Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-31

and turn her head to one side, with an IN
credibly vicious expression. L called out,
but Tom was engaged in admiring the moon,
or some such ioily; and in an instant the
mare was in the air, fighting the reins with
her feet, which she had got entangted in
some inenplcable way. The miracle was
that we we're not both OF us hurled out
backward by the violence of the jerk, but
had previously been holding on pretty tight,
and as for Tom, in anything to do with
horses, he always sticks on with the
tenacitF of leech. In second Perdita
came to the ground again, and then she be-
gan to plunge and kick, as ii she were en-
gagged in pitched battle with Thousand
demons. l clung to the rail for dear life,
but Tom jumped down from the box. and,
alighting on his feet with that strange i'm
munity from misfortune which seems TO at
tend bis reckless proceedings. he rushed to
Perdita's head. She instantly reared, actu-
allv raising Tom off his feet as he held on to
the bride, and for an instant thought it
was ali up with us both, for she made as if
she would dash mp against the wall. But
Tom held the driving whip dubbed In his
hand, and as she was in the act Of rearing,
he brought it down with all his force be-
tween her ears. The blow was enough to
have stunned rhinoceros, and when she
came down again she was comparatively
manageable. In few minutes she was
quite subdued bv Toms strong hand and
steady soothing voice, and stood quiet and
trembling in the middle OF the road.
Now that it was practicable without dan
ger to life and limb, l sprang ou; OF the car
and hurried TO nv friends side. He turned
his head round, and saw his face full in
the bright moonlight. His handsome feat
ures ALWAYS gave the impression of strength
and daring. aud now he looked cool and col
lected as ever, hut look of ve1ation and
annoyance crossed his face as he pulled out
his watch and peered anGiously into Its sill
yer face.
Il saw. JACK" he said, with an intensity
of fdisappointment for which l could hardly
account, 81 am afraid we are done for now.
After this confounded delay we have not
chance Of catching the train. What is to
be done2"
Never mind" replied mechanically;
for the fact was, l was so uncommonty glad
to be delivered from the very dangerous po-
sition 10 which L had found myself lew
minutes ago, that l was hardly capable of
taking in anv other sensation than that OF
unmitigated joy and thanksgiving.
But itwas IN truth an extremely awkward
predicament to be placed in. My leave had
been reluctantly prolonged by no; too
amiable Colonel, and in order not to miss
the ball l had urgently written to request
a further extension or the plea of pressing
family business This again had been
snappishly granted, but the concession was
coupled with strict injunction TO report
mvself without fail on board Fer Majesty's
ship the Exnloder before midday on the
DAY after the ball. The ship would leave
the harbor that afternoon, and If / missed
this train, not only should l incur the
wrath of nv implacable senior officer, but
skor.
ME, and !, to my everlasting shame and
disgrace. should be left behind.
Where would then be all nv dreams of
fame and glory? And what infamous re.
port might not reach the ears of the adora-
bic Eva? At this thought my cheeks
glowed, and / felt almost ready TO mount
once more to the post of danger upon the
box.
But first glanced suspiciously at Perdita
She was standing with heaving fanks and
smoking sides apparently quite quiet. But
the deep snorting breath that curled up into
the night air from her dilated nostrils told a
different tale, and when she arched her neck
aud turned her small shapely head toward
me, and met the nellish light that glared
from her cvcs, 1 shuddered at the bare idea
of trusting myself to her tender mercies
again. She did, indeed, look as if she might
be the embodiment of some lost spirit sent
bv the Evil One to perform its work of mis-
chief and destruction upon earth. Yet
could not help admiring her beauty as she
stood there-the jet-black creature, like some
shy wild beast of prey, with 1.-the and active
limbs and supple, cat-like movements.
s fter all the thought of returning TO the
peaceful lie aud the dear girl L was leaving
behind me was temptingly sweet, especially
when contrasted with that ominouSly named
he Evn1odar and tha Ions
that lay before me. Told, as L should know
how to tell it, the adventure l had already
gone through would sound sufficient excuse
10 Ega's tender ears. The finger of fate
seemed to be inexorablr pointing that way,
and began to see plainly that it might be
nv duty 10 obey, and resign myself to the
dispensations OF Providence.
But Tom had never been blessed with re-
signed disposition. lie interrupted me in
the midst Of pleasing reverie by an abrupt
exclamation:
awe may do it Yeti 1 know of short
cut that will save at least two miles, and it
is worth the risk You shall not miss YOUR
ship if L can help it, old fellow. In with
your
He had jumped up already and grasped
the relns.
"You don't expect me to go risking nv
life behind that fend incarnate again, my
dear bov!" l demonstrated. But Tom has
that kind of tvrannical, domineerng man
ner which overrides a more refined and cul-
tured nature.
f'1Ionsense!'' he replied authoritatively.
"Can YOU not see that the mare is as quiet as
lamb? The veriest coward would not be
AFRAID of her now. Get in; there is not a
moment to lcse."
This brutal remark (coniound the fellow,
what did he mean by insinuating that was
a coward?) put me on my mettle, and with q
heavy heart L climbed up in my place
We drove on al a more moderate pace un-
til we came to a gate which led into a fat
pasture field. Here Tom alighted, and
forcing open the gate, led the horse and trap
into the field. 1 knew rcmonstrance was
useless; but l made up my mind that 1
would not let an opportunity pass without
giving Tom a word of warning about his
reckless ways
On the smooth turf the mare seemed pretty
quiet, and, with Tom leading her, 1 felt
fairly safe; so, without letting go my hold
OF the iron rail, leaned forward and spoke
to Tom very seriously about the ioohardi-
ness-nav, the actual wrong-doing-oi keep
ing such dangerous and vicious animals
You know, my dear fellow, l concluded,
''it is not rs ii it were your own life that is
ut stake. Think oI the RISKS 10 which YOU
expose your friends. Now, why not sell
these horrid brutes, and purchase hand
some, steady pair like ours at home? 1t
would be much more satisfactory
Halloi Take care! Take care! For heaven S
sake, Tom, look ont what you are doing!''
He was ficking the whip about in a care
less kind OF way, and the mare was already
beginning to dance uueasilv