The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25

| he was in the woods. Rays of sunlight filter
| ed throughout the leaves, designing the
shadows of the trees and branches upon the
| pr.99yynish earth, props Of the nights rain
still pearled upon the grasses.
Captain Random brought his horse to walk
| There is plenty of time" he thought, and
allowed himself to 80 dreaming idly, soothed
! by the freshness of the,morn!ns breoze.
In the meantime he had passed into wide,
sandy alley--"the training alley" as he re-
membered, Of the barracks; he had travelled
two klometers at q 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
pendulum Random was absolutely con-
tent-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 a wide
clearing, and o hundred metres further
stopped Behind q tall hedge near by, a
stones throw from the highway, not more, the
line OF the railway ran the descent that led to
it was perpendicular, and covered with peh-
bles and jagged points of stone. Pale as n
corpse, Random observed it, q strange emotion
holding him, his legs weakening beneath him.
He made half turn-threw his animal upon
her launches and advanced again--but at a
walk. There was plenty of time.
Niniche was afraid of tree that had fallen
across her route. and plunged violently. A
little more and Random had been dsmounted
1t was painful surprise to him.
1HuL! que crleU, w nat IL the matter with
me? Can / ride no more?" And, afraid of
being afraid he stiffened hmselfa anew and be-
gan to pet and soothe her--less to calm his an
imal, porhapf, than TO reassure himself.
Gently, Mamie, gently no precipitation.
Easy, my girl, easy. Thou shalt have thy gal
Top by andby"
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
MIN strongly; but only for an instant. Then
to reflect moment to regret--he rose In his
stirrups, bent his body forward, and-the race
beganl
The wind cut his face, tears wet his eye
lashes; but still he went with dizzying rapidi-
ty; the trunks of the trees passing him like
specters. Nothing was clear or distnct-noth-
ing but vague, confused impression that il
was his life thus flying from him in frag-
ments.
But still he went and now it was the noise
of horse that he believed he heard pursuing
him. He turned in the saddlo--nothing-
noise was nothing but the noise OF the pebbles
that Ninicho's flying feet cast behind her. But
this idea that horse pursued him pleased his
fancy. set ii going, and Immediately he
imagined himself upon the track and makiny
the last grand round. He hurried the pace of his
mount.
The circuit Of the clearing had twice been
passed; the gait was friehtfui, but the hedge
was before him; behind the hedgo---he d.
vined 1t without seeing 1.-THE precipice, with
its Jagged, rocky sidesl Then no feitlmsen
at me end OF his brsath-rthe nie bio swallowed
came from his painting iings in sbrili whist
lihgsA ss-ssa.
In the twinking OF an eye he had a Vision, a
dim realization Of that which was to be his
deatll--a fall into space, a complete failure of
respiration, a crushing blow upon the head
The idea of stopping his mare crossed his
mind lie bore the reins--too late! Already
he was upon the edge He closed his eyes;
he abandoned himself, but, instinctlvely
loosening the reins and locking his legs ac-
cording to his habit when leaping obstacles.
He had a half consciousness of tho moment
when Niniche arose in the air. He expert
enced sense of relief: il was finished
He forced himself neither to hear, to see,
nor TO Dreashe, but he bent his spine as one
who awaits a volley of blows from cudgei
He fell, he bounded, he rolled How long it
was, that bounding and rolling; and then
that dull noise OF q shock upon hard ground
that he heard distinctly
II am swooning," he thought II am" q
cruel pain IN his head recalled him HE had
broken it. Had he" but Immediately there
was a 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 railroad-undoubted
n train had passed, a train that had cut him in
two.
All his ideas were clouded--a mist before his
eyes but he was peaceful and comfortable,
very comfortable-he wished to remain thus
nlWayb-~alWayS-ne knew no more
Meanwhile no had come TO himself again.
About him was q whispering Of voices, as
about coffin.
''It is the interment--I am dead-nowl" he
thought, and the conclusion gave him a pleas
ure.
Suddenly he felt himself lifted--a frightful
pulling rent his vitas--atrocious agonies ha-
raised him, tore and raclSed him.
lie strove TO cry out-"My-," the words
strangled in his throatl
For tho second time he knew no more--he
WAS dead
CIIOnDIME EN CIInCIAM