The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-14
IN THE TOLLS OF FATE


She could keep her saddle under almost any condition
so that unless he should stumble fall there wasn't
much to worry about. She had known horses after
wild run like this to to their after while
and stand trembling and subdued from reaction.
Steadily steadily, the great muscles moved beneath
her, not with wild erratc action, yet with sugges
ton OF abating speed; then somehow, with the sort of
sixth sense that came of being thoroughly in sym
pathy with her fathers horses the belief came to her
that there was method in his madness
She had heard of horses and other animals finding
their way back from incredible distances to dearly
loved home. This one had come from Wayville just
in the direction they were travelling, and than
seventy-hve miles from her home. He had come all
the way the train, but despite this fact the convc
ton grew upon Elizabeth that by the aid of that in
stinct that so greatly compensates for the human
power these creatures lack; Terry going home
What should she. dor What could she do? The
thought of involuntary and unexpected visit to
strange ranch was anything but welcome one; still,
even il she could accomplish the impossible feat of
alghtng safely from the back of this tying horse how
much better off would she be out in the midst of
desolate plain, with means of conveyance back to
her home or any town village.
No, the only thing to do to stick where she was;
the horse would in time carry her to some definite
place from which she could return, and unless she
could get control of him again. it the only thing
to do
Once she leaned ,over patted the heaving shoulder
softly and spoke soothing word or two but Terry
threw his head back and increased his speed she de-
cided not to try that again. Frequent looks backward
well all about the horizon showed that she and
Terry the only actors in the great arena and the
loneliness and longcontinued strain began to tell
her She would have given the world for the
opportunity to lean her head Terry's neck for
good cry, but it wouldn't do. No time for empty
hands or tear -dlmmed eyes just now. Pulling herself
erect in the saddle she put the weakness away from
her. So long as Terry kept on with this long even
pace she perfectly safe. only question of
patience Her father fortunately, was away from
home, and would probably not be home before the
morrow. The thought of poor Ted and his fright
weakened her most SO she decided not to think of him
again until it all over.
Suddenly her eyes flashed and the quick color few
to her cheeks They had reached the top of gentle
Fha
their path, she could the long blue thread of
winding river She laughed exultingly. That would
prove Terry's Waterloo in very truth.
1t still FIVE miles, or further, away, and if Terry
would just keep up the strain of the last fifteen miles,
he would be glad enough to halt and acknowledge
himself beaten by the time he reached the river bank
and realized he had half mile to swim be-
fore he could take up his gay journey again.
Then she began to plan how she would manage him
when they reached the river In all probability he
would give up, and then she would have trouble;
but there OF the chance that he would not
had better stay where she was until Terry came to
some decision. 1t wouldn't do to allow him chance
to bolt and leave her there alone The thing for her
to do to get that bit further back in his mouth
then everything would be easy She would keep
him pacing for while, that he might not cool too
rapidly, then she would let him awhile, and then
she would ride back trumphantly--meet Teddy, half
scared to DEATH and nonchalantly declare to him that
the to the crossroads had proved ridiculousy
short that she had gone to the river instead and
she laughed again she thought of the look that
would be on Teddy's face.
The riverl Why, they had been that far be-
fore in all their riding except the train and the
distance would seem tremendous to Teddy, who
had been away to school for years, than to her
for she had been riding every day She hoped OF
the river mud would stick to Terrys feet Ted could
see it.
They were close enough to the river now for Eliza
beth to discover, first with concern, and then with
satisfaction, that looked very different from the calm,
smiling river that she had liked to when she had
crossed on the trestle above Now it was tumbling
and foaming tossing angrily the bits OF debris with
which it was strewn and altogether seemed so unlike