Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-30


 the initiative. The noble sorrel, for merly cavalry horse, shot forward magniicently., Doubtless his horse- sense took in the situation, or else he did not like the thought of wonder proud, supercilious show-horse beating him in a running race, So, a very fast mile was put to the rear
 The girl, appreciating her peril, did as all good horsewomen would have done; locked her knee on the horn and held on. The rush of wind tore the pins from her, hair which, like golden
 plume. stretched out behind her (Have you ever read any thing like this be- fore? I dare say. But to Warburton and the girl. it never occurred that other persons had gone through like episodes. It was real. and actual. and single, and tragic to them.)
 The distance between the two horses began slowly to lessen, and Warburton understood, in a nebulous way, what the girl had meant when she said that Dick could outrun Pirate If Pirate kept to the road. Dick would bring him down; but if Pirate took it into his head to vault a fence Warburton shuddered. Faster, faster, over this roll of earth, clattering across this bridge, around this curve and that angle. Once the sight of a team draw ing huge grain-wagon sent a shiver to Warburton's heart. But they thun- dered past with foot to spare. The old negro on the seat stared after them, his ebony face drawn with won der and the whites of his eyes showing. Foot by foot, yard by yard, the space lessened, till Dicks nose was within three feet of Pirates flowing tail. Warburton fairly lifted Dick along with his knees I only wish I could describe the race as. my jehu told it to me. The description held me by the throat. could see the flashing by of trees and houses and fields; the scam- pering of piccaninnies across the road the horses from the meadows dashing up to the fences and whinnying; the fine stone and dust which Pirates rat ting heels threw into my jehu's face and eyes; the old pain throbbing anew in his leg And when he finally drew alongside the black brute and saw the white. Set face of the girl he loved. can imagine no greater mo- ment but one in his life Tbere was no fear on her face, but there was ap- peal in her eyes as she half turned her head. He leaned across the intervening space and slid his arm around her waist The two horses came together and twisted his leg cruelty His jaws snapped.
 Let the stirrup go!" he cried Let go, quick" She heard him. ''Your knee from the horn. cant keep them together any longer. Now!"
 Brave and plucky and cool she was She obeyed him instantly. There was a mighty heave, a terrible straining of the back and the knees, and Pirate was freed of his precious burden. The hardest part of it came now. Dick could not be made to slow down abruptly. He wanted to keep right on after his rival. So, between holding the girl with his right arm and pulling the horse with his left, Warburton saw that he could keep up this terri ble effort but a very short time. Her arms were convulsively wound around his neck. and this added to the strain. Not word did she say; her eyes were closed, as if she expected any moment to be dashed to the earth. . But Dick was only a mortal horse. The fierce run and the double burden began to tell, and shortly his head came up. Warburton stopped him. The girl slid 10 the ground, and in moment he was at her side And just in time. The reaction was too much for her. Dazedly she brushed her hair from her eyes, stared wildly at Warburton and tainted. He did not 'dt'u htN NllH bHdt Sidttlul plttiSiou which on the stage is so familiar to us. No. He was lucky to snatch one of her arms. thus preventing her head from striking the road. He dragged her to the side of the highway and rested her head on his shaking knees. Things grew dark for time. To tell the truth. he himself was very close 10 that feminine weakness which the old fellows. in their rough and ready plays. used to call "vapours." But he forced his heart to steady itself.
 And what do you suppose the rascal nobody but Dick to watch him? Why. he did what any healthy young man in love would have done: pressed his lips to the girls hair. his eyes filling and half a sob in his parched throat. He dolefully pictured himself a modern Antiochus. dying Of love and never Confessing it. Then be kissed her hair again: only her hair, for somehow ke felt that her lips were as yet inyiolable to his touch.
 Painting is but transitOry; by and by she opened her eyes and stared raguely into the face above her. do not know what she saw there: what ever it was caused her to struggle to her feet There was color enough in her cheeks now. and there was a