The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-11-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Hsrper's Magazine.
The Stray House.
CONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
The Barnard's house is gone. Mr..
Hall and old Mrs. Barnard and EN- in
it We're afraid those Gases are after
it ; and we just broke two oars in the
bridge. Can you lend us couple p
The old man would have stopped to
wonder and question but we very quick.
iy got the oars, and unce tremendously
dashed off to our boat again. sprang in,
put off and once more were speeding
down the wild roaring river. faster ard
faster for here the channel uarrows,
converging towards the contracted pas.
sage called Enfield Rapids.
AS We approached the head of the
shoot the dim roar of the struggling
Hocd came tnrealingly back to US against
the shriekiDg Of the wind ; thought Of
tho railro' bridge below the chance
was undoubtedly ten 20 one that We
should ge' BY but We might not. We
SWEPT into the foaming waters Of the
western or main channel, for the river is
here split by an island
sit steady. boys and get ready To
drown, if necessary. The house may not
have shot the railroad bridge and we
may swamp on q pier. Take the oars
in when | tell you.
At thirty miles an hour we went
sweeping down the slant, and almost be.
fore had done speaking the lofty bridge
rose before US
In oars p and safe. thank God, we
honted past it.
Now then. boys, pull. We must catch
them above Hartford. We havo no bu.
sncss 20 suspect that the house will es
cape two bridges there, even if it hos
come through this
| would have exchanged places with
ono Of the brothers; but they refused, say.
ing that knew the river best, and must
steer ard for some time the long Stea.
dy car strokes drove US swiftly on 10 81
lence and darkness.
Now, dim md hardly perceptablt
lifting Of the close black curtains of th.
stormy night indicated the coming of The
morning slowly the sphere Of visior
grew wider around us, through gray, cold
miNs steaminR tbinly upon the surface
Of tho food. We had passed the lower
end Of the canal and the villsga at Wind
sor Locks and the mouth of Pennington
River; and now | could see indis,inct
ly, as we shot along qrite from point i'
point Of the main stream
There It's, boys =
For at last saw the old roof wet in
to blackness, and all the upper story o
the old white house majes,ically sailini
along far before us The brother, turn
ed aud gazed eagerly upon it and will
no words, but glad faces, bent once NOR,
uDweried, TO their oars.
There's boat fast to the north bed
room window / said 'su old blue affai
with yellow streak. It's Seth Case
for thousand.
And at mothers window = adde,
john in troubled voice.
The darkness or some other imped
meut mus, have delayed them more thai
il had ourselves, or they would have dc
parted before that What the precis
delay was, however, We never knew |
was the second link in the fatal chain
which had begun with our accident an,
stoppsge at En6old bridge aud i, wa
none too long.
For, as We rapidly nearej the floating
house, a wild scream rang from within
John Barnard's grave features gro,
white. and gathered aud set into fear
full expression Of vindictive anger, On,
biting his lips until the blood spran,
yet with no sound except deep grow
be so lifted at the stout oars that coul
almost swear that the two tremendou
strokes which drove our bow har
against the clupboards lifted ,hs ski
fairly from the water
As the last stroke was given Joh
Rarn'rd dropped tho cars, turned, an
saying to me, what was. doubtless, a wis
direction, Stay in the boat, Mr.. Trau,
and be ready for us, he cried out, Com
on, Lifst and spriuging pa,t his brotl