The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-09
A PHANTOM BRIDE.
BY the Author Of "TnE Ice CAR
NIvAL."

revived the fainting spirits and droop-
ing hearts of those afar and was forth
with answered by cry of grateful ac-
acknowledgement from Dick Carlisle's
lips, which spurred both men and
beasts alike to do their best for fellow
creatures in distress, regardless of all
personal cost. So Tom tugged at the
bride helping 18th old meern over the
toughest places, as though she were n
toddling child he feared TO let run alone;
whilst Bill went round to the rear of
the cart, and literally putting his Shout
der to the wheel assisted the convey
ance over stones and out of ruts in
fashion which very considerably accel-
Grated the general progress.
Once the angle of the road was
turned, the distance was shorter than
had at first appeared; and, ten minutes
later. rescued and rescuers were in
speaking distance Of one another.
"Wul, hoo goes itrn shouted Bill.
"Bear up!n
Badly, badly came the response
you're not "A minute too sOOnl For
Gods sake. hasten. I've q man here
seems more like dead than faint; my
self am three parts frozen, positively
paralyzed with cold!n
But n very few moments after that,
Tom and Bill had brought their horses
to full stop, and knowing to an inch
the width and exact position of the
dyke, deity placed the movable cart
planks dubbed seats" by courtesy
across the snow, so as to span the aper-
ture beneath, treacherously covered
now by the drift-thus forming an i'm
promptu gangway.
Togrope their way by these means to
the sufferers side was comparatively
easy, and by the united efforts of the
carriers, jim Browne was presently
bodily raised and carried to the warm
shelter of the cart; where stretched up
on the straw, and covered by all avail
able wraps and rugs, he was for the
moment left, whilst the men returned
to assist Dick over the ground to 18th
conveyance" as Bill termed 1t, into
which he was lifted by the stout arms
of the carriers as though he had been in
very truth child.
Then the two men ran on to inspect
the horse and cab. "lIil tn old hack s
done for, an ma mistookl" Tom shout
ed; an tn car can bide until mornin',
] TAX it. Onything i'side, zurY Shul'd
! bring these ere bags an baggages
like?" as glance revealed Dicks
small portmanteau and multitude
nous parcels slowed away under the
seat.
Bring everything responded Dick,
land for Heavens sake lose not mo-
ment; let's get on at any price. 1t
seems to me, -" lie added 10 himself I'M
der his breath, that only by the pres
ent intensity of gratitude and JOY at the
prospect of deliverance, can | at all es-
innate the previous depths of past de-
spair. That's right, old fellow as
Browne slowly opened his eyes, thaw-
ing in the genial atmosphere of the
covered cart and beneath the influence
of Dicks gentle chatting of his numbed
extremities; "we're safe and sound
thank Godl at last. Here, open your
lips, and have another pull at the bot.
tie. Heavens! what would have be-
come of us, wonder, but for the deal
pater's cherry brandy Capital stuff
Browne. eli? Cheer up, old man-cheel
upl We s,.all find ourselves before Q
roaring fire in less than no time now
That's better, ehp and, now, don't LOSE
men who were slowing the portmanteat
and packages away at the back Of tn,
cart-"if you reach Burnham Vicarag,
within the hour u crisp flyer shall b'
yours before you lay your heads on thu
pillow this night"
Done wi you, EUR" r,turned Bill
with n knowing grin, as he clambere(
up to the box seat and CAT lered up tn,
ribbons, whilst Tom burst into roar
stretching forth grimmy palm. PA.
up. eur. sharp. We're no moor than
matter o. twenty minutes fra tn vicar
age gates, tho out O. Burnham direc
road!n
you don't mean i'll" returned Dick
half incredulOus. Good Lordl Il
think we might have laid perishinl
there all night, actually within a stone
throw of home, but for the luck.
chance which set you in our direction
Were you going into London this terri
BILE evening, or"
"Lunnonl o this hour o. n Chrisser
mas Evel" echoed Tom Indignantly, q
he llicked tn old mares ears with hi
Well-worn whip, "We're mo- SIGH hay
Trims as al that, I'd ha' ye know, an
our missuses a-waitin' meanwhile a
'ome. Ma, ma. We carries as q rul
, 'twixt Burnham an Wimbledon, on
days work wur over Ian stiff enoug
an all ii proves n this says0n o. u
year,, an jist as we wur a-turnin' doc
agin Beech Clump, as is a spot whee
boundaries meet, along o. three lin
l beech saplings, oop comes little miss
= a-runnin' till yer c'ud most see tn 'eal
on ur a-thumpin' gen ur bosom. Wul
D no sooner 'ud we gotten tn messag
than SEES to Bill, SEES |, We maun fus
. -'O
? "Message What messenger" intel
rupted Dick. 1--WE saw no little miss
=, we sent no message"
. For one long moment Tom stare
a blankly up into Dicks face, then b
emitted a prolonged howl, addresse
presumably to Bill, who was walkin
: alongside the horses heads, encouraI
3 ing and assisting them over the tot
u some ground.
s "Wha' did tell yer, Bill, moo? Do
e heer wha' tn gent says? She w
i naught but pixie, weird imp thiI
u -th' likes as we've heerd tell on, he
s and heerabouts o. Chrissermas Evel
n SEES as much at fust, but Bob SEES, s.
he
o "Git out!" quoth Bill with infinite d
II rision, albeit he momentarialy reli
s, quished his hold on the bride, al
3 dropped alongside the cart, resting j
y hand on the shaft, and gazing up wild
1t eyed and open-mouthed into the fac
ID OF its occupants, "lf so be she wur
y. morteal crittur, low COON II then as
found the conveyance an tn gents |
" as we heerd sayY Letten alone
N ~
"But don't UNDERESTIMATE interruI
IN ed Dick impatiently. "We saw
= human being and yet you say"