The free press., 1894-02-22

Will NiSoI tldJ was amazing. Her
eyes fairly blazed on such occasions,
and she struck her front feet at the
enemy with fury that transformed
her so that she did not seem the same
animal that was SO docile before the
trumpets sounded. 1 remember once
in the Shenandoah Valley that she be-
came uncomfortable for time in the
heat of fight, and fastened her teeth
into the neck of an opponents charger
and never gave up until he was dead
and his rider my prisoner.
''After hostilities had ceased my fa-
ther-in-law insisted that my wife andI
should make our home with him. Hav
ing no plans for the immediate future
L was glad of the opportunity, and
the months of June, July, August, and
September passed away most happily"
The Colonel looked at the window,
where the snowfakes were eddying,
and was evidently reading from the
open book of the past.
Zone day" he resumed, some of
the men on the place used more force
than [ thought was necessary in brid-
ling Nutshell, and when / took him to
task he was insolent. L went into
the house to avoid trouble, for 1 was
quick tempered in those days, but L
couldn't forget the fellows manner,
and came to the door in time to see
him snatch at the curb and throw the
mare upon her launches, In an in
slant I had him by the throat, and I'd
probably have killed him if they
hadn't torn me away. The man was
discharged, and after dinner, when
we sat down for an evenings enjoy
ment, the entire episode was for
gotten. After some music, my wife
asked me to read aloud to the family,
and, approaching me from behind
with the book, put her arms about my
neck in way that was peculiarly her
own. 1 had grasped her by the
wrists and was about to speak, when
the glass in the big French window
at the end of the room was shattered,
and the report of gun almost deaf
ened us.
81 remember" and the Colonel rose
to his feet and began pacing rapidly
before the hearth, "that my father-in-
law and myself, with half dozen SER
wants at our heels, rushed upon the
piazza. A scream from my wife's
mother brought me to the drawing
room in an instant, and there 1 found
my wife with her head pillowed upon
her mothers bosom and blood pour
ing from wound in her breast just
above the heart. The scoundrel had
missed my head by an inch or two and
reached fairer mark. The nearest
physician was ut Fredericksburg, ten
miles away, and the plank road was IN
the worst possible condition. Shout
ing like madman, l rushed to the
barn, saddled Nutshell, and in less
than two minutes was galloping madly
for medical assistance. l knew the
folks at home would do their best to
STAY the flow of blood, and that every
thing rested in the prompt at
tention of surgeon. l. spared
neither whip nor spur, but urged the
gallant mare until it seemed that
she must fall from sheer exhaustion,
and when the lights of Freder1cks-
burg rose before me, the mare
sides were torn and bleeding,
where they were not white with foam,
and was little less than madman.
The doctor, who was an old frlend'
had not retired, and he was IN the sad
die and galloping by my side within a
few minutes. He urged his horse
stout half-bred, to his best pace, but
he was no match for Nutshell, and
when half the journey was completed
he stumbled and fell heavily, throwing
the doctor far in advance. drew
rein, and felt my very blood freeze IN
nv veins when I heard him shout:
This is bad business, Browne. MY
horse has broken leg.
"There was nothing else for 1t out
to have Nutshell carry double, or else
I could abandon her to the doctor ana
proceed on foot. The thought, how
ever, that my wife might die before
reached the house settled everything
and in twinkling the bonnie mare
was staggering onward under her