The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-07
A PHANTOM BRIDE.
BY the Author of "TnE Ice CAR
NtvAL.n

cred au adjacent ditch. hut some long
moments elapsed before Dick even sue
ceedcd in discovering his whereabouts;
meanwhile the horse plunged and strug-
gled franticaly vainly seeking to eX-
trcate itself from the traces and brOk-
on shafts. to the imminent peril of life
and limb.
The young man glanced desparingly
around; then he laughed aloud. for des-
pite the unduuhtcd terrurs of the situa-
ton. 1t appeared to him nm element of
the ludicrOus was not altogether want
ing. For he knew himself to be within
few miles Of the great modern Baby
Ion on the one hand, and the snug vic
arage on the other. The hour was not
yet six, and "at home without doubt
"the girls were preparing for tea; the
fire blazed, the lights were lit, all things
wore festive air, out of compliment
no less to the season than the anxiously
expected guest. Meanwhile Dick told
himself it WAS by no means improbable
this Christmas Eve would he his last on
earth. for he felt convinced he should
never survive the long nights exposure
to the frost and snow if he were des-
tined to remain In present quarters UNI
til morning, yet circumstances seemed
to render hopeless and preposterous
the mere notion of reaching home that
night
One of the carriage lamps fortunately
yet blazed brightly, or the condition Of
the hapless travellers would have been
additionally pitiable. Dick went round
to the horses head, and released it
from as much of the calling harness as
was practicable; but finding the poor
brute too deeply buried in the snow to
render any attempt tn raise it feasible,
he contented himself by loosening its
girths and unstrapping the shafts. leav-
ing the unfortunate beast to subside
gradually, as it grew numhed and
exhausted by its struggles in the drift
ed snow.
Then Dick took the lamp in his own
stiff hand. and, having thawed his froZ-
en- fingers by contact with the heated
glass. proceeded in search of the hap
less driver, whom he presently discov-
cred at a distance of some half-dozen
yards buried up to his armpits, and ev-
identity senscess-if not, indeed, al
ready dead. reflected Dick, with an ON
nous thrill at his heart.
But even to reach the mans side was
in itself a matter of no small difficulty.
Finding the snow give way beneath his
feet, and perceiving the grisly tops of
some bushes HARDLY Dick at once
jumped to the conclusion that the poor
fellow had been precipitated into
snow-covered ditch, whence his eXtri-
cation was likely to prove no easy mat
ter. Carlisle was brave of heart as
stout of limb, yet the reader will scarce
ly be surprised to learn that sudden
nameless dread took possession of him
as he glanced appealingly around, as
though vainly imploring help from
earth and heaven, whilst the bitter
wind alone made reply, soughing deris-
lively among the trees which uprose
here and there at long intervals, max
ing the landscape seem, if possible,
but the more grim and forbdding.
The snow, however, had temporarily
ceased, which was i'll itself no small
mitigation of the young mans misery.
He could now ut any rate take n survey
of the scene for some distance on either
side, and perceiving a wooden gate a
few yards to the right, justly conclud-
ed that it must mark the entrance to a
field beyond. communicating by a slip
of land spanning the ditch with the
main road So he forthwith turned his
steps in that direction. and prodding
the snow with his umbrella, which in
this emergency proved invaluable, he
found that it was here only some few
inches deep; so he stumbled easily
enough across to the gate, whence,
clinging to the snow-clad bushes, he
CROPPED his way along the back of the
ditch towards the still motionless fig
ure, which seemed gradually sinking,
as the lightly drifted snow gave way by
| slow degrees beneath his weight and
natural warmth.
Arrived within arms reach of his dis
abled comrade, still Dick hestated. 1t
seemed that by plunging bodily into the
snow he would sink beside the man,
and thus render himself altogether pow
erless. Yet to see fellow creature eX-
tended motionless as death, within q
couple of yards of ones own hand, and
| yet make no effort to rescue him was
| too terrible q contingency to be even
momentarily contemplated. Again
Dick glanced desparingly around-ah!
was it possibleY or did his eyes deceive
him? For as he gaZed it seemed to
him, that on the far side of the hedge,
some distance in advance, a moving fig
ure was distinguishabe-a short muf-
fled figure, shapoless, formless, plough
ing through the snow; whether man,
boy or beast Dick could not say-only
it was receding steadily from view,
casting strange shadows on the snow.
lie raised his voice; he shouted again,
and yet again:
Help, help!" he wildly cried; "for
the love of Heaven, help helpless fell
low-creature lies perishing in the
snow!n
But answer there was none, only a
dreary derisive echo, which seemed to
mock his impotent frenzy, and render
the desolation of the scene yet more
pitiably oppressive. Dick turned again
toward the PROSTATE man. Hal surely
now he stirred; that shout had pene-
tratnI hiu nnpnhal hrnin "A Wnk inn
slowly from his trance he opened his
eyes and stared blankly round.
"IIeaven be praised" cried Dick.
keep up, old man, and all will yet be
well. Seek to rouse yourself; on no &C
count close your eyes again, and-in
another moment l will be back by youI
side"
Thus inspired, Dicks own dropping
spirits in truth revived. The newborn
hope Pickering now at his heart seemed
as a beacon-star, which guided hin
safely, and in an incredibly short space
of time, back to the cab round by the
same road he had already traversed
The poor horse apparently was dead: il
had ceased to kick or struggle, ant
Dick concluded breath had fled. Thi'
was no moment, however, TO indulge
in regrets, and he hastily proceeded t,
carry out the notion which had FLASHED
across his mind.
In the first instance he CROPPED be
meath the seat inside the cab for
small black traveling-bag, in which h,
had slowed various Christmas offerings
comestibles, etc, which he had pur
chased for those at home-among othe
things, couple of bottles of rare cher
ry brandy for his father, which he nov
ruthlessly disentombed; then dragge,