Daily Republican., 1888-03-05

II on Will be careful, QarilngT" said
Mile. Theresa, as her lover was being
bound TO his horse that Was to carry
him through the mountains In MA
zepps.". Il can't bear the wild eyes
OF that new horse" as she turned to
the beautiful Arabian steed that took
two men 70 hold.
"Doubly 80 for your sako," he said
feelingly. II have tried tho runs
hundred timcs. There eau be no dan
ger"
"But only think; q slip and you
would be hurled into eternity" as he
looked up at the painted mountains at
the back Of the stage gllmmerIng in
the border lights and shudderei He
stopped and kissed her. and then the
order came to clear the stage and they
separated, he to his perilous fight on
the back of the horse, and she TO the
wings 10 watch him with tluttering
heart. The curtain was rung up and
the audience stood appalled, at the
magnificent horse, whose fiery eyes
rOamed the stage. For moment he
paved the air, then came a cutting
lash on the TANKS from q man hidden
in the wings as Mazeppa gave the cue
In an undertone, LET him gol"
With a lashing out OF heels and a
loud, astonished, angry snort the
horse sprang forward and dashed up
the runs, threatening to tear them
down at every bound. Every eye was
fixed upon him as he now passed be-
hind and now emerged from rocks,
leapilg wildly and shaking his head
luriously.
But none so intently and anxiously
hung upon his movements, whittier
than the spotless dress che wore and
more quvering than tho frail boards
he spurned with his iron-shod hoois,
as Theresa.
Halt way up portion OF the plank
ing had been removed, to make ready
tor the farce that was to follow.
The horse saw II 10 time TO avoid
falling, gathered all his remaining
strength for the leap, failed. his fore
feet only reached the solid planking,
and down were hurled both steed and
rider.
There was heavy fall. a dense
shower Of splnlers and rubbish. the
shricks Of the terrified audience, the
little group upon the stage momen
tarily paralyzed, the rushing OF fran
tic woman and then the hush OF a
fearful silence.
One glance told that never again
would steed enact with awning realism
the wildness of the wilderness.
The steed's neck had been broken
by the fall, the maddened heart ceased
its beating forever, the muscles stiffen-
ed into iron.
The mann With an unconscious
woman clinging to him, her arms
locked around his neck, her white face
pressed to his ashy enc, her snowy
dress stained with the crimson that
ebbed from his wounds, he was cut
loose, lifted up and carried away.
"DeadW was the thought that sad
denel every heart and caused every
eye TO dim with tears.
1t was not 30. Stunned. bruised and
torn he was, but the horse. falling un.
derneath, had broken the shock.
saved him from being crushed and in
stantly killed.
His recovery was marvellous
Natural strength aided, nursing did
very much, but the most potent medi-
cine of all was his love, the best ply
elcian beautiful woman.
at was wild and fearful ride,
darling" he said, as she sat by his
bedside, gently smoothing his hair
an tanning his feverish brow.
"Horrible" she answered, shudder.
ingly, land wonder lived through
it,"
"But the ending was brighter and
happier than that of Mazeppa."
She looked az him queslioningly,
her eyes swimming with tenderness.
her checks flushing with interest, and
he continued
"He only rode to find throne, l
to find queen"
Closely AS when he lay beaten down
upon the stage, her soft arms embodied
him and her kiss was the sweetest
recompense for all he had suffered.