San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-04

bein' he EXPECTED ye. But when ye didn't
come, he got gloomy again. He come in for
ninst the door afther a bit, an says he,
brighter than he'd been, Bridget says he,
Pm goin' TO bed If Miss Kit comes in, till
her | was tired and couldn't wait Good
night, Bridget he says, we've been q faith
full girl to u.s. an God'll reward ye.'"
There was a welcome home for you friend
Pray heaven you may never come home to
the likel
Kit ran up the stairs, listened at the door,
heard no sound She opened it ajar, listened
again. That was still sleep-no breath, no
sigh. She pushed the door open, went in.
The bed was smooth--no one had lain there
that night She wrung her hands one mo-
ment "Too latel" she cried. TOO late, too
latel Gone-goneI"
Then she fed away-out of the house,
through the side gate, over to the barn She
stifed the despairing cry "Hoper she cried,
silently-"hope yeti The reefp The horses
stand at their racks munching their hay.
The moonlight streams in at the wide door
lies white by lines of shade on the Uttered
floor. Robert whinnies to her, shaking his
head welcoming her home Still, Robert,
standl no time for playl She slips the bride
over his ears-let the throat latch hang! No
time to saddle-Death rides fast. Who rides
with him need not tarry--fing leg and away
and spare notl She leads him out, opens the
gate of the lane, leaps up, and away The
long, steep hill is before them. Up they 60
bounding, bounding. On the right the Early
Bow apples hang ripe, the locust thicket
stands dark on the left. They pass the pond
on the left-Robert pants up the steep. Over
the ridge now the road lies level before them
Drawer horse truer heart never rode tilt
together.
Cheerily, cheerily, Robert Speedl speed
Gallop as you never galloped before-gallop
for life or deathl The pale horse runs before
so pale that none may see. His boots make
no sound, his phantom rider utters no cry.
But his pace is terribly swift-he stays not
for fence or WALL
Forward, brave Robert, to save, to save!
Nobly he gallops and free. His nostrils are
fame; his heart and his pulse on fire; nerve
and sinew of steel The rein flies free The
girl leans forward on his glossy neck, clings,
and urges him on Free and wild he runs
head low, neck curved, name flying, nostriS
wide His shod hoofs clatter on the scattered
stones, thunder on the trodden turf His
fore legs double under him, supple as springs
their recoil His launches come forward
under him, swift and strong as steam, keen
as a piston's throb-hurl him on like light.
The hay barrack leaps behind. The level
fields slide back on either hand. Sheep bells
tinkle sweetly on the night; lambs bleat and
mothers cry. a minute ago all was calm;
now wild gale whirls by. The roar Of
stormy seas is in her ears-in her heart
wild despair. o God! it cries, give help! give
helpl Faster, brave Robert, faster! Speed
speedl
The lane lies level for half a mile, smooth
and firm as course, the racer as keen as a
hound. Half mile, half mile, swift and
straight as an arrows flight, with the fiery
power and heave Of a railway engine The
long, green line of turf whirls under their
fying feet Field after field, field after
field
The gate stands open at the further end;
thank heaven for thatl Through it they
dart like fash-through it and on. Through
the stumpfield the road winds now; sweeps
round to the left through the hollow. Horse
and rider bound on Down the decline with
rushing plunge, bound through the hollow
with fiery sweep. The blackberry vines
trail round the stumps right and left. Under
the leaves the fruit lies ripe and sweet On
they 90. Up, now, out of the hollow, striding
fercely, laboring a little in the soft, new
ground, cloud of dust trailing behind.
Through the gate, now, at the farther end,
into the wood beyond For the next half
mile the road is a slight descent, winding
among the trees Down it goes Robert,
firing, running keen and free, doubling,
striding fierce as fire. The tree boughs arch
the path. The green leaves brush Kits face;
her cheek is wet with dew. A sharp branch
cuts her mouth; it bleeds, but she knows il
not Trampling, trampling, on they fly
The gate Of the wood beyond stands wide
Through it they tramp-sharp around to the
left, with plunge Sharp TO the right again,
instantly after, pass the chip strewn opening,
where the woodmen hew railway ties. Up
there the left is the blackberry hill, mat
ted thicket Of vines, heavy and sweet with the
luscious fruit The great trees stand apart;
the moonlight sprinkles through. Rider and
horse fly on, like swallows skimmng fight
The shod hoofs clatter and tramp.
Tie pathway swerves to the right. The
ground sinks. On the left, parts in two shore
ward ridges. The road runs down the right.
A shallow valley drops between, widens,
opens broad and clear of trees. There lie the
salt grass meadows, dotted with pools, grown
thick with the rank salt grass Yonder she
sees the line of the beach that rose above the
plain of the meadows, and hid is the sound
beyond
On they tramp--brave horse, brave, eager
heart-up slight rise with lift. Gaining
the level, they turn bend. Right before
them, not twenty rods away, the bars stand,
Eve rails high. One instant Kit, dehberates,
no more. Every second is precious. A min