The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-11-27

'"Sh'
i wish they would bring my father
home,' said Chatty; but at that instant
a crash and a louder and more deafen-
INC roar made both start and rush to
the window in alright.
"Ihe dam must have given way..'
exclaimed Mrs. Jcllife, white to the
very lips; and peering out they behcld
the terrible force of an uncomfortable
element.
What had gone before seemed mere
chllds play, for now, with the volume
OF Niagara and the din Of a thousand
water iicnds, the scething torrent came
ioanlng, dashing, leapingdownwards,
carrying all before it and sending up
dense clouds of steamy spray; while,
as they watched, they saw it strike the
bridge saw the timbcrs tremblc and
sway, and then, crushed and swept
from their moorings, 60 tossing like q
cockle-shcll out of sight.
Give minutes later and I should
have been on it," whispered Chatty,
turning pale at the thought.
Eyes. it came in good time for you;
but am afraid for the evening cx-
press. 1t is due here at quarter of six,
and there is no time to stop the train
after it rounds the curve, when the en-
gineer can see what has occurred
''But will no one send word to the
next station?" asked Chatty. looking
up aghast.
81 can't say. IT'S a lonely spot.
and few can know what has happened.
while all the men are away at market
or helping in the village. Heaven
have mercy OF the poor souls coming
home to spend their Thanksgiving'
''lt is dreadful! Oh, Mrs. Jellife,
lend me a horse, and will ride over to
Cranston and carry the news myself!'
"lou, child Are you crazy? 1t is
just three miles, and it is on the stroke
of five now.'-"But | must try, any
way and | believe l can do it. Think
if you had any friend on that train
May | have Whitefoot"
"Whitefoot has gone to market. aud
so have Jerry and all the rest. There
is not a horse in the stable except Wild
fire, and nobody can ride him but Dan.
The men don't dare touch him.
II am used to horses. Give me some
sugar, and | will see what | can do
at is no use; you could never even
saddle the critter.' But, nevertheless,
Mrs. JelIife brought out some Jumps of
sugar and followed the girl to the barn,
where in one of the stalls stood large,
powerful, black horse.
He eyed them %viciously, and tried
to bite Chatty when she ventured to
pat his nose; but, instead of the little
hand, his jaws came together on aswcct
lump she had deity slipped into his
open mouth, which so astonished him
that he submitted. in his amazcmcnt,
to being led out and having the saddle
placed on his back; but when she
attempted to adjust the bridle Wildlre
robcllcd. laid back his ears, and was
evidently preparing to kick.
You will have 10 hold his head.
Mrs. Jcllife," said Chatty and in fear
and trembling that good oma took
hold of the halter.
Soothing words and the persuasive
power of sugar We're again brought
into requisition, and Wildlirc, who was
Blessed with an mcommonly sweet
tooth, began to feel more amiablc as he
crunched the delicious morselS, until,
with the last lump, in went the curb
bit; and Chatty felt she had gained 4
victory as she fastened the buckles and
sprang lightly into the saddle. In an
instant Wildfrc was upright, dancing
O.
on two legs, rearing and plunging
madly. and then, with Il sudden swcrvc,
bottled out into the fast gathering twi-
light.
you will be killed! Come back Oh,
come back" walled Mrs. Jcllifc. fran
But Chatty hardly heard her
as she was borne swiftly down the hill,
her whole attention being occupied
with cndeavoring to keep her seat
and guide the fiery beast in the right
direction. Chatty had good Scotch
grit. however, and had not ridden bare
back for nothing. So she now set her
teeth hard. graspcd the reins firmly
and flew over the ground like the wind
howlcd above her head.
Could she reach Cranston in season?
was her one thought, for the saddling
mad necessarily been a work of time.
But what a ride that was! Now going
with such swiftncSs she felt that she