Our maid in alarm quickly looked back;
She but felt, somehow, something was wrong.
Where she was, she had heard the whip crack.
Her assistance to give was not long.
The young man was down there, like one dead,—
The mare had run wild, off in the dust,—
With a hand on his whip, and his head.
To obtain help for him now she must.
With her groom she had lifted him soon,
Placed upon her slick, shining, still beast;
Then she mounted the horse of the groom,
Well, soon homeward they went to the east.
Now, fair child, is your heart beating wild,
As you gaze on his unconscious face?
This young man, with a cheek of a child,
No more guile, nor of sin, can you trace;
So quite gently your burden you bear.
To safe refuge of sire's lordly place.
You feel well, as in brushing his hair,
That you ne'er did see a finer face.
It was bold, free, yet pleasant to see,
That a maid could not see without thought
That somehow he is what men should be.
No maid could resist such, if he sought?
The white curtain o'er his flashing eye,
Black velvet fringe, all drooping the edge,
Drew up now, thus disclosing where lie
A deep fathomless longing, a pledge.
His heart, leaping up, bounded with joy,
She but felt, somehow, something was wrong.
Where she was, she had heard the whip crack.
Her assistance to give was not long.
The young man was down there, like one dead,—
The mare had run wild, off in the dust,—
With a hand on his whip, and his head.
To obtain help for him now she must.
With her groom she had lifted him soon,
Placed upon her slick, shining, still beast;
Then she mounted the horse of the groom,
Well, soon homeward they went to the east.
Now, fair child, is your heart beating wild,
As you gaze on his unconscious face?
This young man, with a cheek of a child,
No more guile, nor of sin, can you trace;
So quite gently your burden you bear.
To safe refuge of sire's lordly place.
You feel well, as in brushing his hair,
That you ne'er did see a finer face.
It was bold, free, yet pleasant to see,
That a maid could not see without thought
That somehow he is what men should be.
No maid could resist such, if he sought?
The white curtain o'er his flashing eye,
Black velvet fringe, all drooping the edge,
Drew up now, thus disclosing where lie
A deep fathomless longing, a pledge.
His heart, leaping up, bounded with joy,
[126]
