The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-11-01


gnsss rolled madly. The wind was
high. The sin was so bright they could
not look ut it. The strong horse bound
ed with mighty leaps. The boys could
feel tho muscles quivering and drawn
tense in his soft, warm body, rs they
clung. 1t was like being n horse your
self. They did not know which was
horse aud which was boy. They laughed
because they could not help it, and
shouted because they did not know it.
Hi Hi Oh, the sun, and the mad
grass, and the wild wind ! Hi Hi |
Yi-i-i Who could be two boys on such
prairie, on such a day, on such q
horse, and not yell like little wildcats I
It's pretty" said little Titus, softly,
when they had got tired OF yelling.
You bet!" said Tam, loudly. "Hi
Hi Hi Yi-i,ee-ee I"
"I guess We ought to go back" said
Titus, pretty soon Titus was so much
more likely to remember to be good,
"Oh, no." said Tam, who was gen.
orally n little bad, when there was o
chance.
"Father said to come home pretty
soon," said Titus.
"But," urged Tam, with bright
mir, mother said to hold on tight. Hi !!
Vi! Vi"
All what WIS that What was it I
Could Jerusalem answer9 Can the
wild winds talk Will the mad prairie
speak The sunshine is tongue-tied,
and the great sky is dumb. But some
thing answered Tam O'Shauter's shout.
Oh, there Oh, Titus Quick,
quick, quick Turn him round, Tam
Turn Jerusalem round Injuns In.
juns Oh, I wish We hadn't come
What sllAll We do, what shall We do 7
Oh, Tam, what shall we do : Oh, Tam,
they've NIL got horses, mud they're COM
iugistraight! Get up! Get up! Oh,
Jerusalem, do hurry Old fellow, do
get us home Good boy! Good old
fellow!
Oh, Tam ! they've got arrows, and
they're going-to-shoot
Pretty little Mrs. Jacobs had got the
newest baby to sleep, and got the baby
that wasn't quite so now to sleep, and
given Betty her patchwork, and swept
the kitchen, and built the fire, and
started supper on the way, and | don't
know what else besides, when that fine
mothers ears OF hers detected, through
the sough Of the wind upon tho prairio,
sharp, uneven, and, to her notion,
rather ugly sound.
Betty vas sitting in the door, but she
heard nothing. The sleeping babies did
not stir from their baby dreams. John
vas in the garden, but John heard never
sound.
Only the mother heard it. Only the
mother grew lynx.eyed in an instant,
and in IN instant was out with hand up.
raised, barehcaded, stern.mouthed, anx-
ious-hcarted, watching rs those watch
who have lived much face to face with
deatll-without n word. She did not
even call her husband. The time had
not come to speak.
It might have been three minutes it
might have been less or more who could
tell2 when John Jacobs, digging heavily
over m obstinate potato, felt hand laid
lightly upon his shoulder. His wife
stood beside him. She was as pale rs
ono many hours dead but she stood
quito still.
"John," she said. in low voice,
"come into tho house minute"
He obeyed her in wonder and in
silence. lie Just dropped his hoe and
went.
Snow, shut the door," said Susan.
He shut it. "Shut tho windows"
"What's tho matter, Susani Any
thing wrongi Amt the boys in! You
r-dont-mean -
"Hush sh Before the children
Don't, John! I'll tell you in minute.
Bolt the front door!"
He boltcd it.
"Lock everything. Draw tho shut
tors. Fasten thon with case-knives be-
sides the buttons. Is the cellar door
tightl Is everything Tight Betty,
take care OF tho babies minute for
mother. John, come here"
She led him to the little attic, and
from the narrow, three-cornered window
pointed to the prairie, still without u
word.
And still, how beautiful it was How
the wind played like one gone crazy for
Joy with the tender tops Of tho uu-
broken, unboundel grass. And soft, rs
il tho world had gone to sleep for very
safety, fell the magnificent western sun.
Beautiful, terrible, treacherous thing
Cutting through the soft horizon line,
sharp Us the knife through shrinking
flesh, six dark figures loomed against
the sky. Wildly before them, with tho
gigantic strides OF long.stepped
ro Itlster, fed q big, gaunt, homely,
grind old horse. And clinging with lit
tie, bright bare feet to his white sides,
and clinging with little, despairing arms
to one another.
"My God! They arc our boys!"
John jacobs threw up his arms aul
ran.
Quick ~ woman's thought ran. his
wife was before him, and had bolted the
attic door.
"Whero are you going, Jolinw
She spoke, he though, in her natural
tones, though she trembled horribly.
Where was ho goingl Why, to meet
them. save them-get his gun-blow
these devils bruins out-what did she
meant Why did she keep himl Quick,
quick Open tho door
HNIy husband" said Susan, still iu