Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-16

fiery, vicious animal that had given me
great trouble, and who, in his looks and
movements seemed almost demoniac. Cloee
to me they led him. I 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 my
death by that monstrous gray horse, and 50
they did, but had not calculated for the ex-
treme cruelty of which they are capable
What was my horror when found that they
were going to bind me to the animal, torture
him and set him free"
'Oh, grandfather! you are second Mazep-
pa" cried Margery, listening meanwhile with
intense interest.
"a distinction for which I paid cruelty, n
said the old man, folding his arms and gazing
into the fire.
'They lifted me upon the horse, he all 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 unmanage-
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 on
the animal. another round my neck, tying
was carried to his tail, making it use the pur-
pose OF crupper. In this way they secured
me to the frantic beast, and all the while the
demons incarnate danced yelling and scream
ing about me, testifying their internal delight
in the anticipated sufferings that were to
overtake me, and, with shouts that sounded
like thunder, turned him loose. The poor ami
NAL and the poor wretch upon him were
doc bod v,4<> Al. ~. -
horse, feeling his unusual burden, and frantic
to get rid of it, took his way among the tang
led underground, bruising mo at every step,
throwing me against projecting branches,
rearing, plunging, uttering the widest cries
Of terror. longed and prayed for death, I
rsved and sent up cries Of anguish with his.
Sometimes Laid insendble, and then a dread
full blow would bring me to agonizing con-
sciousness knew that death would come at
last, but oh, theawful uncertainty, the suffer
ing that permeeted every bone, nerve. sinew.
can describe nothing like it. 1t is too dread
full to recall, too frightful to portray"
The old man shuddered as he held his hand
before his eyes as if to shut out 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 nay capture, the
animal emerged into broad prairie 1 was
dying with hunger, sore in every inch of my
body, longing only that death might put an
end to my suferings. I was only partly
conscious-just alive, and that was all.
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 q log hut and an angel faced girl
bending over me.
''He has opened his eyes, mother were
the first words l heard, and then all was
blank again. 1t 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 family.
They treated me with the greatest care, the
tenderest consideration. 1t was months be-
fore was well and completely cured of
longing to encounter the Indians. l pre-
ferred after that home of my own, and
the blooming Margaret for nv wife, who
had taken such care of me-"
$50 dearest grandmother was that Mar
garetP" said Margery.
mo, 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. Dennison in Chicago
Ledger,