The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-24

tlChhShO Ol LolAi vi htlli 10 pilC TlEnU,
and came upon an open slope of Burnt
Ridge. where she, knew 10 Simmons
mustang, Blue Lightning, would be
duietly feeding. She had often ridden
/him before, and when she had detached
the ffty-foot RATA from his heatstall,
he permitted her the further recognized
familiarity of twining her fingers in his
blush name and climbing on his back
The tool shed of Burnt Ridge tunnel,
where JOS saddle and bride always
hung, was but n canter further on. She
reached it unperccived, and-anothcr
trick of the old days-quickly extern
porized side saddle from Simmons
Mexican tree, with it's high cautlc and
horn bur and the MD of blanket
Then leaping to her scat she rapidly
threw off her mantle, tied it by its
sleeves around her waist, tucked it under
one knee and let it fall over her horses
flanls. BY this time Blue Lightning
was also struck with flash of equine
recollection, and priclsed up his ears
Mrs. Baker uttered little chirping cry
which he remembered, and the next
moment they were both carcering over
the ridge.
The trail that she had taken, though
precipitate, difficult and dangerous in
places, was clear gain of two miles on
the stage road. There was less chance
of her being followed or meeting any
one. The greater canyons were already
in shadow; the pines on the further
ridge were separating their masses, and
showing individual silhoucttcs against
the sky, but the air was still warm, and
the cool breath of night, rs she we'll
knew it, had not yet begun to flow
down the mountain. The lower range
of Burnt Ridge was still uncclipscd by
the creeping shadow of the mountain
ahead of her. Without n watch, but
with this familiar and slowly changing
dial spread out before her, she knew
the time to minute. Heavy Tree hill,
lesser height in the distance, was al
ready wiped out by that shadowy index
finger-hnlf past seven! The stage
would be Mt Hickory Hill just before
half-past eight; she ought to anticipate
1t, if possible-it would stay ten minutes
to change borscs-she must arrive be-
fore it left!
y There was good two-milc level be-
fore the rise of the next range. Now,
Blue Lightning! All you know! And
that was much--for the little chip hat
and Tutoring ribbons we'll bent down
over the blush name, and the stream
ing gauzc of her mantle, almost level
with the horses back, swept down
across the long tablc-land like skim
ming blueiay. A few more bird-lille
dips up and down the undulations aud
then came the long. cruel ascent of the
Divide.
hn,-I h ,t,.pt ,1-s, l.
dust, slithering in the slippery mpal-
pablo powder of the road, groggily stag
gering in red, dusty dream, coughing,
snorting, head tossing, becoming sud
denly detected, with slouching haunch
and limp legs on easy slopes, or wildly
spasmodic and agile on sharp accliv-
tiles, and Blue Lightning began to have
ideas and recollections! All! she was a
devil for larl1-this lightly clinging,
caressing, blarneying, cooling creature
up there! He remembered her now
Ha! very well, then. Hoop la! And.
suddenly leaping out like q rabbit,
buclSing, trotting hard, ambling lightly,
walking on three legs and rccrcating
himself-as only n Californian mustang
could-the invinciblc Blue Lightning
at last stood triurnphantly upon the.
summit. The evening star had Just
prickcd itself through the golden mist
of the horizon line-cight o'clocll She
could do it now! But here, suddenly, her
first hesitation seized her. She knew
her horse. she knew the trail, she knew
hersclf-but did she know the man
to whom she was riding? A cold chill
crept over her, and then she shivered in
a sudden blast; it was night at last.
sweeping down from the invisible
Sicrras. and possessing all it touched.
But it was only one long descent to
Hickory Hill now, and she swept down
securely on its wings. Half-past eight!
The lights of the settlement were just
ahead of her, but SO, too, were the two
lamps of the waiting stage before the
post Office and hotel.
Happy the lounging crowd were
gathered around the hotel, and she
slipped into the post office from the
rear unperccivcd AS she stepped be
hind the partition, its only occupant-a
good-loolling young fellow with rod
dish mustache-turnedt towards her with
flush Of delighted surprise. But i.
changed IL the sight of tie white. de.
tcrmincd face that lad ncvcr looked
once towards him, but was, fixed upon u
large bag, whose yawuing mouth was
stu open aic propped UP beside his
desk.
Where is the through money letter
that came in that bug?' She said
quickly
"What-do-you-mcaa?" he STAN
mcred, with face that had suddenly
grown winter than her own.