Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-01-08

6uIliGu. nv QOuDt ~ WCAC 0AbSe9oeCASAA 40
your eyes to treat your mistress as your
wife, And yet you will pardon me If, ont
of respect for what is still the dying body
of my kinswoman, l take upon myself 70
order this ceremony upon your behalf"
He had scarce ceased ere / had flung upon
him; but at that very second the life surged
in my love once more, and with an mar
ticulate cry she raised her head. threw
him away and fell upon my knees beside
her. Her breath went soft upon my cheek:
her bosom palpitated and was STILL Spring
ing from the room l rushed out Of the
house and leaped upon the painting horse
before the door; and, loosened by my leap,
the plague stricken, dusty body slipped
from the stirrup and rolled full into the
moonlight upon the gravel. dashed my
hands at the reins, spurred at the reek1ng
beast, end in frenzy iced the night bare
headed gathering for the cliffs. The horse,
overwoky syiiSsh the hard riding of its dead
master,- and smitten, maybe, with some
thing of the panic of that fearful country
side, shivered and trembled on it's way.
The fire was gone from it's palsied limbs,
its lifcwas spent; its fore1egs splayed and
staggered on the hard chalk, and stumbling
from point to point we rolled together
through the night. The winds now flew
from all quarters upon us, and stung my
sight so keenly that the lids fell with the
quick pain. Out of the sea below they
seemed to rise up and take the beast below
his belly, lifting him from his traitor feet.
From the front they sprang at him, chill
and gusty, choking the steaming breath
back into his gaping throat. While ever
from the black hills they dashed upon us
both as though to swirl US in their COM
pany over the sheer cliffs, where the white
sea ran shouting upon the walls below.
In this helpless fashion had gone but a
mile or SO, and was come to where the
mountain closes on the sea and leaves but
ribbon of pathway, when was aware of
a rider laundering in my rear. So swift
was his speed that had but turned un
easily in my saddle ere he had swept by
me; his pallid face cleaned for an instant
in set and cruel stare, and then he was
past the corner in the distant gloom.
'Ride! rider' l called; and my weak
steed, struggling with the wind, followed
behind him into the narrow pass. The
great circle of the moon hung upon the
sheer heights, and the silver streak of foot
way ran white along the cliff verge had
imagined him a penitent, assured that
some grievous exhibition of his sisters
plight had at last made call upon his
humanity, and that he was thus tardily
upon mine own GRAND. But as entered
upon the passage perceived him standing
there In the moonlight, his face turned
full upon me, his horse at hand oblique
across the pathway. AS rode up he raised
an arm and checked me.
upon second thoughts" he said, IL
cannot perceive that the performance of
her manifest duty acquits me of mine own.
You will dismount."
gazed at him in stupefaction across the
vapor from my horses nostrils.
"Come, you are dull, you are dull" he
went on impatiently. "You must know
the consideration proper to her blood. Be
done with your wonder and dismount. ]
have given the matter thought, and, be-
ieve me, it is the one thing possible"
It was then for the first time took his
meaning and the full significance of his
hideous purpose flashed upon me. Passion
choked my voice.
"Out of my wayp' whispered hoarsely
Descend" he said; "or shall l break
this creature under you? You make an
uncommon fuss" He took pistol from
his belt. 'Into the case of this" said he,
II have put my honor. Come"
ground my teeth and clinched my hand
above my head.
"Out of my way, devil" cried, pushing
the horses nose upon him.
He put it aside.
s'Nay," said he, easily, you may per-
haps ride on hereafter if you have the oc-
casion left you. By my soul, we must
settle on this spot, if 1 should pull you
from the saddle. Your mistress shall find
fitting burial, promise you. in the tail
of the morrow.
"Dismount, my craven"
The. madness rushed upon me in a flood,
and bent low upon my horses neck.
'Out of my way" yelled.
He laughed.
I struck my nails deep in the TANKS, and
with start the beast leaped forward upon
the white face in the path. His horse be-
hind him swerved and pulled, backing
upon the cliff.
The winds dropped from the heights in
a gust.
Squirting drove at him.
saw the forefront of my horse poised
in the air a moment, and then with u
plunge he flung himself free upon the
empty path; while with sharp neigh of
terror that other creature rolled in a tangle
with the white, set face, slipped DER ths
verge and fell from peak to peak down the
great precipice below. "a.
And at that instant the shrill wind came
crying around the pillars of the hills, and
could hear, far off and desolately still,
the sound of a dull bell booming through
the night-H. B. Marriott Watson in Ma
tional Observer.