The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1886-12-20

neck, Every moment seemed an hour.
She had attempted short cut across the
lots, and all AT once there arose before
here a high stone wall that she had en-
tirely forgotten. Could Wildire take it?
Her heart was in her throat: but she
braced herself for the leap. Wildfre
paused, breathing heavily hestated,
and then. lightly as u bird. vaulted
gracefully over 1t is nearly dark. hut
the lights of Cranston can hc seen glim-
mering in the distance! Get upi Get
up. Wildfrc" urges Chaiiy impatiently,
for the horse having expended his super
iluous energy. is beginning to quiet
down. Her plaid falls back. her long
hair floats on the evening breeze and her
pulses beat wildly. A bright spot like
red and fiery eye suddenly shines across
the fields. 1t is the headlight of the en-.
gine. The train is already AT the re-
freshment station, where they linger ten
minutes for supper .! If II should start
before she gets there! Hurry. hurry.
Wildfire," she screams, although the
horse is almost running. She hears the
whistle, hears the bell sound the signal
for departure. and carried out of her
self, stands up in the saddle. shouts
aloud and waves her plaid. in the hope
Of attracting attention. The long re-
freshment counter has been swept clean.
and the passengers are hurrying to the
cars, when all pause in surprise at "a
huge black steed that comes dashing on
to the platform, stopping so suddenly
that the little rider loses her hold. flies
over his head and is caught in the arms
of tall man with bushy wbiskers,
while she cries: stop, stop! the rail-
road bridge Is down and you will be lost
If you go on. :"
The excitement is intense. Passen-
gers and employees crowd around; but
she hears only one voice which
exclaims, why, its Chatty, my little
Chattyr' and now that danger is past,
she gives out and faints away in her
fathers arms. for the tall man is no
other than Captain Macdonald, given
back to home and family from the perils
of the deep. And very proud he is of
his young daughter. when. restored to
consciousness, she tells the story of the
flood. and receives the thanks and bless
ings of the grateful travellers. What "a
Thanksgiving that was in the old red
house when the crickcts-not u whit the
worse for their journey in Chatlys peck
et-chrpcd merry chorus ON the
hearth. Chaiiy nestled closc TO her
IhIHtr sue anu htilhcu WIN happiness,
while the dear old grandmother, her
mother and Jessie fairly scintillatcd with
delight Mrs. Pcicrkin's turkey did not
grace the feast; but II far larger and
plumpcr bird, over which Sandy related
his adventurous story of shipwreck,
fever, and weeks of inscnsibility in u
foreign hospital, and lastly of u lucky
stroke which sent him home with honor
and fortune.
And just as Chatty thought her cnp of
happiness was running over, another
drop was added in the arrival of beau
tiful little lithe-limbed steed, the gift of
the grateful passengers of the rescued
train to the heroine of the Five Forks"
'The dear little crickets brought us n
shower of good luck after all, did they
not Grandma asked she, gaily Yes,
my bairnie, SO far AS if you had not
gone for them yesternight the rest
would not have followed; but much
more fancy is owing to the bravery of
one wee lassie named Chatty. "-Agnes
| Carr Sage, in american .lgrirUtturid.