Frederick citizen., 1895-02-15

distance. but she did not rise sufficient
ly to be safe conveyance over a
strongly-enclosed country. I soon
found this out Nevertheless, when
You occupy foremost place in a fast
rim, and when your blood is up, it re-
qiiires a pretty strong warning to in
dice you to abandon your proud
position. AS long as you get over some
how you are not particular, and only
remember the details afterwards. Then
they crop up with ugly significance.
ana tell on your nerve another day.
We might have been galloping as
hard as we could lay legs to the ground,
Tor something over fifteen minutes, our
fox showing beautiful line and head
ing for Norton Gorse, when we came
straight down upon a snorting big |
fence. 1t had a wide, newly dugout |
ditch. on the near side, with the earth |
heaped all along the bank. The hedge |
was about five feet In height, and as
solid as wall, and was embellished
on landing by stout ox-rail, which |
appeared recently set up Virago was |
beginning to move a trif1e less gaily |
than heretofore, though she had not
yet given up pulling. but her gallop
mad lost its spring and she lurched in
her gait Most of the horses were
bit done, and almost unanimously wo
slackened speed as this ugly obstacle
hove in sight A rapid glance to right
and left, and we saw there was no help
for it. ISaacs and I had been cutting
out the work alternately up till now
but at this juncture, feeling that cour-
tesy demanded 1t. gave him the pref
erence. The blacks sides were Sob
bing, but knew him for a good horse,
and as game one as ever looked
through a bride. AS much could not
be said Of mine. The pull once out of
her, I realized that her bolt would
soon be shot. Isaacs set us all good
example. He seized the horse resolute-
ly by the head, gave him touch OF
tn spurs and went at the fence. His
animal made a splendid effort, but
nevertheless, he landed with both hind
legs well on to the rails. He managed
however to save a fall being remark
ably quick and nimble. The rest of us
hoped the rail would give, but not
bit of it, 1t would have turned half a
dozen men and horses over.
All of a sudden, Virago chucked up
her head and followed in the blacks
she took off, for she got too near the
ditch, half-slithered into it, tried to
| jump, fell with a crash into the fence,
and we tumbled head over heels. On
recovering from the first shock, felt
that 1 had not fallen clear. and she
was lying on the top Of me. My first
instinct was to free myself from this
! awkward position, and I was endeav-
| oring to do SO when she struck out
violently with those ready hind heels
| of hers, and then total Inconsistencies
| descended upon my senses. When I re-
gained them l found myself lying in a
| comfortable bed in a bedroom which
was utterly unfamiliar to me. I tried
| to look about, but my head felt as If 1t
were stuffed with cotton wool, and
found 1t impossible to collect my
thoughts. I had no more idea what
had happened. where / was. or who
had conveyed me to this strange abode
than the man in the moon. On these
points my mind was perfect blank.
After while 1 began to be aware
! that someone was In the room, and
| later on it dawned upon my enfeebled
| faculties that this someone belonged
| to the female sex, and possessed the
| further Advantages of being young and
| nice-looking. She wore a nursing-cap
and apron, which suited her Madonna
| like style of beauty admirably. For
she was beautiful; 1 soon found that
, out in spite Of the strange haze which
obstructed my vision, and deprived 1t
of its customary clearness.
Where am II" asked, feebly, land
why should l be in bed? I am right.
There's nothing the matter with me.
It's nonsense treating me as II I were
ILL.,"
She advanced to the bedside, and
smiled upon me with the smile Of an
angel.
Hush. do not talk" she said, speak
ing in a soft and singularly musical
voice. Let me do all the conversation
whilst you listen. Exactly a fortnight
ago to-day, you met with very serl-
Gus fall out hunting; you were not In
a fit state to be taken as far as Market
Marlboro, so they brought you here"
"And whose house is this?"
at belongs to Sir Harry Darlington,
and is known by the name of Norton
Chase. Sir Harry happens to be abroad.
but 1t was impossible in your
then condition to take you any far
ther"
You say that was brought here a
fortnight ago?" I said incredulously.
unheeding her injunction of silence
What in the name of wonders have
I been doing since, for l do not retain
the slightest recollection as to how the
time has gone"
She laughed, a little low laugh that
rang pleasantly through the room, TOR
though not loud 1t was very clear.
That is not surprising, considering
that for fourteen days you have how
cred between life and death. Your
horse kicked you on the head
when YOU were down, and frac-
tured the base OF your skull. There, |
now you know the full extent of the
mischief. Until this morning you have
remained perfectly unconscious. in
spite of our best efforts, but, please
God the worst Is over, and before long
you will quite recover your health and
strength. Meanwhile, 1 am your nurse,
and you must obey me- | can't allow |
any talking. Come, take this II you
please" and she held drinking cup
containing some strong beef-tea to my
lips.
l drank 1t off obediently; there was |
a gentle authority about her. which |
fairly took me by storm, and rendered |
resistance impossible.
That's right" she said, approvingly, |
as drained the cup to its dregs. And |
now. like a DEAR good patient, compose |
yourself, and go to sleep"
1t was an extraordinary position for |
me to find myself; waited upon carefully +!
and tended by young and pretty wo-
man. If trifie embarrassing, the stu |