The Irish standard., 1894-09-01

pOrClOnS OF the TOa0. empnaSlZeQ Dy1
intervals of complete stiffness when the
fetlocks sank in the sand and progress
was more difficult for the plucky little
animal The only thrill of fear that
Margaret felt on her night-journey was
when she entered the dark arch of an
avenue of old forest trees that bordered
the road like great gloomy cathedral
aisle in the shadow of which anything
might be hidden. Once the horse, with
q jump of fear, started sideways and
plunged ahead; Margaret caught her
breath as she saw, or fancied she saw
several men stretched on the roadside,I
asleep or dead. Once in the open again!
she breathed more freely and if it had
not been for the jump of the horse she|
would have accused her imagination OF
playing her trick. Just as she had
completely reassured herself, a shadow
moved from the fence to the middle Oh
the road, and sharp voice cried:
"Halt!'
The little horse, as if it knew the
meaning of the word, planted it's two
front hoofs together and slid along the
ground for moment, coming so quick;
ly to standstill that it was with some
difficulty Margaret kept her seat She
saw in front of her man holding q
gun, evidently ready to fire if she at
tempted to disobey his command.
''Who are you, and where are you
going?" he demanded.
"Oh, please let me pass" pleaded
! Margaret, with tremor of fear IN her
voice. 81 am going for a doctor-for
! my brother; he is badly wounded, and
will perhaps die if am delayed"
The man laughed.
"Ohov he cried, coming closer; "a
woman, is it? and young one, too, Or
I'm a heather. Now, miss or missus,
you get down. I'll have to investigate
| this. The brother business won't work
| with an old soldier. It's your lover
you're riding for at this time of the
night, or I'm no judge of the Sex. just
slip down, my lady, and see if you
! don't like me better than him; and re-
member that all cats are black in the
dark. Get down, tell you.'
IF you are d, soldier you will let me-,
go. My brother is badly wounded. I
must get to the doctor"
''There's no must with bayonet in
front of you. If he has been wounded
| there's plenty of better men killed to-
day. Come down, my dear"
Margaret gathered up the bride rein,
but even in the darkness the man saw
her intention.
"You can't escape, my pretty. If YOU,
try it, you'll not be hurt, but I'll kill
your horse If you move, I'll put a bull"
let through him.
"Kill my horse!' breathed Margaret.
In horror, fear coming over her that
she had not felt at the thought of dam
ger to herself.
eyes, Missy" said the man, approach~
ing nearer and laying his hand on
Gypsy's bride. "But there will be NO
need of that. Besides, it would mako
too much noise, and might bring us
company, which would be inconvenient.
So come down quietly, like the nice
little girl you are"
''If you will let me go and tell the
doctor, I will come back here and be
your prisoner
The man laughed again, in low. tam
talizing tones. This was good joke.
ooh, no, sweetheart. I wasn't born
SO recently as all that. girl III the
hand is worth dozen a mile up the
road. Now come off that horse. or Eli
take You off This is wartime. andi
I'm not going to waste any more pretty
talk on you
The man, who, she now saw. was
hatless, leered up at her, and some
thing in his sinister eyes made the girl
quail. She had been so quiet that he
apparently was not prepared for any
sudden movement. Her right hand
hanging down at her side had grasped
the short .'idingwllip, and with a swift
ness that gave him no chance to ward
off the blow she struck him one sting
ing binding cut across the eyes, and
then brought down the lash ON the
flank of her horse, drawing the animal
round with her left over her enemy.
With wild snort Of astonishment the
horse sprang forward, bringing man:
and gun down to the ground with a;
clatter that woke the echoes; then, with,
au indignant toss of the head, Gypsped
along the road like the wind. It was
the first time Gypsy had ever felt the,
cut of whip. and the blow was not
forgiven. Margaret, fearing further
obstruction on the road, turned her
horses head towards the rail fence,
and Gypsy went over it like bird. In
the field, where fast going in the dark
had dangers, Margaret tried to slachent
the pace. but the little horse would not
nave it SO. 1t SHOOK it's head angrily
whenever it thought of the indignity
of that blow, while Margaret leaned
over and tried to explain and beg
pardon for her otfense. The second
fence was crossed with clean-cut
leap, and only once in the next field
did the horse stumble, but quickly re-
covered and went on at the same break
neck gait. The next fence gallantly
vaulted over brought them to the side
road half a mile up which stood the
doctors house. Margaret saw the fus
tility of attempting reconciliation
until the goal was won. There, with
difficulty, the horse was stopped, and
Marparaf sfr11clr the names 0f the 11n1)p1.