St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-05
A MAD RIDE.

fa1sss GU will be careful, darling" said
Mile. Theresa, as her lover was being
bound to his horse that was to carry him
through the mountains in ''MaZeppa."
III can bear the wild eyes OF that new
horse" as she turned to the beautiful
Arabian steed that took two men to
hold.
ssDoubIy so, for your sake" he said
feelingly. II have tried the runs hum
bred times. There can be no danger"
"But only think; slip and you
would be hurled into eternity as she
looked up at the painted mountains at
border lights, and shuddered. 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 to watch him with a fluttering
heart. The curtain was rung up, and
the audience stood appalled, at the mag
nificent horse, whose fiery eyes rOamed
the stage. For moment he paved the
air, then came cutting lash on the
TANKS from man hidden in the wings
as MaZeppa gave the cue in an under
tone, LET him CO.,
With laShing out of heels and a
loud, astonishing, 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 behind and now
emerged from rocks, leaping wildly and
shaking his head furiOusly.
But none so intently and anxiOusly
hung upon his movements. winter than
the spotless dress she wore and more
quivering than the frail boards he
spurned with his iron-shOd hoofs, as
Theresa.
Half way up portion of the planking
had been removed, to make ready for
the farce that was to follow.
The horse saw it in time to avoid fall
ing. gathered all his remaining strength
for the leap, failcd-hiS fore feet only
reached the solid planking, and down
were hurled both steed and rider.
There was heavy fall, a dense
shower of splinters and rubbish. the
shrieks Of the terrified audience, the
little group upon the stage momentarily
paralyzed, the rushing of a frantic
woman and then the hush of 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 Stitfen ed
into iron.
The man? With an unconscious
woman clinging to him, her arms locked
around his neck, her white face pressed
to his ashy one, her snowy dress stained
with The crimson that ebbed from his
wounds, he was cut loose, lifted up, and
carried away. ''Dead!" was the thought
that saddened every heart and caused
every eye to dim with tears.
1t was not so. Stunned, bruised and
torn he was, but the horse, falling UNI
derneath, had broken the shock, saved
him from being crushed and instantly
killed.
2! His recovery was marvellous. Natural
strength aided, nursing did very much,
but the most potent medicine of all was
his love, the best physician beautiful
woman.
ut was a wild and fearful ride,
darling" he said, as she sat by his bed
siie,s gently smoothing his hair and
farming his feyerish brow. ~ IL -
3g"Horrible!" she answered, shudder-
ingiy, "and l wonder lived through
it,"
'But the ending was brighter and
happier than that of Mazeppa.'
She looked at him questiOningly, her
eyes, swimming with tenderness, her
cheeks 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 re-
compense for all he had suffered.