The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-23
A RIDE TO DEATH.

manikin turned By a brutal hand. Two
seconds later he was in The street. His
brain was vacant, without thought; be
walked with the automatic step Of the
drunkard whom will alone maintains upon
his ndccisivC legs.
Arrived at his own house. he threw
himself upon a chair leaned his elbows
upon his knees lis brow upon his hands,
and remained thus. astonisbed to find
himself almost calm, fearless. but still
unable 10 reflect From time 10 time q
sharp pang iraversing his heart moment
nriy recalled % him that lie suffered, he
felt himself pale. lie Iaade an effort TO
rouse himself. get up. opened the window
and regarded the heavens Of light
tender blue, the blue OF tho early spring
morning that follows Il night Of rain.
The trees Of tie garden had begun TO
blossom. rosy clouds ioatcd above the
houses, lowered moment upon the chin
ncy tops like The wings OF birds and then
resumed their way. Before lin. bathod
in a pallid Sunlight ycllcd still by va
porous mist. tho qradrangular bulk Of
tho qucrtcr8. It's walls yellow and NAKED,
showed itself IN an ettitudc stif and mar.
tial For the first time be seemed 20 SOC
ever. the impression Of external objects
netting upon a CALLED and tortured brain.
Nevertheless. willie il his lungs the fresh,
pure air of the morning circulated, and
he felt and he saw the beauty of the
world about him, by curious doubling
of personality b. followed impassbly in
another self the terrible and common
place historY that had dishOnOrcd him.
.I.s. I ..f
was going 10 10 brought before 4 conrt
martial Tomorrow. at lltest. he would
DO arrcstcd-the colonel had given him
but twcnty- four hours-had said: And
now, monsieur. you know. think what
you Lavo u do
lie had but one passion-thc horse-and
that passion had ruined him 10 ride. t.
run them. 10 mOant them at races. and -
have a stable had been the lxcl ilca Of
his life; TIC goal Of all his desires All
efforts; the single thought OF his soul a
marvellous horseman, absolutely lndl}
moumtablc, so they said IN the regiment,
tho men had surnamed him 'Ihc Jockey,
name that was at once his ambition ana
his pride The maintenance OF bis stable,
however. lad cost him his patIinony 10
had borrowed and q pack 81 creditors
ioosed at his heels tracked and harasscd
him. At last. at bag one day. laI VIII
worry and lost IN one q those nOmcn,5
wien moral sense Is Obliteratcd and con
science uses sJptistrics 10 pat u sleep
its scruplc- lo hal drawn iron the cash
box of his squadron forged signatures to
the bills in it, and falsiied his accounts
in tho hope Of hiding the deficit.
Unskilliully done, the fault was
speedily discovered. and tomorrow hc
was to b. r1blicly branded. and tho
cavaliers of the second class who. in the
street. rode behind him, would hen have
tho right 20 refuse - salute hin, tho
right TO scofn him.
'Iou could have Cone it, be cried
cloud, clutching the window frame in
agony. all in q sweat. his eyes dry and
staring straight before Lin il an attitude
OF blank despair lc had vision OF he
ordeal awaiting Lil-tho five brother
officers united there to judge. condemn
and degrade Lin
And now. monsieur, You know, think.
what yon have 10 DOL!
The phrase Of the colc9cl returned to
him suddenly ia is implatablo signili
canoe. followed by that other ono that
his brain conveyed - him like an echo.
"Il' MEANS yoa 10 lill YOURSELF
lie remained a moment bcTi.acrcd,
stupcicd fhcn a sob shook his breast,
tccrs rolled FROM lis eyes. and Ike q
child who. feeble and without support
has rccd 20 sustain and solace itself by
affection. he YVES seized With a. Infinite
gr,titudc. an instructive thankinl-ess TO
the colonel WHO had been Lind 10 hin
biz colonel. WHO had accorded him twenty.
four hours cf mace. who he'd opened II
him door Of salvation in permitting hin
q cvaAc a public dishacr.
lie must kill himsef-that liberty alone
remained TO him Sill HIMSELF inisi
II. and Immediately DEATH No moro
lubbub. 10 more uneasiness or disquiet
udc, Indifference to the future For
gcifulncss of everything and Of linselil
So be it, lie lad had enough Of this
needy. torrcniel eyis;encol
Meanwhile he had not stirred from his
window. unable 10 tear his regard from
the spectacle OF life that surrounded him.
II the distance from the gates or the
qucrtcrs platoon of riders wcro goin;
out for their regular maneuvcrs Ncl
and horses were like pignies-snail, but
distinct. Mechanically he counted them
Four. eight. twelve. sixteen. eighteen.
Soon the platoon was lost from sight IL
orc Of the cross streets, and when the
last cf the cavaliers had disappeared
around tao turning. great emptiness
Gllcl the breast of Random. 1t seemed
20 him that henccforth no was alone il
tho world. abandoned by every cac llc
drov himself back, slowly rccloscd the
Ssh and re- entered his chamber.
Agoins; the wall on the right a paloply
OF arms fastidiously arranged caught Ii.
eye Re reflected quickly passing IA r.
view the Divers means oil suicide that
vfcro at his door, successfully rejecting
thcm all-ths reFclvcr, c5muonpl-cc
tho stroke Of tic pcinard theatrcal
poison. tho mcthod Of nervous duchess
drowning Sc only fos % betrayed and
Suddenly lac shisercd--he lad found II
lie descended 10 tho court and called hi:
stablcla3l
Saddle Niacho." said he. And h.
waited. promonaling ffoA side 10 side
tlrcshins tLc air with his riding whip
whistling through his teeth When they
brought him his mount, little mare
true bred slender. yet snowy. he wa
calm again. and settling himself slowly II
his stirrups. departed