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

that nearly upset the whole concern, set off
racing at full speed down the avenue.
We dashed through the park like the
wind, frightening the deer and rousing the
| echoes slumbering under the shadow of the
| grand old trees. Here and there, through
| an opening in the wood, we could see the
| stately front of the house, with the light
streaming from all its windows, and a faint
sound OF music still reached our ears. But
soon we ratified through the psrk gates, and
then, turning sharp corner, we left that
peaceful scene far behind us. Tom has no
| soul for poetry, and was aroused from my
pleasing meditations by the uhsympathetio
! tones of his voice.
by joVe p he observed; "if those COM
founded church wardens haven't been and
laid down new stones all along this bit of
the road. We shall never do it."
L now remarked that we were careerinc
over freshly laid hints. The jolting and
rattling were terrific: for, far from slaeken-
ing speed, Tom was endeavoring to increase
it. l demonstrated.
"She is going very well, Tom. Have
some mercy"
"My dear fellow, I know she goes well;
but horset1esh is no match for steam, and
don't want you to put down the loss of your
promotion to my door. 1 almost wish thatI
had let them put in the chestnut; he has not
SO much 60 in him. but he is more depend
able. Now with this animal you never
know where you are. 1 wanted to call her
Vixen, but my mother insisted upon Perdita;
and upon my soul think it is not bad
name for her, for she really is just like lost
spirit. 1t seems as if she were possessed BY
the wIckedness of all the devils sometimes
SIS she safe to driVe?'' 1 inquired, with
some anxiety.
"Oh, she goes well enough in harness." re-
piled nv friend carelessly. "She bolts oc-
casionally; but have got her well in hand
tonight, and I'll take care to give her no
time to play any of her Dranks."
We had now passed the stones, and were
flying like the wind along dark piece of
road Overshadowed by trees on one side, and
bordered by running brook on the other.
In the uncertain light the most familiar OBJ
jeets took strange mysterious shapes and the
knarled old willows hanging over the stream
looked intensely weird and unearthly.
''Thank goodness we're out of thatP' ex-
claimed Tom, as we shot out of the shadow
of the overarching trees and dashed along
the level high road. MY heart was in my
boots all the time we were in the dark hole,
1t was the very place for Perdita to make
boggle over, and if she turns vicious there's
no doing anything with her."
"You don't mean to say that it was your
groom L0dt WAS hllleu ldSI year, ana LnlS Is
the animal?' cried, suddenly recalling a
ghastly story that had reached nv ears.
'Absit omenp calculated my friend; and
saw by his embarrassment that my conjec-
ture was only too true.
"We never talk about that business,
jack" he continued, after brief silence.
For one thing, there are some matters one
hates to think about. and then it's best to
let sleeping dogs lie. You know we are not
bound to shoot the animal, for the gossoon
did not die for some time after, anG he i'm
plored US with his last breath to spare Per-
dita."
"Poor Mickey Flanaganl poor little
Mick!" said Tom, relapsing into unwonted
"He loved the creature al
if she had been a human being; and he
could not die easy in his bed until he had
my promise that no harm should come to
her."
After these cheering remarks it may be
imagined that l felt my position in that
high two-wheeled vehicle behind that de-
moniacal mare was anything but an envia-
BILE one. l glued my eyes apprehensively
upon Perdita's ears, which were pricked up
as if ready for instant mischief, and, on the
side farthest away from my friend, nv
hand furtively sought the iron bar OF the
seat, so as to have q firm grasp in case Of the
worst.
Mime is by good luck a marching regi-
ment, and L have no false shame in admit
ting that L know nothing whatever about
horses. In fact, ever since my childish
lays, when 1 came to grief with donkey,I
have always entertained a rooted dislike to
.he species, and the bad impression they
made upon me was not likely to be dimin.
shed by the fendish appearance of this
Ipecimen.
Tom would persist in talking, though I
mplored him to give his whole MUD to the
management of the reins; but when said
his he only laughed, and replied that he
Knew what he was about. 1t is a consola-
ion, however, to reflect that all his CONVEX
ational efforts were wasted upon me, for my
Ittention was, riveted upon Perdita's ears,
md did not hear q syllable Of what he
aid. The pace was something tremendous,
md I told myself that even Perdita could
lot keep it up long; yet she showed no signs