The Jasper weekly courier., 1873-10-17

Her thought was answered by "A rush of
wind from new direction. She felt the
great weight lifting on from her. She was
free, Then-somcthing struck her.
The train Went snorting into Winthrop
Just ~ daylight. John jumped on. and
was the first 10 reach the ferry. He had
never seen Atchi~on 50 quiet. With the
exception of those who had crossed on the
ferry and few early ri>crs who were hnr-
rying up the street. the town seemed
asleep; hut as hc passed Commercial
street, he saw "A man who was riding a
mule. coming down i'm great haste. who
cried out. How d'y. john
'.Why. Jake.'' he replied, IS that you
] allowed you was half way 10 Denver
afore now"
I'VE started yesterday. but we had "A
powerful storm ON the prairie out here,
last night. We chancel 10 be right near
to a house and they let us in; but il sent
our old wagons rolling over and over
across the prairie, like patch Of tumble-
weeds. and our oxen all stampeded; I'm
on the hunt of EN-
lit don't look like il had reached Atchi-
son.
NO: | reckon il Just took streak
John hurried OH down the river. The
road ran 80 near the bank that the steady
swash OF the water seemed under his feet.
The birds were singing in the trees, and
the sunshine came creeping down the
bluffs overhead. How eager he was To get
home that morning. Ills heart was full
of new plans and new purposes. lie could
keep his promise. and he would; he would
never make Nancy's heart ache again by
breaking that promise. He stopped sud-
dcnly-had the storm reached sumner.
leaning roOfesS. one this way. another
that as if the wind, coming over the bluffs.
had reached just low enough To unroOf
them. He fastened around the foot Of the
hill there lay the brick hotel. the boast of
the town. in scattered fragments on the
ground. like a wasp's nest scattered by the
hOusekeeper's broom. He looked around: /:
three-fourths OF the town Law in ruins.
How was il with his homer lie ran up
the street until he could see where il stood.
Gone, Not a veStige of il left. And his
family: Perhaps they had escaped before
the storm; perhaps Scarce knowing
what he did. he hurried TO the nearest
house that was Vet standing. anu without
ceremony opened the door. There was
no one i'm the room. but OH a couch in one
corner. a white sheet -'sunk 10 the still
proportions " Of two silent forms. Moved
by some strange impulse. he turned back
the covering that shrouded the faces
Nancy and the baby, Shocked. stunned.
he sank on his knees and laid his face on
that dear form. Who can describe. who
can comprehend the utter desolation of
that hour. None hut those who have felt
il. Oh. the thoughts and memories that
crowded upon hiRl-many of them bitter.
regretful thoughts. But there was one
memory for which he was thankful: t0t
he had not listened Ia the tempter which
whispered to him yeSter-morn, that il
would be weak and unmanly 10 yield 10
her request.
They found him there an hour afterwar,l.
but he asked no questions. made no reply
10 their attempts AT consolation, and they
left him alone with his dead
There was 'hurrying to and fro :" in
sumner that day. for many were left home
less: many bruised and crippled by the
storm. And the mourners who wcnded
their way up the long hill to the burying
ground. were as sad as though the silence
had been broken by the tolling of solemn
bells.-hansas Monthly.