Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-12-13

hill, at the bottom of which was a
bridge crossing small brook.
turned to the girl who was holding to
the side of the heaving chariot. "Can
you rider" l shouted. She nodded
an Affirmative, and when we carue to
the bridge I drew up on It's center,
thereby blocking the road.
"Quickl" l cried. "They are after
rs, and about mile back, and gain.
ing. We have but one chance that I
can see. Peter will tell them we are
bound for the Apthorpe mansion. We
must get to Robinson's and trust to
finding a boat there-or, by the Lord,
I'll swim the river on a plank. Can
you ride bareback? You must!"
II never have since l was little
girl, but WILL" she replied. with a set
to her lips that showed the stress she
was enduring.
In less than three minutes had
thrown the harness from the painting
animals, all save the brides, and seat
Ing the girl on one of them, threw my
self across the other, and away we
went, leaving the narrow bridge i'm
passable until the chariot should be
hauled aside.
will never forget that wild ride. It
was wonder how the girl stuck to
the wooden loin-blanket with its em.
broidered arms which l had left on
both horses. for 1t was all l could do
to retain my own seat, and had been
used to such riding. On the whole she
was better horsewoman than was
horseman.
And now we flew. The wind, which
had hitherto been dead calm, roared
in my ears the rain, now falling fast
or and faster, stung my cheeks like
buckshot, the water streaming into my
eyes and we'll nigh binding me. Ag.
ness close hood somehow became
loosened and was lost, and soon her
unstayed hair was streaming behind
her like the golden tail of comet.
Never will l forget the rush Of the air
as we sped through 1t. the clatter of
hoofs, the spatter of mud and loose
pebbles, the way that roadside objects
reeled past
The tremendous danger threatening
us no longer oppressed me; my spirits
became exuberant for the moment,
and yelled like one possessed. 1t was
growing dusk by then. but I did not
seem to realize 1t.
do not know how far we were from
Robinson's when we took to bareback
riding; but 1t made no difference; the
horses knew the road, and possibly
thought they were bound for the sta
bles, for without being guided they
swung into the driveway. nor did they
ease their pace until they were well
behind the house and close to the
great stone barn, then the finest on
the island. A mile beyond could see
the tall chimneys OF the Apthorpe
mansion.
l leaped from my horse and lifted
down the girl, and then knew we had
stopped none too soon for her, for her
face was ashy white as she stretched
out her arms to me, with a little wan
smile forced to her lips, and had not
been there to catch her she would
have gone to the ground. I then saw
she was unconscious.
Even as l stood there holding her
lifeless form in my arms heard the
clatter of many hoofs come plainly
through the hiss of the falling rain,
and then between the trees along the
distant road I saw six dragons flash
past and go tearing up the highway.
Behind them came a seventh rider, go
Ing as il his horse was too weary to
keep with the rest. ] uttered Thank
God!" as saw the little troop going
on FOOLS errand, they probably hav-
ing been misguided by the negro.
But the respite for us would not be
long. l must risk the boat, if there
was one, and risk it by daylight-un.
less Agnes was dead. My heart almost
stopped as the possibility struck me,
for was not used to seeing fanting
women. If she were dead what mat
tered what became of me, though ev-
en- then l swore they would have the
body Of neither of US. l would find
boat somehow, and with her cross the
river in the face of hell itself. And /
would have but one regret beside
to kill the villain who was at the bot
tom Of my trouble. Twice we had en-
countered since his. escape from Jer.
sey, and he still lived. ! wished there
were to be third time.
/ laid the unconscious girl on the
now soaking ground, and taking
short cut for the river, went down an
almost precipitous incline. And came
upon boat-house at the end of long
| flight of steps leading from the high
ground, and in it was boat with oars
and cushions, just as it had been left
by the last user, probably one OF the
| caretaker's family
Liberty seemed close to me then, but
| It did not lift my spirit; had some
thing beside flight on my mind. But
when l returned 10 where / had left
the collapsed girl saw her sitting up
on the sodden earth, conscious, but
very weak. could have shouted then