Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-17

Bring me that horse, and you shall marry
Bess; dye hears'
II hear, SIR" said the bewildered young
man. "Do you mean itf"
Yes, the girl is fool enough to love you
and she's my only child. There, there,
| Bess, you needn't thank me yet, he hasn't
caught the horse" said John Bradscombe,
| with a grim smile. Take any horse you
wish from the stable, yonder, and take all
the time you think necessary, buG bring
ne that horse"
GAIL right sir" The young man turned
away with hopeful glance at Bessie, and
Bill Graves followed him to the stable, to
help in the hasty preparations. Tance's
| face brig ateped wonderfully as Bill rapid
ly unfoldeo a plan of operations, in
which the word "Canon," "fgger Y"
natural pen" were often repeated. Soon
Vance galloped past the ve-an1a, made q
low bow TO the group there, and then
! started for the creek, a small stream
fringed with bushes, in whose shelter he
! hoped to creep quite near the unsuspec
ing horse.
What's .he fellow going to do now!"
asked John Bradscombe, impatiently, as
Vance came boldly from the shelter of
/ the bushes, directly in front of the wild
/ horse, and squirting Black Sultan TO his
! highest speed, dashed towards him.
| "He's mad TO think of capturing hun
in that way" he said again, as he let fall
/ the glass through which ne had been
watching him. eff that horse is ever
taken, it must be by skillsul stratagem.
| There, dye see that. The Emperor is
off like the wind. What fool l am! I'll
Ill
and he turned once more TO watch the
race.
Various opinions were advanced by
others of the group, and no one but
Bessie saw the look of satisfaction that
settled on Bill Graves face as the wild
horse gradually circled to the right, and
headed directly for the valley between
the two long mountain ranges two miles
| distant; and nono but her heard his sx-
cited whisper as they disappeared to the
| left, behind the first spur of the range,
aud dashed up the little valley that grad
| ualiy became narrower until the two spurs
met, ten miles away.
"Charlie's the right man, knowed If.
Nuthin will save the Emperor now,"
chuc keled Bill.
"What is it, Bill! tell me?" she said,
coming 30 his side.
"Not now, Miss Bessie; but don't you
fret one mite. TIN all be right, it must
be right. L said that ere horse'd never
be ketched till the right man cum along,
and it's my opinion that the right man
has cum, that's all"
The men again went to their various
duties, while John paced excitedIy back
emo forth angrily denOuncing himself
for his folly fer letting his best horse go
A q -
sky became overcast, the wind came in
fiEful gusts, and everyone knew thai a
norther was coming. The air became
piercing cold, and filed with piercing,
binding wreaths of fine, 10y sleet and
snow. When the storm passed, darkness
gathered around, the wind sank to a
moaning wall, the cattle huddled together
and the herders called it the worst norther
ever seen.
Bessie with her face pressed against
the window pane, striving to pierce the
| darkness, when a horses hoof beat sound
ed on the night air, and a riderless horse
dashed through the band of light from
| the window.
"God forgive me if I've sent the lad TO
| his DEATH" grOaned John Bradsconbe,
| turning away from Besides impIoring
eyes, as ne went cut into the yard. If he
| hoped to find clue he was mistaken.
Black Sultan, covered with foam and
dripping wet, stood at the stable door.
waiting with dropping head for food and
shelter-that was all. In the excitement,
no one but Bill noticed that the sad ale
and bride were gone.
The night wore away, and the morning
sua rose as clear and bright as though no
| terrible ''Norther" had ever swept across
it. Bessie stood on the veranda, gazing
| teerfully towards the opening of the val
! ley where she had last seen her lover,
! when white speck came suddenly
around the spur, which rapidly took TO
| itself form and shape. As she seized the
| glass which her father bad left there, she
recognized the famous wild morse and up
on its back, exultant rider, sat Charles
! Vance.
"See!" she cried breathlessly, as her
father and Bill appeared in the stable,
Didn't I tell ye so, Miss Bessie?" said
Bill, exUltantly, and they waited in
| Hence.
as he stopped at the stable door and dis
mounting, placed the bride OIL the now
Doodle beast in Bradcombe's hand.
You'll not go back on your word,
pap4?" called Bessie, shyly.
''No, miss, l shall not, but you shall go
| TO school sill the game. B ,th of you
mean, for if l have lady for a daughter,
/ do not want cowboy" for q son-in-
law, surely, did not promise the boy
when he should marry you, Bess, and by
hard study you can make your time OF
probation as long or short as you please.
/ Will that suitS"
"The happy faces of the young people
answered that question.
How did you manage it, Vances" he
asked suddenly, as he slowly walked
around the conqured king of the prairie
"That'o secret of the profession, SIR
laughed Vance, with side glance at ill.
And he never told the secret to anyeRo
but Bessie. No one ever knew by what
simple trick the wild horse, be wildere6 by
/ the sudden storm, had been caught in the
natural pen," where the two spurs of the
mountain range met.-Maine Farmer.
! TAECZAR'S sSCAPE