Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-29
A RIDE TO DEATH.

And now monsieur, you know. think,
what you have to do The colonel
ceased. Capt. Random wheeled like
rnanikin turned by brutal hand Two
seconds later he was In tho street. His
brain was vacant. without thought; he
walked with the automatic step OF the
drunkard whom will alone maintains upon
bis indicative legs.
Arrived at his own house, he threw
himself upon chair. leaned his elbows
upon his knees, his brow upon his hands,
and remained thus, astonished to ind
himself almost calm. fearless. but still
unable to reflect From time to time
sharp pang traversing his heart moment
arily recalled to him that he suffered. he
felt himself pale lie made an effort to
rouse himself. got up. opened the window
and regarded the heavens Of light,
tender blue. the blue Of the early spring
morning that follows q night Of rain
The trees Of the garden had begun to
blossom, rosy clouds foated above the
houses. boyered a moment upon the chin
ney tops like the wings Of birds and then
resumed their way Before him. bathed
In a pallid sunlight. yelled still by va.
porous mist. the quadrangular bulk OF
the quarters. its walls yellow and naked.
showed Itself in an attitude stiff and mar
tial For the first time he seemed To see
all these things, and more quickly than
ever. the impression Of external objects
acting upon CALLED and tortured brain
Nevertheless. while In his lungs the fresh,
pure air Of the morning circulated. and
he felt and he saw the beauty Of the
world about him, by curious doubling
Of personality he followed impassibly in
another self. the terrible and common
place history that had dishonored him.
He. Capt. Random. accused Of forgery.
was going to be brought before court
martial To morrow, at latest. he would
DO arrested-the colonel had given him
but twenty four hours--had said: And
now. monsieur. you know. | think. what
you have to dol"
He had but one passion-the horse-and
that passion had ruined him To ride. to
run them, to mount them at races. and to
have stable had been the fixed idea Of
his life; the goal of all his desires and
efforts; the single thought Of his soul A
marvellous horseman. absolutely ndls
mountable so they said in the regiment,
the men had surnamed him The Jockey"
u name that was at once his ambition and
however had cost him his patrimony. He
had borrowed, and pack of creditors
loosed ut his heels tracked and harassed
him. At last, at bay one day. mad with
worry and lost in one Of those moments
when moral sense Is obliterated and con
science uses sophistries to put to sleep
its scruples. he had drawn from the cash
box of his squadron forged signatures to
the bills in 1t, and falsified his accounts
In the hope Of hiding the deficit.
Unskillfnlly done, the fault was
speedily discovered and tomorrow he
was to be publicly branded, and the
cavaliers Of the second class, who, in the
street, rode behind him. would then have
tho right to refuse to salute him, the
right to scorn him
How could | have done it?" he cried
aloud. clutching the window frame in
agony. all In a sweat. his eyes dry and
staring straight before him in an attitude
OF blank despair He had a vision Of the
ordeal awaiting him-the five brother
officers united there to judge, condemn
and degrade him
And now, monsieur, you know. think.
what you have to dor
The phrase of the colonel returned to
him suddenly In its hmplacablc sgnifi-
canoe, followed by that other one that
his brain conveyed to him like an echo;
'lle means you to kill YOURSELF"
He remained moment bewildered,
stupefed. Then sob shook his breast,
tears rolled from his eyes, and like a
child who. feeble and without support,
has need to sustain and solace itself by
affection he was seized with an infinite
gratitude. an instructive thankfuluess to
the colonel who had been kind to him
his colonel. who had accorded him twenty
four hours Of grace, who had opened to
him door Of salvation In permitting him
to evade public diahonor
He must kill himseIf-that liberty alone
remained to him. Kill himself Finish
1t. and Immediately! DEATH No more
hubbub. no more uneasiness or disquiet
udel Indifference to the futurel For
getfusuess of everything and of himself
So be 1T lie had had enough of this
needy, tormented existencel
Meanwhile he had not stirred from his
window unable to tear his regard from
the spectacle of life that surrounded him
In the distance from the gates of tho
quarters platoon of riders were going
out for their regular maneuvers. Men
aud horses were like ignies-small. but
distinct. Mechanically he counted them
Four. eight. twelve. sixteen. eighteen
Soon the platoon was lost from sight in
ono OF the cross streets. and when the
last of the cavaliers had disappeared
around the turning. q great emptiness
filed the breast Of Random 1t seemed
TO him that henceforth he was alone in
the world, abandoned by every one lie
drew himself back slowly reclosed the
sash and re entered his chamber
Against the wall on the right panopy
Of arms fastidiously arranged caught his
eye lie reflected, quickly passing in re.
view the divers means Of suicide that
were at his door, SUCCESSFULLY rejecting
them sll--the revolver. commonplace;
tho stroke of the poinard. theatrical;
poison, the method of nervous duchess;
drowning, fit only for betrayed and
Suddenly he shivered-he had found til
He descended to the court and called his
stableman.
Saddle Ninichel" said he And he
waited. promenading from side to side,
threshing the air with his riding whip,
whistling through his teeth When they
brought him his mount, little mare,
true bred, slender, yet sinewy. he was
calm again. and settling himself slowly in
his stirrups, departed.
Erect upon his saddle. martially camped,
his legs falling naturally along the TANKS
Of his mare, the reins supple but perfectly
carried, and trinity attired In a blue cav
airy coat, closely buttoned to his form.
Capt. Random advanced at a slow step
He was pale little nervous. perhaps,
but he wished to be impossible and stiff
sned himself resolutely in order to give
himself countenance; he regarded the
blush smoke Of the cigarette mounting
lightly in little eddies In the transparent
clearness of the atmosphere or lifted his
head to examine the windows OF the houses
to surprise a pair Of eyes that contem-
plated him hand that drew aside a cur
tain. and he was happy At the little effect