Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-10-07

|
a day. Becky can get dinner for the men
at noon, and we should get home by two
or three o'clock at the latest.''
"Well, just as you say, then. I'm sure
I've no objections. Well have to star
pretty early, and, instead of having one O.
the men to go with us, [ shall have tc
drive"
SO the matter was settled
AT seven O'Clock the next Saturday
morning the party set out, all in the high
est possible spirits Innumerable charges
were left with Becky as to what to dc
about dinner and how to dispose of other
household duties, if they should not return
at the time expected. A huge basket OF
| lunch was placed under the seat, much to
the satisfaction of Harry and Jack, who
had been too much excited in regard to
the journey to care for breakfast.
1t was splendid April morning, and
but for the brown looks of the fields and
the thinly -leaved trees would have seemed
like June. The sun shone and the birds
sang, and everything seemed delightful.
The two boys were constantly finding some
thing new to admire in the things about
them, and their merry shouts often oc-
| casloned a sympathetic coo" on the part
of the baby, who stared with her big round
eyes at the commonest objects as if they
were the most wonderful things in the
world.
1t was after eleven O'Clock when they
reached the mill. The wagon had been
left at the end Of the road, mile back,
the horses taken out and a bag Of oats
emptied upon the ground for them They
were both steady going old veterans, used
to the harrow and pillow, and would stand
| just where they were left hours at time
| The farmer, however, had taken the pre-
caution, after putting the brides in the
wagon, to tie the halter to one of the
wheels.
| Themill stood close down to the waters
| edge and in front and all around it were
heaps of blocks, refuse timber, logs and
| shavings. 1t was not a very romantic
looking place, but the children were de-
| lighted with it.
The long ride had given them all a
good appetite. A rough table was made
out of some boards laid across a couple of
stumps, and the contents of the big basket
were soon placed upon it. Lunch fin
ished, the farmer and his son began their
investigations, while Mrs. Allen and the
| children wandered about looking for ar
butus and gathering pine cones. There
was more to be looked after about the mill
than was expected and it was two O'Clock
before the job was finished.
So busy had they all been that the grad
ual clouding up of the sky had not been
noticed, and it was not until the sudden
pattering of rain began upon the leaves
| that the little party began to look about
them
It's nothing but an April shower"
said Tom. eve shall have to get under
the shelter of the mill till it passes over"
Don't you believe it!'' returned the
farmer. We've had rain hanging round
for a week past, and we've got it now,
sure enough. Do the best we can we
shall be drenched. You run on ahead,
Tom, and put the horses in, so as to be
ready by the time we get there. Well be
| right after you"
Obedient to his fathers advice, Tom
hurried rapidly along the path leading to
The spot where the team had been left,
while the remainder of the party followed
| after as fast as they could The place
was reached at last. The wagon was
there, the two brides lay just where they
were thrown, but the horses were gone.
For moment the farmer stood dumb
founded. Then he began to examine
their tracks.
cts plain enough" at last he hurried
ly said. "They've slipped the halter and
| have started back home. You'll have to
| see if you can overtake 'em, Tom. I'll
take your mother and the children back to
the mill. The wind is rising and it is set
ting in for a cold, raw storm"
The rain came faster and faster, and by
the time they had regained the shelter of
the mill they were thoroughly wet through.
A fire was soon kindled in the little.
cracked stove used by the single makers
the winter before, and the time spent in
waiting for TOMS return was employed in
drying their clothes.
An hour passed away. The storm grew
more and more furious. The rain poured
down in torrents and the great tops of the
pine trees bent and writhed in the terrible
| gusts, which became more and more fire.
quent The river, always rapid and
strong, was now fierce, turbulent stream,
whose middle current nothing could cross
in safety.
At last Tom burst into the mill.
It's Of no use," he exclaimed. "We've
got to stay here or swim home. | went
clear to the main road, more than five
miles from here, and found that the horses
have turned the wrong way instead of
going home. If they had gone straight
back the men would have known that
something had happened and come for us,
but there's no chance for that now.''
At this Harry and Jack began to cry,
and even Mrs. Allen looked dismayed.
| L" Shaving here tonight is ont of the