Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-23

the Woouen DrloSe, Jnen out lnCo the level road once moro. It was growing dark rapidly. Low in the east were great banks of dark clouds through which the lightning flashed, and in the distance could be heard the low rumble of thunder.
 They neared dark forest that loomed up before them.
 Paul was a brave 6oy, but he could not help glancing anxiously at the deep shadows Of the woods, at the tall trees fitting by and listening to the dismal echoes his horses footballs awoke. Suddenly there came a fash of lightning, and a tall oak, shivered from top to bottom, fell across the pathway. At the same time a loud clap of thunder shook the ground and died away in low re- verberations over against the distant noun tains.
 Pauls horse reared on its launches, para lyzed with fear; then, trembling in every limb, with Q wild neigh of terror, it made a flying leap over the prostrate tree and darted down the road with flying feet.
 Paul knew his danger, but he was accus- tonaed to riding, and he clung to the saddle with his head bent forward on the horses neck. To keep the horse straight in the road was his object, and each moment bore them nearer to their destination.
 The dispatches must be delivered in time; they were of vital importance to the army, and the boy was a true southerner at heart, ready to die for his country. He would do his duty; no ore should ever say he was coward.
 Suddenly the rain began to pour in tor rents, making a binding sheet of water. The lightning flashes lit the wild scene from time to time, and boom on boom of loud, rum bling thunder echoed among the hills. Onward the horse flew, each peal of thun- der lending fresh speed to his feet On fhrol1oh fha rain tba Sarl-y,oSS Of fba al forest, with outstretched neck, quivering nostrils, limbs trembling with fear
 Out of the woods into the open road again, and Paul drew sigh of relief. Before him were the twinkling lights of village Up the hill he came and down the long, narrow street. the iron hoofs striking fire from the stony pavement. The shop windows looked like patches of light in the darkness, and he could see the clerks run to the door to see who tho mad rider was.
 As he left the village behind and trailed out into the country again Paul heard the town clock slowly chiming seven. He had ridden ten miles in the last hour.
 Still the mad pace was kept up as the horse flew past fields of corn, through low pasture lands and by farm houses perched on rocky hills, over rustic bridges that creaked beneath the beating hoofs up muddy hills and down Ill low valleys through ankle deep water that splashed horse and rider from head to foot. He must have been riding at least half an hour longer, when at the turn of the road Paul caught sight of man on horseback. | It was the picket of the Union cavalrymen, who were resting and eating supper ill a small cabin a few feet from the roadside
 "Halt!' cried the soldier, as Paul came galloping up But the horse and rider dashed by without needing the command The picket raised his pistol, there was crack | and bullet whiZZed by the boys ear 1 The soldier started in pursuit and the rest | of the men ran to their horses and darted away after him. Paul heard them coming, heard the heavy splash of their galloping horses on tho muddy road. But tho pursuers wero soon left behind, and Paul sped on alone i through the night.
 Just as he crossed the railroad track he heard the heavy rumbling of the approaching ] express, and the bright headlight burst in view around the curve. With a bound the horse cleared the track and sped onward
 It was five minutes Of S. Paul knew, for at that hour the train was due. In Q few min utes moro he was at the station, which was eighteen miles from his home.
 As ho left behind him the long line of light from tho car windows the horse began to slacken his pace, and his rider could hear the heavy breathing that was the first sign of exhaustion He galloped still, but it was in labored way, and Paul could see that his strength would not last much longer, so ho pulled in the reins little The horse ! relapSed into a swinging trot, and Paul sat i upright in the saddle.
 The storm was now past, and the dark clouds drifted by rapidly before the rising wind, leaving the drenched landscape flooded with silvery moonlight. Paul could see the corn lying prostrate in the flooded fields the meadows gleaming in the watery light, with the overhowing brooks that washed over them, and now and then fallen tree or overturned fence
 The horses trot grew slower and slower Paul could feel tho trembling limbs totter as they staggered onward. The heavy breath ing grew shorter and quicker, the smoking Hanks were covered with foam, and from the distended nostrils trickled tiny stream of blood.
 One mile, two miles, they crept on. The trot relapsed into walk, the walk into a stagger. Then, with loud half neigh, half groan, the exhausted animal fell to the ground dead.
 Paul sprang off as the horse rolled over and set out down the road at Q run. Up and down hill, splashing through the streams, he hurried, with but one thought in his mind to deliver the dispatches in time. For more Inan Il Inlle no ran, put nlS e1eII4OnS began to tell on him and his legs began to weary. Once he slipped and fell, then sat for mo- ment breathless, but he sprang up and hast ened forward.
 His strength was beginning to fail him when before him he saw 0 light twinkling ir farm house With the energy of despera tion he ran forward and opening the door fell prostrate in the room.
 A woman who was knitting near crit screamed at the sight of the boy drenched tc the skin, spattered with mud and sprinkled with blood, lying on the floor, but soldier in the uniform of 8 Confederate colone sprang up from the chair in which he sal smoking, and lifting up the helpless form laid it tenderly on a sofa
 ''Oh, sir" gasped Paul, jerking the dis patches from his pocket, take these, take these quick to Col Raynor. His courier wa. killed and IT brought themr'
 Col. Raynor, for it was he, opened the pa pers, read them hastily and, calling an or derly from the next room, issued some hur ried orders.
 In the meantime the woman had poured q crIaSS of vyine down Poulis fhroat and ba coor