Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-28

| ing like that, that's certain.
It was certain, indeed. Poor Harry
Requa was about fainting from loss
of blood already.
He went into the house, while Ken
til hurrledly led out her own strong
horse and put the saddle on him, and
led him out into the road, and then
called out ''The horse is ready,
mother. Hurry"
No response came and she looked
down the path. No wonder that she
gave a shrek, for there, through the
pines at the bend of the road, she saw
a bright red spot, and knew the dra
goons were almost upon her. One
moment she staggered with fright;
the next she was in the saddle. to all
appearances the young Major Requa,
laundering along the straight, level
road. A yell from behind told her
that she was seen, so, with deter
mined smile on her face, she set her
horse forward at tearing gallOp.
The trees and bushes lining the road
flew past her like whirling leaves in
the wind, and the wind struck her
face like needle.
Suddenly she reined her horse to a
more gentle trot, and looked over her
shoulder. As they went laundering
past the house and not man turned
aside, she laughed a hearty little
laugh. and set about throwing her
pursuers out of the way OF her broth
er. She went whirling around the
bend at the next crossroads, and starts
ed at brisk gallop toward Rye. She
was playing with her pursuers now,
and had no fear of not distancing
them when she chose. The poor tired
horses of the dragons had good blood
in them, however, and they kept on
behind her. Still they rode steadily
on, the pursuers and the pursued,
till the gray m1sts began to float along
the shore of the pond, and the distant
tree tops began to grow indistinct
and faint to the sight. AS Kentil
rode on and on, the same stars that
began TO twinkle overhead saw Harry
Requa riding up toward Newburgh,
safe within the American ground.
AS Kentil rode on and on, thinking
she had distanced her pursuers, three
dragons were riding across fields,
taking a short cut, to get in front of
her. AS Kentll rode on and on, the
dragons behind her were urging their
exhausted horses into a last gallop.
When the night had spread over
everything Kentil stopped her horse
and listened. Yes, she still heard
them half mile away, coming up as
fast as their tired horses would carry
them, those provoking dragons
Kcntil urged her horse into steady
gallop and soon reached the bend in
the road, where three dragons We're
standing, their horses in the road, and
their pistols held in readiness to fire.
But Kentil saw them, and like flash
turned her horses head, took the low
fence by the roadside CALAMITY, and
was flying over the fields with the
three dragons after her. The horses
of two soon gave out, but she still
heard the other dragon coming up,
and-could vt be?-gaining on her
She was tired and stiff from her novel
mode of riding, and he was thorough
horseman. Her horse was the fresher,
but he managed his so much the bet
ter that he kept gaining on her.
They rode on through the night like
two grim, silent spectres, for it was
grimly earnest now. A single mis-
step of the horse might mean broken
neck. Slowly the neon rose frora
bank of clouds that lay on the hosi-
zon. The night grew brighter, and
the horseman was closer; still he did
not fire. Kentil shuddered and grew
nervous. They reached a swampy
meadow and went splashing through
it, but as the horses plunged deeper
and deeper into the slime, the pace
grew slower and slower. When Ken
til reached the next fence she shud--
dered. It seemed higher than usual.
that fence. and she plunged her horse
at it desperately. The ne1t minute
Kentil Requa lay on the ground, and
the pHlrsuer spqang from his horse
with cooked pistol and stood over her.
The moon shone down on her face,
half-aEerted from the dragon, as she
waited for him 30 fire. The suspense
was SO terrible that her heart almost
stopped beating. She looked up and
saw Captain Cobham, the magnificent,
staring incredulously, with bis arms
dangling nervously st bis sides,
frightened, wondering, and little
angry. The girl, unprepared for this
denouement, lost her self-eontrol
and buried her blushing face in her
hands and sobbed piteously, and the
gallant captain felt ike murderer.
upon my word Of honor, Kentil,
I didn't know it was you," As gaspea
penitently.
Then he went and got her horse,
who was hardly any the worse for the
fall, and led it up to her.
Cant l assist you to mount?" he
asked, rather maliciously.
Alas for the captain! Kentil looked
out from her fingers for one moment,
and caught him smiling. That sealed
his death warrant. She turned on
him majestically.
Captain Gotham, will you please
to go?"
''But. Kentil. with the country in
this condition." expostulated he.
"Wiu you leave me instantly, siri"
she interrupted, with blazing eyes.