Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-12-27

i..i Nooo oI1ceIS, ana When the
!ast Of the cavaliers had disappeared
around the turning. a great er56tiness n GO
hlled the breast of Random. II saer,ed
to him that henceforth he was alone in
the world, abandoned by every cpe. He
drew himself back, slowly reclosed the
sash and re-entered his chamber.
| Against the wall on the right nanonlv
OF arms fastidiously arranged caught his
eye. lie reflected. quickly passing in re-.
view the divers means of suicide that
were at his door. successfully rejecting
them ail-the revolver, commonplace:
the stroke Of the poinard, theatrical:
poison. the method Of nervous duchess:
| ur3wn!ng, ut only for betrayed and
suddenly he shivered-he had found It'll
de descended to the court and called his
stableman. '
Saddle Ninichel" said he. And he
waited. promenading from side to side,
thresh!ng the Dir with his riding whip,
whst!ing through his teeth When they
brought him his mount, little mare.
true bred. slender, yet sinewy, he was
calm again. and settling himself slowly in
bis stirrups, departed.
Erect upon his saddle, martially canned
his legs falling naturally along the flanks
OF his mare. the reins supple but perfectly
carried. and trinity attired in blue cav
airy coat. closely buttoned to his form.
Capt. Random advanced at a slow step.
He1 was pale, little nervous, perhaps.
but he wished to be impossible and stiff
ened himself resolutely in order to give
himself countenance; he regarded tho
blush smoke Of the cigarette mounting
lightly in little eddies In the transparent
clearness of the atmosphere. or lifted his
head to examine the windows of the houses
to surprise pair Of eyes that contem-
plated him. hand that drew aside a cur
tain, and he was happy at the little effect
produced by his passage.
lmpelled by force Of habit, he had taken
the road to the quarters. He perceived it
presently and smiled contemptuously;
nevertheless continued his route He de-
sired to see for the last time the beings
and things familiar to him. He saluted
with the tips Of his fingers the sentry who
presented arms, gave an amicable good
day to the sous officer on guard. man of
his own squadron, made the tour of the
barracks without dismounting threw a
glance into the stables directed the officer
Of the day to remit some punishments
that he had inflicted the evening before
passed to the gate, leaped it and turned
and swept the building with gaze of
adieu
Only then did his heart sink, and, fear
ing the trouble that invaded him, he put
his mare to the trot, seeking to fly his
weakness. He had resumed the way to
the forest; before long he was in tho
woods. Rays of sunlight filtered through
out the leaves. designing the shadows of
the trees and branches upon the brownish
earth. Drops of the nights rain still
pearled upon the grasses.
Capt. Random brought his horse to
walk. There is plenty of time" he
thought. and allowed himself to go dream
ing idly, soothed by the freshness of the
morning breeze.
In the meantime he had passed into a
wide, sandy alley-"the training alley"
as he remembered, of the barracks he
had travelled two kilometers at Jump
He dropped the reins upon Niniche's neck,
and the head and shoulders of the mare
balanced to the right and balanced to the
left with the regularity of a pendulum.
Random was absolutely content content
with the pride Of resolution well and
firmly taken. He was happy even to find
himself calm and proud of his bravery.
At the end of the alley he traversed
wide clearing, and hundred meters fur
ther stopped Behind tall hedge near
by, stones throw from the highway,
not more. the line Of the railway ran; the
descent that led to it was perpendicular
and covered with pebbles and jagged
points of stone. Pale as a corpse, Ran
don observed it, strange emotion hold
ing him. his legs weakening beneath him.
He made a half turn, threw his animal
upon her launches and advanced again,
but at walk. There was plenty of time.
Niniche was afraid Of tree that had
fallen across her route, and plunged vio-
lently. A little more and Random had
been dismounted. It was painful sur
prise to him.
''Chutl" he cried. what Is the matter
with me? Can l ride no more2" And,
self anew and began to pet and soothe her
less to calm bis animal. perhaps. than
to reassure himself.
ton. Easy, my girl, easy. Thou shalt
have thy gallop by and by"
Again he stopped and made half turn; |
again hesitated; for the desire to wheel, |
the desire to fly and turn no moro had |
come upon him strongly; but only for an |
instant. Then quickly unwilling to |
allow himself q moment to reflect, mo-
ment to regretche rose in his stirrups, |
bent his body forward, and-the race |
began!
The wind cut his face. tears wet his
eyelasleS, but still be went with dizzying |
rapidity, the trunks Of the trees passing
him like specters. Nothing was clear or
but q vague, confused
that It was his life thus flying
from Linn in fragments.
But still he went. and now it was the
noise Of q horse that he believed he heard
pursuing him. He turned in the saddle
noise was nothing but tho
noise Of the pebbles that Niniches flying
feet cast behind her But this idea that
! horse pursued him pleased his fancy,
yet it going, and Immediately he imagined
limsclf upon the track" and making the
asst grand round He hurried the pace Of
lis mount.
The circuit of the clearing had twice
,een passed; the gait was frightful, but
he hedge was before him; behind the
ledge-he OWNED it without seeing it
he precipice, with its jagged. rocky sidesl
Then he felt himself at the end Of his
,reath-the air he swallowed came from
lis painting lungs in shrill whistlingsl
In the twinkling Of an eye he had q
ision, dim realization of that which
vas to be his death-a fall into space, a
omplete failure of respiration, crushing
low upon the headl -.
The idea Of stopping his mare crossed
is mind. He bore the reins-too latel
lready he was upon the edgel He closed
is eyes; he abandoned himself, but in
tinctively loosening the reins and lock
lg his legs according to his habit when