and Who Was not only frsm .
foreign counlry. but laboring under scne
deep distress OF mind. sorrow perhaps
rem srse.
As he climbed the hill which looked
down upon the village his face brigktensd
somewhat
Thank HeAvsni There shall find .
few hours rest and rsfrsshment for my
self and this exhausted boast. he muttersd
and the marc picked up her ears ss she
saw the village And heard his voice. and
hastsAsd her pace. as il shs knew her
riders intention.
'Csre for her we'll. :" said the stranger to
the hostler as be alighted. II am 10 sup
and sleep few hours; and at ten tonight,
have her saddled and at the door; ! an
10 great haste 70 costiaus my journey,
aad nust depart.
The hoatler promised. and the stranger
after eating. a hearty supper, retired to
rest.
Having well bestowed the mare. the
hostlor flung himself down before the
stable door, and considering be had As
much right to rest as any other man or
beast in free country. wsnt to sleep him.
| self
Whether he had worked or drank too
much that day certain il was that be over
slept his time; and when hs started up,
aud hastily saddled the mare upon which
the stranger was to continue his way, il
was eleven o'clock aud pitch dark.
As the stranger had also over slept his
hour he did not much blame the hsstler,
but paid his bill, mounted quickly and
rode away, making no answer to the re.
mark Of the man that there would be q
heavy storm before morning, as the clouds
were already black and threatening.
valuable Information sneered the
traveller as tho mare made unusually
quick time over tho road. Couldn't l
see for myselt9 Had not been in haste
to get TO the end Of my journey. ! should
not, Of course, have gone before morning,
after forty miles Of travel under sum-
mer sun. The deuce is my luck, to be
roasted by day and half drowned by night
a. this approaching storm seems to fore.
bode. Ha! What . vivid FASH The
tempest is coming sooner than expected.
How fast the mare goes! A few hours
have worked wonders with her; or, per.
haps, instinct bids her speed To escape the
tempest il possible.
A heavy crash Of thunder, just then
startled both horse and horssmap, as he
felt the tremor Of the frightened ANIMALS
Limbs, and her gate for short distance
became irregular. .Our road lies through |
. wood fer few miles I am told; and
when the shower is on us in full ferce,
what with the lightning, the thunder, the
rain, and the darkness, she may become
Perhaps ! had better
stayed after all The more haste the worst
speed sometimes
Flash after flash, peal after peal now
followed rapidly. with binding and deaf
ening effect upon man and beast and soon
the wind and rain combined with fearful
power and volume, as il to distract and
the benighted horse and rider.
Here and there. over their rough road,
the tern branches Of trees incumber II,
- II TO dispute their passage. Twice as
the scared beast gallopsd frantically on
she stumbled and nearly threw the cavalier
requiring all his efforts to recover her and
keep the saddle; and oLcs dazzling bolt
and fearful and simultaneous clap Of
thunder caused the poor beast TO swsrve
mAdIy aside. rear and then turn back in
her track for short distance--whils tall
tree, cleft by ths lightning, scattered half
its mighty bulk ever the spot from which
the mare had shrunk back.
But with steady hand and ceaxing voice
the hsrseman finally caused her to return
again. and waiting over the PROSTATE
lrusk, they resumed their stormy course,
while broken boughs, torn from tallsst
Trees, whirlsd dangerously through the
lir.
Thus, through the night. they proceeded
he storm gradually abating - the dim
lawn Of the day approached; and when
he cheering sun 81 last broke with merry
lace over the glistsnisg hill. the drenchsd
stranger wAs far beyond the psrplszing
'orest through which be had ridden.
Thank you fer nothing" he exclaimed
nockingiy saluting the sun. "Ths world
. fall Of such friends, whe give the aid
,nly when the trouble is over. The sun
Ihould shine il the night such times"
The mare made the best Of her way to
he nsighboring village, where the rider
lev determined TO stop. recruit asd pass
aalf . day at least.
Dirty. drcnehsd. sore with traYsl, bag
yard As be vas, Il may b. supposed that
,s did not feel over communicative 10 ths
people st the tavern, who stared at the
'sspgsr the harder. They thought him
rot st I'll prsposssasing poor. proud. -
Baggage. and very liksl, no nsnsy.
The mare. however. Was stalled; not
vitbsut beiuC closaiy rsgAYded by every I