Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1888-01-14

dt "A, SIG IlAHaScu 10 naSn Dack over
the wire.
Then she dashed out where all should
have been darkness but was not. For
miles earth and sky were illuminated,
the roaring of the flames could be dis
tictly heard, their furious leapings dis
tinctly traced, their speed swifter than
the grey hound and their force rcsistless
as a cyclone. Nothing to her now was
duty ,e1othing that it wanted two hours
of midnight, nothing that many lives
might hang upon her remaining at her
post. One life she knew was in danger,
and that was to her more than all others
in the world
With flying feet, with desperate re-
solve forming in her brain, she fastened
homeward, but did not enter the house
dared not for fear Of the thwarting of
! her purpose AS she passed the window
she saw her old father nodding in his
chair, and satisfied smile parted her
lips For all he hidden wealth of
mountain and canyon she would not have
him waken.
We'll she knew the swiftest and most
untiring horse in the stable. That it
was one she had never ridden, young,
fiery, valuable blue bloodcd stallion, she
never gave a thought. Speed and courage
were the things now to be desired, and
oil otl,n, avnp bnr o1up
safety, were lwarfcl int o nothingness by
| them
With soothing voice and gentle hands
/ the Girl led the horse out, bridlcd, sad
! died and mounted Astonished by her
daring, he quietly submitted. The charm
Of womanhood had easily accomplished
what had ever been a difficult task for
men Then, startled by the unusual
burden and tapping of skirts about his
flank, he reared, plunged, paved the air,
kicked vigorously and made a desperate
effort to unscat the rider. 1t was unsuc-
ccssful. The hands that held the reins,
little as they were, had a grip of iron, and
the whip left awct upon the glossy skin.
Madly shaking his head, dashing out
with his heels, with the breath whstling
through the thin nostriIs, he made a
second attempt: shivercd as he received
still more singing blow, then dashed
furiously down the road
The catter of hoofs disturbed the
dreams of the old farmer He sprang to
the window, but only to catch an indis-
: tinct vision Of something, glanced at the
clock murmured contentedly of having
an hour before going for Nellie, and set
tied himself for another nap.
Little idea had he that his only child
and costly stced were indulging in the
widest of races under sky lighted as
10y the flames of hell and surrounded by
its fires
The swjtehman saw the girl as she flew
past; saw the swift galloping horse, the
rider with her long hair streaming in the
wind, the horse as if breathing smoke
saw without recognition, and supersti-
tiously imagined that the ghost of some
red child of the wilderness, whose bones
had been disturbed in building the iron
track of the pale face, was out for mid
night rcvel.
For considerable distance the road
was over the undulating prairie, and both
horse and rider enjoyed the race; then
they were forced upon the ties, and the
heavily shod hoofs cIattercd along the
bridges: then they left it and safety and
plunged upon narrow thread of beaten
earth. with fire swiftly rushing toward it
from either side
The horse, brave and blooded as he was,
hc,itatcd, as we'll he might; but the hand
Of the rider was firm and the viii merci-
less \ brief hour had transformed the
gentle girl into Il woman maddened by
love and superior to danger The one
idea that had taken possession of brain
and pulsing heart remained permanent.
John King was in danger of being con.
sumed. She must save him or
And very soon the horse became mad
as we'll. With long and seemingly tire
less strides he stretched himself His
dark skin was fecked with foam, hi:
sides were heaving as a bellows, like
; escaping steam his breath was blown, his
eyes were red with exertion and his fran,
,rcmbled with excitement.
On, on they psesscd, on thus fan /,
| little danger, for thp fire was yet at
. distance. But with every moment j
| became nearer, nearer, closed upon then
e and blazing sparks fe.l thlckly as rain.
! On, on. and the flames leaped upwar,
: and at times closed over their heads
D they were rushing as through a tunnel 0
n hissng, roaring fire; it was crowd;ng il
; upon them. was beneath their feet, wa
playing il fantastic shapes around an,