Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-02-22
A RIDE TO DEATH.


ceased Capt. Random wheeled like a
nanikin turned by a brutal hand Two
seconds later he was h tie street. His
brain was vacant. without thought, he
walked with the automatic step of the
drunl5ard whom will alone maintains upon
his indecisivc legs.
Arrived at his own house, he threw
himself upon a chair. leaned his elbows
upon his knees. his brow upon his hands,
and remained thus. astonished to find
himself almost calm. fearless. but still
unable 20 reflect. From time to time IA
sharp pang travcrsing his heart moment
arily recalled to him that he suffered, he
felt himself pale. He made an eifcrt to
rouse htaself. got up, opened tho window
AND regarded the heavens Of a light.
tender blue, the blue of tho early spring
morning that follows n night OF rain
The trees of tho garden had begun to
blossom, rosy clouds hoatcd above the
houses. lowered a moment upon tho chin
ney tops like the wings of birds and then
resumed their way. Before Him. bathed
IN q pallid sunlight. yelled still by a va
porous mist. the q%uadrangular bulk Of
the quarters its walls yellow and naked
showed itself In an attitude stir and mar
tial. For the first time he seemed 10 see
all these things. and more quickly than
ever. the impression of external objects
acting upon q CALLED and tortured brain
Nevertheless. while ia his lungs the fresh,
pure air of tho morning circulated, and
he felt and he saw the beauty Of the
world about him, by Il curious doubling
Of personality h5 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 u court
martial Tomorrow. at latest. he woIld
he arrested-the colonel had given him
but twenty four hours-had said. And
now, monsieur. you know. | think, what
you have TO dol"
lie had but ono passionate hcrse-and
that passion had ruined him To ride. TO
run them. to noun them at races. and TO
have a stable had been the fixed idea Of
his life; the goal of all his desires and
efforts; the single thought Of his sonL a
marvellous ~horsenan, absolutely indis
mOuntable, so they said in tho regiment,
The men had surnamed him Tho Jockey,
a name that was at once his ambition and
his pride. The maintenance of his stable.
however. had cost him his patrimouy. lie
had borrowed, and a pack of creditors
loosed at his heels tracked and harasscd
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 sophistrics TO put TO siceI
its scruplcs. he had drawn from tho casl
box Of his squadron forged signatures tC
the bills In It, and falsiied his accounts
in the hope Of hiding the deficit.
Unskillfully done. the fault was
speedily discovered. and tomorrow Do
was to be publicly branded, and th'
cavaliers Of the second class, who. in th,
street. rode behind hia, would then hay,
the right to refuse to salute him, tho
right TO scorn him.
How could ! haze done it?' he cric,
aloud. clutching the window frame /,
agony. all IN q sweat, his eyes dry an,
staring straight before him ia az attituGl
of blank despair lie had u vision of tbl
ordeal awaiting him-the five brOtlc
officers united there TO judge, condemn
and degrade him.
And now. monsieur. you know, ! think
what you have to dol'
The phrase Of tho colonel returned T.
him suddenly in its bnplacablo signil
canoe. followed by TINT other u tia
his brain conveyed to him like an echo
''Hc means you to kill yourselfI'
He remained a moment bcwildcrod
stupoled. Then a sob shook his breast
tears rolled from his eyes, and like
child who, feeble and without supper;
has need to sustain and solace itaelf b.
affection. lie was seized with an inlnit
gratitude. an instructive thanlIfulness &
the colonel who had been kind to him
HIS colonel, who had accorded him twenty
four hours Of e1acc, who had opened I
him a door of salvation in permitting hir
20 evade q public dishonor.
$500 IaFN Hs---.NN 4H.a TeH.-a-A14-
remained TO him. Kill himself finis
It. and immediately DEATH No NOR
hubbub. no more uncasiness or disquiei
uGo! Indifference to tho futurol Tol
~getfulncss OF everything aud of himsel.
SO be III He had had enough of thi
needy. tormcnted eS|istCncel
Meanwhile he had not stirred from hi
window. unable TO tear his regard frol
the spectacle Of life that surrounded hin
In the distance from the gates OF tL
quarters a platoon of riders were Goin
out for their regular uaueuvers Ec
and horses were like pignies-small, bu
distinct. Mechanically lie counted then
-Four. eight. twelve. sixteen, cightcei
Soon tho platoon was lost from sight /
one Of the cross streets, md when Ill
last of tho cavaliers had |disappcare
around tho turning. q great cnPtinc.
hlled tho breast OF ElndOn. Il Sccmc
TO him that hcnceforth 10 was alone
the world. abandoned by every no. j.
drew himself back. slowly rccloscd Oh
sash and rc-entered his chamber
Against the wall on tho right a panopl
Of arms fastidiously arranged caught d
eye. 10 reelected, quickly passing In r
view tho divers means Of suicide thl
wcrc at his door. successfully ~rcjectiu
them all-tho revolver. commonplace
tho stroke Of tho %poinard, thoatllca
poison. the method Of a norvoCs duches
drowning CT only Tor Il betrayed and
Suddclly ho shiyered-he hdl found {
lie descended TO the court and called b
stablcmal
SADDLE Sinicho.r s-il be- And
waited. piolen ling from eide 20 cid
thrcshing the ain with his riding viii
whistling through bis teeth When th,
brought hin mount, a httlo mar
true bred, slender SCI SNOWY, he ~.
calm again. ano sc-tlipg hilaseif slowly
DIS -tirrr 7s, depariet
Erect lali Ais SADDLE martial caInpc
MS legl lilins --uely along the q. al
Oi trrre the geias supple nut pcrfc'-
l atuHt sf ff r9N see