The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-10-05


circuit" but far Mary Collier wa,
= "the immediate jewel OF her faith
er's heart" and he surrounded hel
, with every possible comfort in hi,
wild wood home. Far from the
maddenlng crowd" she grew III
grace and beauty, a thing OF hap
piness that Sladdened every eye
that looked upon her fair, sweet
face. Beast, bird and iellow.crea
ture delighted III her presence, and
she loved them all with love
born of her own free, wild life in
natures court.
} Among her fathers gifts The one
most praised by Mary was IL swift
footed horse whose arching neck,
glossy chestnut coat and wavy
name and tail We're the girls
special pride, aud her JOY OF joys
was TO be borne by him, like IA
breeze through The forest with Il
spirit all unlamed as her own lie
united a sagacity and genlleness
which onl Y horse, that noblesl of
tie lower animals, can know. She
called him King, and no queen,
not even she of Sheba, enjOved The
keen sense OF independence that
thrilled through Mary's veins, as
the slender thread OF her girlish
will guided and governed The grand
physical power OF The gallant
beast. 1t was an everyday pleas
ure, III the invigoraliDg freshness
of morning, or The golden glow OF
suns at, in !he crisp frosty air of
winter, or through The sumner
sunshine, in the soft warm days OF
! sp|lng, or oyer The autumn leaves,
for Mary Collier aud her good sleed
King to cover miles of country
with flying feet.
About Two miles from The Gen
erals home was the dwelling Of The
nearest neighbor, an old lady,
whose friendship was highly val
ued by The Golfers, and Mary Of
ten spent The day with her, learn
ing lessons OF wisdom from the
lips Of age and in return flooding
The lonely heart with The sunlight
of her own bright spirit. She car
ried gladness with her. and was
loved with almost mothers len
nerness by The older woman.
Ii was drawing TO the close of a
long, bright summer day, and Ma
ry was preparing 10 return home
after one OF these visits TO her
friend. She stood with one white
hand resting on the Saliny neck Of
her horse, while IN The other she |
held a basket of fruit that Mrs. |
Euslis was sending to her mother.
"Mary, are you not afraid 10 20
the woods so late, child"
"Why, aunty," (she always used
The term 10 Mrs. Euslis. though no
relation existed "what should
be afraid oig'
81 don't know, dear; but some
how / feel uneasy. | wish you
would stay till morning."
'But | promised mama 10 get
back tonight, and yon would have
ne break my word, Besides. |
nave taken the same ride a-hun-
lred times before as lale as this. {
Why, the wind itself cant catch
King when he starts for home.
Come, Kiss me, aunty, and say {
rood night" l
What if anything should happen {
o my bonny bird, Mary. ]
The girl laughed laugh of mer- 5
v scorn, and selzing the p0mmel, a
'aulled into The saddle and King 9
bounded away with her into the 2
oresi, now filled with weird, gro. u
esque shadows thai heightened q
every moment. o
With a shake OF the head and a q
,ng drawn sigh Mrs. Euslis re-
nrned TO the house and tried TO C
ury her Uneasiness in the pages ii
a book, but, like Banquo's ghost,
it wOnld not down" and she final =
: retired to bed. q q
Was 1t a dream that came 10 her I,
nat night, or did her spirit, led by r,
sler spirits, leave her body and 7
ander forth 10 gather up the links e
f evidence of a terrible tragedy, v
lst justice might one day be vim Ii
icaIedl Who can tell. Il
"Our life is two fold; sleep hath r,
5 own world and a wide realm of
lid reality" o
She seemed to rise and follow 81
he woodland road down which the II
irl had passed from her slghl; she e
,emed 10 feel The cool damp D
reaih Of the night wind and the Il
,ne pine needles yielding 10 her v
'ead; she seemed 10 hear The thou. l.
md night voices that are lost in s.
le noise of the day, the whisper q
Y Of the leaYes. The gurgle Of The u
reanI, the ElOnOlonous song of b
le locust. the discorcant croak of O
le frog and ommous cry of the p
.reech owl; she seemed 10 smell 3
le heavy perfume Of the matted b
lid flowers and see The strange, b
shadows creeping all u
bout her, but on she went without q
ar following the lead Of the un-
zen hands aud The involuntary G
npulse which drew her forward. f
About midway between her Il
nme aud that of Gen. Collier, she u
n The road. turning into a mar k
w f0ot-palh which led deep into n
&c heart Of The forest, aud, BY ma b