The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-10-28

put his arms about her neck. IT she
could only find something to cover them
from the storm. She reached around but
could touch only cold mud
Oh that terrible pain She had al.
most forgotten it in her anxiety for her
child 1t grew more and more intolera.
BILE. 1t seemed as though the hail.stones
struck through into her brain. What if
they killed her Was she afraid to die I?
Visions of eternity, Of the heaven of her
faith, rose before heI. Should she dwell
with God aod the angels forever? Was
it possible that there would never be an
end No, she was not afraid of death.
But her child, her husband--ho could
she leave them ? Not yet No, no, when
life opened before her She must live to
help John keep his promise. God would
spare her for that. How long it would
be until morning How could she bear
the pain so long? Oh it would be ter.
rible if John should come and 6nd her
lying there, cold and stiff John did love
her, oh so we'll He had loved her so
long. Ii seem SO many years since he
first told her that he loved her +; it was on
the mountain.side, in dear old Tennessee.
How far away it seemed. How the sun
shone and the birds sang. How dreamy
and bewildered her thoughts were. How
still the baby was. Yes, she could feel
his heart beat. She no longer felt the
pelting of the storm had it ceased
Her thought was answered by rush
of wind from new direction She felt
the great weight lifting off from her. She
was free something struck her.
The train went laundering into Win.
throp just at daylight. John jumped off,
and was the FIRST to reach the ferry. He
had never seen Atchison so quiet. With
the exception Of those who had crossed
on the ferry, and a few early rsers who
were hurrying up the street, the town
seemed asleep but as he passed Com
mercal street, he saw a man who was
riding mule coming down in great haste,
who cried out, How d'y, John =
why, Jake = he replied, is that you
I allowed you was half way TO DOnre.
afore now
we started yesterday, but we had a
powerful storm on the prairie out here,
last night We CHANGED to be right near
to house and hey let us in but it 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-
1T don't look like it had reached
Atchison.'
No; 1 reckon it just took streak
John hurried down the river. The
road ran so near the bank that the steady
swash of water seemed under his feet
The birds were sinking in the trees, and
the sunshine came creeping down the
bluffs overhead. How eager be was to
get home that morning. His heart was
full of new plans and new purposes. He
could keep his promise, and he would !;
he would never make Nancy's heart ache
again by breaking that promise. He
stopped suddenly-had the storm reached
Sumner? The tall buildings along the
wharf were leaning roofless, one this way,
another that as if the wind, coming over
the bluffs, had reached just low enough to
unroof them. He hastencd around the
foot Of the hill there lay the brick hotel
the boast Of the town, in scattered frag.
ments on the ground, like wasp's nest
scattered by the housekeeper's broom
He looked around three.tour,hs OF the
town lay in ruins. How was it with his
home? lie ran up the street until he
could see where it stood. Gone Not
vestige of it left. And his family? Per.
haps they had escaped before the storm !;
perhaps Scarce knowing what he did,
hurried to the nearest house that was yet
standing, and without ceremony opened
the door. There was no one in the room,
but on couch in one corner, white
sheet sunk to 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 but
those who have felt it. Oh, the thoughts
and memories that crowded upon him
many of them bitter, regretful thoughts.
But there was one memory for which he
was thankful that he had not listened to
the tempter which whispered to him yes.
ter.morn, that i: would be weak aud un.
manly to yield to her request.
They found him there an hour afer-
ward, but he asked no questions, made no
reply to 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 lefI
homeless many bruised and crippled by
the storm. And the mourners who wend.
cd their way up the long hill to the bur
rying- ground, were as sad as though the
silencs had been broken by the tollinc oI
solemn bells Kansas Monthy.
Orwell Farmers Festival.