The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-01-16


warol The farm 10 carry Agnes TO a
party al neighboring town. She
was already dressed when | droye
up, and looked beautiful in new
bonnet ard shawl. We were very
comfortable, and our conversation
was very Interesting. | was ad
vancing rapidly in her good opin-
ION, and was beginning TO think Sc
riously of popping the question,
when The horse stopped suddenly
as if turned TO stone. We both
tumbled suddenly forward with Il
low bow, and my companions
lovely nose came int, sharp con.
tact will the dashboard.
| Immediately jumped out TO see
what was the matter, but every
thing about the horse appeared TO
be all right, and | again climbed
into the gig and prepared to start.
But the horse obslinately refused
10 move. | coaXed and ilatlered,
but he would not be persuaded. |
thrashed him with the whip until
my wrist ached, but he remained
lmmoVable as statue. AT last
sharpen"d a hedge stake, took my
seat, gave the relns 10 my compan-
ion and gave him tremendou :
blow. ! hardly hoped 10 see him
siir, but he did, and started with II
leap that almost threw me on my
back. | Immediately seized the
reins, but his determination had
taken another channel. and he
would not stop. ! iugged AT the
reins and shouted "Whoa!" but he
held the bit between his teeth and
rushed along the road like a runa-
wav comet.
| Agnes screamed and roared as
we dashed by the farm houses with
speed of a locomotive. The horses
heels splinthred the dashboard at
every leap, and the bright shoes
iwinkled like small stars in dan
gerouS proximity 10 our eyes. FL
nally the wheels struck Il tree, The
horse stumbled and the next mo-
ment l was lying upon my back in
the road.
Feeling like an exhausted bel.
lows | regaI hered my breath and
picked myself up alter awhile, but
what a situation! Agnes lying up
on the grass, with torn clothing
and disordered hair, while her
chignon was rolling along the path
way pursued by a terrier. The
horse stood quite still and gazed
calmly upon The ruins. | was with
out hat, covered with dust. The
boys shouted boisterou>Iy, and the
company who perceived that we
were uninjured, laughed. | could
have jumped into The river TO hide
myself, and | entertained serious
l'leas of running away, but |
thought better OF ii and assisted
| Agnes TO arise.
1t cost me heavy sum for The
wrecked gig. was scratched and
discouraged. Agnes had turned
the cold shoulder and | was in des-
pair, but | wrote her letter ex-
planning matters and begged TO be
again taken into favor. | was over
joyed to receive an encouraging re-
ply. She forgave me and would
not give me up, but her brother
was very angry end would not per-
mt her to see me. If | would
come up OH the following evening
10 the farm | could reach her win
dow by means of the grapevine
and we could lhink the matter
over.
The letter cheered me up won
derfully, and when The clock struck
8 upon the following night | walk
ed gayly to the farm,passed around
to The rear and perceived white
figure atihe window. A large dog,
which was fastened in a kennel un-
der the window, threatened 10
raise an alarm, but few words
from Agnes quoted him. 1 clam
bered up the vine and was soon at
her side. | was so happy that the
grapevine might have been lad
der to paradise. Agnes was for
giving and lovely, and we con-
versed for half an hour without
thought of the lower world.
Twas calmly gazing at the farm
which would soon be my own when
l heard the door open. Upon
turning | saw The obnoxious broth
er standing IN the door way, with
very suspicious whip in his hand.
He looked angry, and | immedi-
otely comprehended his purpose.
1t was not in human nature TO re-
main quiet, and when he sprang
toward me with am angry howl /
answered with a yell, and spring
ing through The window began
slipping down the vine.
would no doubt have made a
masterly retreat. but was but a
few feet from the top when The
brother cut The fastenings with his
knife, and the vine and myself fell
together. Unfortunately | drop
ped upon the roof of the kennel.
The rooI, not being able 10 hold
showers OF humanity, gave way,
and | iumbled directly into The
jaws of the bulldog. The Jaws.
with howl, fastened upon my leg,
and for a moment there was a
terrible battle between US. Al
last the dog unfasiened 10 take a
fresh bite, and | took advantage
fur Tho tlon1pnf in fyaf owax. huf