Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-01
,ons wrong and 4 she WIN always feel 50

/ He looks ut her in frightened amaze
ment. "Lor', Miss Charlie" he exclaims,
Thought you want gwine ter ride dat
| horse no mo-
For Bessie had told the servants that
Charlie had promised not 10 ride the black
horse again, and cautioned them TO soy
nothing to Mr.. Vincent of the runaway.
"You blocKhead," says Charlie. Il am
not going to ride him, / am going to drive
| him.
"Well.n answers Bob, "dat's jes as dan
gerous. an Miss Charlie. clare tn good
ness. amt gwine ter hitch dat horse to
notbin' fer you ter break yo' neck wild"
~ ON not going to break my neck" says
| Charlie, and if do that's none of your
lookout. He has never hurt me yet. He
would not have thrown me the other eve
ming if had only been watching him. i lam
safer in the cart than / am on his back, so
you hitch HIM and put strong curb on
| him; I'll keep tight rein and sharp eve
on HIM this time. and | mean to drive him
| until he Is as steady as an OK. L am going
to the house now to get ready" and she
takes out her watch and glances at 1t; ut
| is now twenty minutes TO four" she says
quietly. "and / shall be back here at four
precisely; see that you have him ready"
| and without another word she walks away.
| At 4o'clock she goes down and finds the
|
thefiery animals head. She steps in the
pretty cart and takes the reins and in an
other instant is whirling down the drive
with Black Prince going at his best gait.
Bob watches her with an uneasy look on
his good-natured face.
"faud grant dat dat headstrong chile
may git back wild no bones broke" he
calculates. piously. She kin out talk me,
and some how or other | IS bound ter do
! . Ill I oil - ~
| look like he'll nebber do ter-day what he
| kin put off till to-morrer. He better sell
| dat horse befo' he break Mss Charles
neck
Having seemingly relieved his feelings
he goes off to his work, and we will return
! to Charlie.
She drives on at swift gait and when
Black Prince shows signs of tagging she
touches him up with the whip. He makes
| several attempts 10 run. but firm hand 10
| on the curb and she keeps him in check.
| When she turns him for home he seems
quiet enough and she thinks that she has
| conquered him, but she does not know
| Black Prince. He is as treacherous as an
| Arab.
| AS she drives along she thinks of Philip
| and of his love for her, and as she thinks
| that she will soon be away from the sight
| of his handsome face, away from the sound
| of his dear tones-for Charlie IS as deeply
in love as is possible tor q girl of seventeen
| to be-the hot tears rise to her eyes and
she can scarcely see the road before her.
She drops the reins loosely in her lett hand
and raises tho other to brush the big drops
aside.
slackened curb and dashes off with the
| speed of the wind. She strives to pull him
down, but he has the hit between his teeth
and sho can no more move MS IRON Jaws
| than could a child. She can only hold to
the reins and let him gang his ain gait,
IL il likely that he will run home and Will
then sion. She has a straight road before
her and there is not much danger Of being
overturned.
Charlie had been gone nearly an hour
before Bessie missed her. Wondering at
the unusual stiffness in the house she
looked through the rooms, and falling 20
| find her went down 70 the kitchen. and was
told by Sally that Charlie had gone away
driving Black Prince. A,
"Mefciful Heaven cried Bessie, does
she want to kill herself :.
"Dat fool niger Bob" says Sally iudig-
nantlv: " believe dat IF Miss Charlie wez
ter tell i'm ter stick his head ia de fire he'd
| think he wuz boun' ter do It,"
| Bessie goes out on the portlcO and walks
restlesslv up and down. waiting for Philip
| and watching for Charlie. She almost hopes
| that Philip will not come, for her heart tells
her why he desires an interview with her'
She has resolved 10 forestall him and to
| give him back his freedom before he has
asked for 1t. .. 49,,
| And what then? she asks herself. When
she has given up her lover what is left IN
her life? All that IS tender and sweet and
| beautiful goes with him, and a. she strives
to pierce the dim future Sidewalks forth the
old cry: "Oh that L could die and endIt
ALL"
All! even now the dark wings of Azrael
are tanning her white brow, but she knows
| il not.
Presently the suspense becomes unbears-
bic. and though it is near the time OF bel
appointment with Philip she leaves mes
SAGE for him and starts of to see IL she can
see anything of Charlie.
Soon after she leaves the house Philip
comes. and is told by the house-mald tnat
Miss Bessie has gone to look for Nus
Charlie and is pointed out the direction
which she has taken. c
| Thinking TO overtake her he starts on
He has barely left the grounds and start
down the broad drive which divides
his Grounds from Mr.. Vincent's when be IS
startled bythe sound OF wheels and RAPID
hoof-strokes.
He starts forward, and far down tho roac
he sees Black Prince in a dead run. with
the light cart swinging from side to sideln
| a dangerous manner.
"Ahln and he catches his breath IN
quick gasp, is it-can 1t be? Yes 1t Is
Bessie. flying down the road as fast as hel
swift young feet can carry her toward the
runaway. IT,.
Philip had started in O run when he first
heard the horse, and now IN his terror
| Ia alrnOcf radon blpH his speed.
Come back, BessIe!" he calls at the top
| of his voice. "Get out of the road"
But she dashes on without an lnstantS
pause.
He is gaining on her, but the black horse
is coming on with swift strides.
Bessie, darling, sweetheart, come back
turn aside. will save Charlie"
Does she hear hlmT IL 80, she makes nc
sign. and the tender words come too late
He is so near. On, for half a minute
longer, and he will have snatched her iron
the jaws of death.
SO near. so near; but the black horse Is
nearer still.
He is less than twenty steps from hel
when she leaps forward and grasps the
bride with mad strength.
Black Prince stops with an angry snor
as he feels the sudden check; then he rear'
straight up on his hind feet and his iron
! bnO1 nOOIS COult uOnl WIN SAubA AOANO Va
that brave bosom.
Philip catches her in his arms before she
falls and shouts to Charlie TO jump from
the cart, for he fears the horse will ruI
again. Charlie leaps from the vehicle, bu
Black Prince, as if he had done mischief
enough for one day. stands stock still
trembling in every limb and dripping Will
sweat.
Bring her here. Philip" calls Charlie
there is a spring somewhere near here"
He carries Bessie forward and lays hel
gently on the turf, still keeping his arm
around her.
"Why, she hasn't tainted" he says JOY
ously. as Bessie opens her dark eyes, "anC
| see neither scratch nor bruise. You are
not hurt much, are you dearl"
She lays her hand on her breast with
pathetic gesture. Hurt unto DEATH" sh'
says gently.
Philip clasps her close in his arms. and
the old, tender love comes back to his
heart in a mighty rush.
With & wild cry of agony Charlie drops
on her knees beside her. oh, Bessie
sweet sister, it can't be so; / Will not be
lieve it; such thing could not be-"