Year: 1873

taCned TO tn9 COttage sbONc III VAIN w
catch glmps, of Bessie, and reached
the stable without having met anobody
but the old gardener, who saluted me
with tho usual How ZEE do, Sur
was soon by the side OF Moro, who gave
neigh Of delight as | entered 1t did
not take me long to put on his saddle,
and as left the yard | learned from the
old groom that Miss Clsvcring had rid
den out alone about quarter Of an hour
before me- | was certainly much cha
erined at this, and made several mental
resolves to be fully revenged as soon as
| could get a convenient opportunity.
turned down lane that led to the bride
path along the top OF the cliffs, and let
ting the reins fall over Moros neck


abandoned myself to building castles IL
the air, in the erection Of which Besss
took a very prominent part. The spo'
was admirably adapted to meditation


To my left a small wood, through The
breaks in which glimpses Of the rising
uplands were caught every now and then,
straight ahead u broad expanse Of pur-
pie heather and 10 my right the rugged
steep cliffs, at the foot Of which lay a
vast tract Of sand, as the sea, owing to
the fiat shore, retires distance Of near
| " four miles; far away in the distance
the bright dancing waters, with sail or
two in sight and over the whole Il glor'
Gus expanse of blue, across which the
light morning air blew few white scud-
ding clouds.


Some three and half miles from the
shore there extended right along TIA e
coast low sandbank, which was at once
source Of pleasure and danger to the
inhabitants and the fishermen. When
the tide flowed the sea beat against the
bank for some time, till at last, with an
angry roar, it surmounted the obstacle
and came tearing down the incline like a
very avalanche Many accidents result.
ing in loss OF life had taken place, owing
to the ignorance or carslessness OF tour
lists and others, who. lulled into n state
Of fancisd security by the distance Of the
sea, and unaware of the pecullarties or
the place, would wander about on the
sands till oyertaken by the tide, when
they were placed, as it were in an instant,
beyond human assistance, and were in.
variaby lost Danger signals and mott
COS had been put up in every prominent
position by the authorities, who were ac-
customed also at the turning OF the tide
to fire a signal gun; but, with all that,
the sands were so tempting, and the very
breeze that waited across them so deli.
cious, that day seldom passed without
some party or other, generally mounted,
ventured upon them. AS | looked down
| could see nothing but " solitary spcck
! in the distance, which | soon after made
out, through a little pocket glass l al
ways carried, TO be person on horse
back cantering along. paid no partic-
ular attention at the time, and continued
my way. gathering up the relns as Moro
broke into a gentle trot. ! was now on
the very edge Of the cliG's, where a single
false stop would have procipi,atod me on
the sands below, and consequently, al
though Moro was wonderfully sure foot
ed and we'll acquainted with the path, |
moved along with considerable caution.
| The beauty Of the scene and the excr-
else soon dispelled the gloomlness that
had Oppressed me, and as my blood began
to circulate more quickly my spir.
its rose, and | commenced to sing right
mcrrily The path took sudden turn
by deep gorge, and as ! did not wish
to 20 round it, distance Of nearly a
mile resolved to put Moro across it


so. patting him gently on the neck, for |
never touched him with spur or whip, |
called to him. the noble old horse un-
derstood me at once, and increased his
speed On we went, the pace getting
faster and faster, till, al the gorge, Moro
rose with a splendid bound, and alighted
safely on tho other side. | now go. a
full view Of the sands again, and found
that was considerably nearer the per.
son on horseback below in fact, that
we had been moving toward ono another
AT that moment Moro suddenly stopped
and tossing his head in tho air, gave a
loud neigh. Somewhat astonished at
this proceeding, ! looked moro carefully,
and perceived 10y the hutter Of the dress
that tho person on horseback was lady.
became more interested, and taking out
my glass, discovered that it was no 9th


or than Bessie, who had been canterng
along on the sands on q mare tha! her
father had lately bought her. Moro had
no doubt recognized his stable compan-


ion | debated with myself whether !
should return, and, by taking short cut,
meet her on her way home, in order to


pbraid her with her misconduct in go
ing out alone. While | was cogltating,
Moro uttered a snort of alarm. look
ed, and beheld sight that for a moment
took away my breath. From some cause
or other Basss's horse appeared to have
become unmana9 cable; all at once 1t
tore away like the wind in the direction
OF the sea At the same moment heard
the distant boom Of the signal gun which
announced that the tide was just about TO
turn. The full horror Of the situation
now flashed across me; unless the mare
could be stopped in time, my love would
be overtaken by the sea, and lost before
my very eyes. a cold chill took posses
sion Of me and for moment ! sat mo-
tionIoss Bessie's figure was already be-
coming smaller as she was borne lapidly
onward Now or never Moro :" |
said, as | rose in the strrnps and the
gallant old horse seemed 10 understand
me, for he impatiently paved the air with
his fore feet The next thing was how
TO get upon the sands "The gorge :!
oh, the gorge" | touched Moro, and
in few seconds we had reach it 1t was
frghtful declivity, and the descent