San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-01-17

| W ~ hoAp ApSAAAuh Va ithAO oAiAtCAioAOhc, lhuO
mounted on black horse of powerful
framo Ho made no offer Of molestation
or sociability, but kept aloof ON one side
Of the road, Jogging along on the blind
side Of old Gunpowder, who had now
got over his fright and waywardness.
Ichabod, who had no relish for this
strange midnight companion, and be-
thought himself Of the adventure Of
Brom Bones with Tho galloping Hessian,
now Quickened his steed, In hopes Of
leaving him behind. Tho stranger, how
ever, quickened his horse to IN equal
pace. 1chabod pulled up. and fell into q
walk, thinking to lag behind-tho other
did the same. His heart began to sink
within him; he endeavored to resume his
psalm tune, but his parched tongue Glove
to the roof his mouth, and he could not
utter stave. There was something In
tho moody and dogged silence Of this
pertinacious companion that was mys-
terious and appalling. 1t was soon fear
fully accounted for. On mounting
rising ground, which brought the figure
of his fellow traveller In relief against the
sky, gigantic In height and muffled In a
cloak, 1chabod was horror struck, on
perceiving that he was headlessl but his
horror was still more increased on OBJ
serving that the head, which should have
rested on his shoulders, was carried be-
fore him on the pommel of his saddlel
His terror rose to desperation; he rained
q shower Of kicks and blows upon Gun
powder, hoping, by sudden n"vement,
to give his companion tho slip-but the
specter started full jump with him.
Away, then, they dashed through thick
and thin, stones flying and sparks flash.
ing at every bound. Ichabod's flimsy
garments Huttered In the Dir, as he
stretched his long, lank body away over
his horses head, In the eagerness Of his
flight.
They had now reached the road which
turns off to Sleepy Hollow; but Gunpow-
der, who seemed possessed with demon,
instead Of keeping 1t up, made
an SppSSse Sa b futn ,,o ana o plunged aged
leads through a sandy hollow, shaded by
trees for about a quarter of a mile, where
story; and just beyond swells the green
church.
AS yet the panic Of the steed had given
his unskillful rider an apparent advant-
age in tho chase; but just as he had got
half way through the hollow tho girths
slipping from under him. He seized II
by the pommel, and endeavored to hold
It firm, but In vain, and had Just time
to save himself by clasping old G,mpow-
der round the neck when the saddle fell
to the earth, and he heard 1t trampled
under foot by his pursuer. For mo-
n,o,t tho t,..or ~ IJon, uo,, ptroor,,
wrath passed across his mind-for Il was |
his Sunday saddle; but this was no time
for petty fears; the goblin was hard on
his launches, and (unskillful rider that
he was) he had much ado to maintain
his seat, sometimes slipping on one side,
sometimes ON another, and sometimes |
jolted on tho high ridge Of his horses |
back bone with violence that he verify |
feared would cleave him asunder.
An opening In the trees now cheered
him with the hopes that the church bridge |
was at hand. The wavering reflection |
Of o silver star In the bosom OF the brook |
told him that he was not mistaken. He |
saw the walls Of the church dim1y glar-
Ing under the trees beyond. He recol-
lected the place where Brom Bones
ghostly competitor had disappeared. "If
can but reach that BRIDGE" thought |
II am safe" Just then he
heard the black steed painting and blow
Ing close behind him; he even fancied
that he felt his hot breath. Another con-
vulsive kick In the ribs, and old Gun
powder sprang upon the bridge; he thun-
1ered over the resounding planks, he
gained the opposite side, nnd now Icha-
bod cast look behind to sec II the pur-
;uer should vanish, according to rule,
IN q fash Of fire and birthstone. Just
hen he saw the goblin rising in his stir
-ups, and In the very act Of hurling his
mead at him. Ichabod endeavored to
lodge the horrible missile, but too late.
In encountered his Uranium with tre-
nendous crnsh-he was tumbled head
ong into the dust, and Gunpowder, the
black steed and the goblin rider passed
)y like whirlwind.