San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-27

L u
as the bride slipped from his head. the
horse leaped wildly through the long
grass, almost throwing his rider from
her seat, and then darted away with the
speed of the wind.
With a cry of terror at her now help
less situation, Fanny clutched the name
of the flying horse and held on with
desperate energy, while from behind
came the thunder of hoofs in hot pursuit.
Before her now lay many miles of I'M
broken plain. with not even a bush to
break the dreary monotony, and across
this her horse sped swiftly on. his proud
head tossing from side to side as if in
mockery of those who came behind.
Fanny Riggsby was good rider and
had spent many a day in the saddle, gal
Looping over the prairie in search of her
fathers cattle that would often stray
away, but she could not help feeling a
sense of helplessness and terror steal
over her as she now found herself upon
the back of the spirited horse without
saddle or bride. Without any means of
guiding the animal, she could only trust
to chance in keeping upon the proper
course. She knew that there was a set
Element many miles to the north, and it
was with the hope of reaching this that
she had started in northerly direction.
STEADY. Jet" she cried, leaning for
ward and speaking in a coaxing voice, but
the spirited animal only plunged forward
with renewed speed, leaping wildly
through the tangled grass and patches
of goldenrod that grew in his course.
But close behind came the thunder OF
pursuing hoofs, and with thrill of fear
she realized the necessity of urging her
horse to greater speed.
Yet she heSitated, for already she
maintained her seat with great difficulty
and any attemp to urge the horse into
swifter gallop might result in precipi-
tating her TO the ground. But closer
and closer came the hoof beats from be-
mind, and with a prayer upon her tightly
compressed lips she clutched the rope in
her hand. Then swinging downward
she struck Jet lightly upon the shoulder.
Heaven help mer' she cried, and for
| moment she reeled in her seat and
almost lost her balance as the horse shot
forward like a thunderbolt, his fleet
limbs seeming to scarcely touch the
| earth MS he swept onward.
Dazed and bewildered by the amazing
speed. Fanny chung to the horses name
for her life. her tangled hair flying loose
to the wind, her fear stricken and pallid
face turned upward toward where
bright and solitary star CLEANED through
| rifted cloud.
Never in her life had she ridden so
| rapidly before. The wind which was
blowing gently upon her back seemed
now to whirl and dust in a stiff breeze
about her face. The long stretch of
black, shadowy grass seemed running
like great belt beneath the horses feet,
and here and there tall resin weed
would leap by like a fleeting shadow.
Even in her terror and bewilderment
Fanny Riggsby realized the peril of her
situation, and knew that it would re-
quire all the courage and strength of her
nature to sustain ner through the trying
ordeal. Let her strength falter, for one
instant and she would be dashed to the
ground and perhaps TO instant death.
Not oil her own safety alone did she
think But the very lives of those in the
inn might depend upon the success of
what she had undertaken. 1t was this
thought that gave her courage, and with
a desperate determination she chung to
the back of the flying horse with only
faint hope IN her breast, but with
a l,,t 81.
superhuman.
How swiftly the world seemed to slip
beneath her as mile after mile was passed.
She no longer heard the sound of pursu-
ing hoofs. They might be miles behind
for aught she knew, but still she swept
on with no means of checking the fight
of her bridleless horse,
The dewy winds whistled about her
pallid face and her damp hair swirled in
tangled masses about her neck and
shoulders. The sharp, rattlelike notes of
insects were hushed in the grass and
strange wild birds started from their
cover and flew with screams of fright
| into the darkness as the horse dashed
swiftly on.
Fanny now sought to check the wild
| flight Of her horse with gentle words.
but il was of no avail Although
breathing heavily and covered with
foam. the maddened animal showed no
inclination to slacken his speed.
Fanny knew that she must soon reach
+, the timber of Drywood creek, and should
she not succeed IL checking her horses
| speed before that she realized the awful
danger that awaited her should she be
! carried into the woods. That she would
' h., Lnrh "a doafh n,rnirs soma limb or