The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-18
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their destination
The dispatches must be delivered in time;
they were of vital Importance to the army, and
the boy was q true southerner at heart. ready
die for his country. He would do his dnty no
one should ever say he was "A coward
Suddenly the rain began to pour in torrents,
making binding sheet of water. The light
nlng flashes lit the wild scene from time to
time, and boom on boom of loud, rumblng
thunder echoed among the hills.
onward the horse flew, each peal of thunder
lending fresh speed to his feet. On through
the rain, the darkness of the dismal forest, with
trembling with fear
Out OF the woods into the open road again,
and Paul drew sigh of relief. Before him
were the twinkling lights of village. Tn the
MI he came and down the long, narrow street,
the iron hoofs striking fire from the stony
pavement The shop windows looked like
patches of light in the darkness and he could
see the clerks run to the door to see who the
mad rider was.
As he left the village behind and trailed ont
into the country again, Paul heard the town
clock slowly Ginning seven. He had ridden
ten miles in the last hour.
Still the mad pace was kept up as the horse
flew by fields OF corn, through low pasture
lands and by farm houses perched on rocky
hills, over rustic bridges that creaked beneath
the beating hoofs up muddy hills and down in
low valleys through ankledeep water that
splashed horse and rider from head to foot.
hour longer, when at the turn of the road Paul
caught sight OF man on horseback,
IL was the picket of the union cavarvmen.
who were resting and eating supper in a small
cabin few feet from the roadside.
Halt" cried the soldier, as Paul came gall
Looping up. But the horse and rider dashed by
without needing the command. The picket
raised his pistol there was crack, and a bul-
let whizzed by the boy ear.
The soldier started in pursuit and the rest OF
the men ran to their horses mud dortad oua-
after him. Paul heard them coming heard
the heavy splash of their galloping horses on
the muddy road. But the pursuers were soon
left behind, and Paul sped on alono through
the night
just us he crossed the railroad track he heard
the heavy rumbling of the approaching ex-
press, and the bright headlight burst in view
around the curve With bound the horse
cleared the track and sped onward.
1t was five minutes of eight, Paul knew, for
at that hour the train was due. In few min
utes more he was at the station, which was 10
miles from his home.
As he left behind him the long line of light
from the car windows the horse degan to slack
eli his pace. and his rider could hear the heavy
breathing that was the first sign of exhaustion
He galloped still, but it was in labored way,
and Paul could see that his strength would not
last much longer, so he pulled in the reins a
little. The horse relapsed into a swinging trot
and Paul sat upright in the saddle.
Inc storm was now past and the dark clouds
driited by rapidly before the rising wind leav.
ing the drenched landscape flooded with sill
very moonlight. Paul could see the corn w.
ing PROSTATE in the flooded fields, the mead
ows cleaning in the watery light, with the
overlooking brooks that washed over them
and now and then fallen tree or overturned
fence.
The horses trot grew slower and slower.
Paul could feel the trembling limbs totter as
they staggered onward. The heavy breathing
grew shorter ana quicker, the smoking TANKS
were covered with foam, and from the distend-
ed nostrils trickled a tiny stream of blood
One mile, two miles, they crept on. The
trot relapsed into q walk, the walk into a stag
ger. Then, with q loud half neigh half
groan, the exhausted animal fell to the ground
dead
Pauld sprang off as the horse rolled over and
set out down the road at a run. Up and down
hill, splashing through the streams, he hurried
with but one thought in his mind--to deliver
the dispatches In time. For more than o. mile
he ran, but his exertions began to tell on him
and his legs began to weary. Once he slipped
and fell, then sat for a moment breathless, but
he sprang up and fastened forward
His strength was beginning TO fail him when
before him he saw light twinkling In O farm
house. With the energy of desperation he ran
forward and opening the door fell PROSTATE In
the room.
A woman who was knitting near a crib
screamed Mt the sight Of the boy drenched to
the skin, spattered with mud and sprnkied
with blood, lying on the floor, but q soldier in
the uniform OF % confederate colonel sprang up
from the chair in which he sat smoking. and
lifting up the helpless form. laid it tenderly on
sofa.
"Oh, sir" gaspod Paul, Jerking the Dispatch
es from his pocket, take these take these
quick to Colonel Raynor. His courier was
killed and IL brought theml"
Colonel ltaynor, for it was he, opened the
papers, read them hastily, and calling an or
derby from the next room, issued some hurried
orders.
In the meantime the woman had poured q
glass of wine down Paul's throat, and he
soon regained strength enough to tell his
story.
The next day he returned home on fine
bay horse, OF which the colonel had made him
a present for his services The horse lived
many years, and was always pointed out by
Paul whenever he told the story of his terrible
rdo whom he brrught the dispatches that saved
the battle.