Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-08-15

h'NAfHhA VI biit iIRN,k EE0NtfH0
the road, added to the exhiiiiraling inilu-
eHce OF the hour. The travellers were all
young and happy, and SO they gradually
forgot The sadness Of the parting hour, and
ere they had tr0versed many miles the
green arcades Of that lonely old forest were
ringing with merry laughter. Suddenly,
however, the bride paused in her innocent
n'irth. and while shade Of paleness over
spread her cheek, called the attention Of
her husband to dark cloud far off on the
ho izon, and yet gloomipr and denser than
the darkest thunder cloud.
"The forest is on fire." was bis instant
ejaculation. "1hink you not 50 Chariy?" and
he turned TO the groomsman.
"Ies! but the wind is not toward us. and
the fire must he miles from our course.-.
There is 10 Leed for alarm. Ellen" cried
he, turning to the bride and bis sister.
"Eut our road lies altogether through tie
forest" she timjdly rejoiued, "you know
there IS not house or cleared space for
IA les"
YES! but so long as the FIRE keeps its
distance, it matters not whether our road
IS through the forest or through the fields.
Wewll drive briskly, and before noon YOU
will laugh at your fears. Your artiug from
home has weakened your nerves"
No more was said, and for some time the
carriage proceeded in silence. Meantime
the confiagralion was evidently spreading
with great rapidty. The dark, dense
clouds of smoke, which had been seen ham
gjng only in one spot had now extended
IN line along the horizon, gradually rdg-
ing around so as to head off the travellers.
But this was done 50 imperceptibly that for
long time, the travellers were not aw are
OF It, and they had iOurneyed at least hall
an hour before they saw their danger. At
length the bride spoke again.
"Surely dear Edward," she said, adj
dressing her husband, "lhe fire is sweep
ing around ahead of us; have been wat
ching it by yonder blasted pine, and can see
1t slowly creeping across the trunk"
Every eye was instantly turned in the
direction in which she pointed, and her bro
ther, who was driving, invountariIy chec-
ked the horses. A look Of dsmay was on
each countenance as they saw the words oil
the bride verified. There could he no doubt
that the fire had materially changed its bea-
ring since they las; spoke, and now threa.
tened 10 rut off their escape altogether.
81 wish Ellen, we had listened to YOU
fears and turned back half an hour ago.
said the brother-"we had better do il a
once"
God help us-that is impossible" sait
the husband, looking backwards, "the fir
has cut Off our retreat
II was as he said. The flames which a
first started at 4 pointseveral miles distan
and at right angles to the road the part,
were travelling, had spread out in every
direction, and finding the swamp in the
rear Of the travellers parched almost to a
cinder by the drought, had extended with
inconceivabe velocity in that Quarter, Sc
that dense cloud of smoke, beneath
which dark Iurid veil Of fire surged and
rolled, completely cut off any retrOgade
movement on the part Of the travellers. -
This volume Of fame, moreover. was evi.
dently moving rapidly in pursuit. The
checks, even Of the male members Of the
bridal party, turned ashy pale at the sight
"Thcre is nothing to do but to push on,
said the brother, "we will yet clear the
road before the fire reaches it,
"And if remember" said the husband
"there is a road branching off to the right
scarce half mile ahead; we can gain that
easily when we shall he sale. Cheer UP
Ellen, there isno danger. This is our wed
ding morn--let me not see you sad"
The horses were now urged forward a
brisk pace, and in few minutes the hri
dial party reached The cross road. Ihei
progress was now directly from the fire: al
peril seenIed at at end, and the spirits of ht
group rose in proportion to their late De
preston, Once more The merry laugh wa
heard, and the song rose up gaiIY on III,
morning air, The confaeration sill rageC
behind, but at distance that placed all iea
at defiance, while IN front of the fire, al
though edging down towards them. apooa
ched alta pace so slow that they knew i
would not reach the road until perhaps
hours after TREY had attained their Journeys
end. At length the party suleided agal
into silence, occupying themselves in ga,
zing on the magnificent spectacle present
ed by the lurid flames, as raising their huge
volumes Of smoke above them, they roqeC
down towards the travellers.
THE forest is as dry as powder" said
The husband-"I never saw confagratior
travel so rapidly. The fire cannot have
been kindled many hours, ard it has AREA.
dy spread for many miles. Little did YOU
think, Ellen" he said turning fondly TO his
bride, "when we started this morning, that
You should so narrowly escape such a pc.
nl."
"And as live, the peril is not yet over
suddenly exclaimed the brother, "see- see
"a fire has broke out on our right, and !.
coming down upon us like whirlwind
God have mercy on us!"
He spoke with an enegy that woulC
have startled his hearers without the fear
ful words he uttered. But when they fol
lowed the direction Of his quivering fnge
a shrek burst from the two females whilr
the usually collected husband turned ash,
pale, not for himself, but for her who wa,
dearer to him than his own life. A fire