Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-29

left with the regularity OF q pendulum
Random was absolutely content--content
with the pride Of resolution well and
firmly taken BE was happy even to find
himself calm and proud Of bis bravery
At the end of the alley be traversed .
wide clearing. and q 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 corpse. Ran
don observed it, strange emotion hold
ing him. his legs weakening beneath him.
He made half turn, threw his animal
upon her launches and advanced again.
but at walk There was plenty Of time.
Niniche was afraid of q tree that had
fallen across her route, and plunged vio-
lentIy A little more and Random had
been disnounted 1t was painful sur
prise to him.
"Chut." he cried, what Is the matter
with me; Can | ride no moreY And,
afraid Of being afraid. he stiffened him
self anew and began to pet and soothe her
less to calm his animal. perhaps, than
to reassure himself
Gently. Mamie. gently; no precipita-
blOl I-dSg, lut BiIi' easy ahca oHAAs
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 more had
come upon him strongly; but only for an
instant Then quickly-unwilling to
allow himself moment to reflect, a mo-
ment to regret-he rose in his stirrups,
bent his body forward. and-the race
began!
The wind cut his face, tears wet his
eyelashes, but still he went with dizzyine
rapidity, the trunks of the trees passing
him like specters Nothing was clear OF
distinct-nothing but vague, confused
impression that It was his life thus flying
from him in fragments
But still he went and now it was the
noise of horse that he believed he heard
pursuing him. He turned in the saddle
nothing-tbe noise was nothing but tho
noise Of the pebbles that Niniche's flying
feet cast behind her. But this iGea that
q horse pursued him pleased his fancy,
set it going, and Immediately he imagined
himself upon the track" and making the
last grand round He hurried the pace of
his mount.
The circuit Of the clearing had twice
been passed; the gait was frightful. but
the hedge was before him; behind the
hedge-he OWNED it without seeing it
the precipice. with its jagged. rocky sidesl
Then he felt himself at the end of his
breath-the air he swallowed came from
his painting lungs in shrill whistlingsl
In the twinkling of an eye he had a
vision. a dim realization Of that which
was to be his death-a fall into space, q
complete failure of respiration. q crushing
blow upon the head
The idea Of stopping his mare crossed
his mind lie bore the reins-too latel
Already he was upon the edgel He closed
his eyes, he abandoned himself. but in
stinetively loosening the reins and lock
ing his legs according to his habit when
leaping obstacles.
He had half consciousness of the mo-
ment when Niniche arose in the air, He
experienced sense Of relief; it was fin
ishedl
He forced himself neither to hear, to
see nor to breathe, but he bent his spine
as one who awaits volley of blows from
cudgell He fell. he bounded. he rolledi
How long it was, that bounding and roll
ing; and then--that dull noise of a shock
upon hard ground that he heardl
Il am swooning, " he thought. lam
had broken it, Had he But immedi.
ately there was second shock that shook
him from head to foot--a sensation of
rending and tearing throughout his body
He remembered that he had fallen upon
the Observation-Disclosures train lad
passed. Il train that had cut him in two
All his ideas were clouded-a mist be
fore his eyes--but he was peaceful and
comfortable very comfortable--he wished
to remain thus always-always-he knew
no norel
Meanwhile he had come to himself again
About him was whispering Of voices. as
about q coffin
at is the interment--I am dead-nowr'
he thought, and the conclusion I'VE him
a pleasure
suddenly he felt himself ifted-a
frightful pulling rent his vitas-atro-
cious agonies harassed him. tore and
raclled him
He strove to cry out-"My -" the
words strangled in his throatl
For the second time he knew no more
he was dead From the French.