Evening journal., 1890-01-24

- HuSs h@fe D1eu n Trying momenSs
said Margerv.
Not half as trying as what followed, said
the Ola man, shaking his white locks. They
muttered their outlandish gibberish In my
fsce, making up hideous mouths, expressive
Of their intense disgust of me and my race.
They shook the scalp Of poor Willis before
my very eyes, and don't doubt wanted TO
serve mine In the same way Then leaving
me helplessly tied, they went out TO catch the
horses. The difficulty with which this feat
was accomplished made them wilder than
ever, IN their rage against me. saw them
deliberate, and knew by their gestures they
were reserving me for some fearful doom.
At last tall Indian went without the circle
and succeeded in leading in one of the horses.
fiery, vicious animal that had given me
great trouble, and who, in his looks and
movements seemed almost demoniac Close
to me they led him. | felt his hot breath
against my face, and more than once his hoof
seemed about to crush my foot to atoms.
thought that IN some way they intended nv
death by That monstrous gray horse, and so
they did, but had not calculated for the ex-
IRENE cruelty OF which they are capable.
What was my horror when found that they
were going TO bind me to the animal, 5orture
him and set him freen
"Oh, grandfather you are a second Mazep.
pa, cried Margery, listening meanwhile with
Intense interest.
"A distinction for which / paid cruelty. y
said the old man, folding his arms and gazing
into the fire.
They lifted me upon the horse, he ell the
while rearing, backing, snorting, and seating
me with my face toward the tail. they tied
my feet under him. This made them great
trouble, for the horse was almost uninanage.
able, but for every annoyance he gave them
they paid me in blows, or slight wounds with
their knives. They then drew a rope about
my arms, drawing and lashing me back "a
the animal another round my neck. tying
that t. the neck OF the horse, from whence Il
was carried TO his tail, making it use tie pnl-
pose Of q crupper In this way they secured
me to the frantic beast, and an the while tile
demons iucarnate danced yelling and scream
ing about me, testifying their internal delight
in the anticipated sufferngs that were 10
0vertale me, and, with shouts that sounded
like thunder, turned him loose. The poor ami
NAL and the poor wretch upon him we're
dashed into the thickest Of the woods. The
horse, feeling his unusual burden. and frantic
to get rid OF IL, took his way among the tang
led underground, bruising me at every step.
throwing me against projecting branches.
rearing, plunging, uttering the widest cries
Of terror | longed and prayed for death, |
rayed and sent up cries of anguish with his.
Sometimes l laid insensble, and then dread
full blow would bring me to agonizing CON
sciousness- ! knew that death would come at
last, but oh, the awful uncertainty, the suffer-
ing that permeated every bone, nerve, sinew.
can describe nothing like it. 1t is oodread-
full to recall, too frightful to portray
The old man shuddered as he held his hand
before his eyes as il TO shut out a fearful
spectacle. The young girl shuddered, too,
and tenderly took his free hand in her own.
well, the horse became at last exhausted
What prevented him from rolling over and
crushing me, heaven only knows. One morn.
ing, the next but one after my capture, the
animal emerged into broad prairie. was
dying with hunger, sore in every inch Of my
body, longing only that death might put an
end to my sufferings was only partly
conscious-just alive, and that was all. l
seemed to know that my breath was almost
gone, and wished to make no effort to retain
it. Then there came long silence-a great
blank-and how many hours after do not
know, but found myself lying on a made
bed in a log hut and an angel faced girl
0NAAAAAa SfNA ilr.
" He has opened his eyes, mother were
the first words | heard and then all was
blank again II seems the sagacity Of the
horse had led him to the first house after he
had become thoroughly subdued. 1t proved
to be the habitation of an American famils
They treated me with the greatest care, the
tenderest consideration. 1t was months be-
fore ! was well and completely cured Of a
longing TO encounter the Indians. / pre-
ferred after that home Of my own, and
the blooming Margaret for my wife, who
had taken such care Of men
$50 dearest grandmother was that Mar
garetgn said Margery.
"No, darling, and the voice took tenderer
tone, "my first Margaret sleeps in the grave
made out in the wild prairies She only
lived year. MARY A. Dennisou in Chicago
I.~lger