Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-11-25

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awkward silence, but he did not know
how to begin. He had an uncomfort-
able feeling that he ought to beg her
pardon but, being a man, of course he
did not condescend to that. At length
he begun by saying You was right
peart about your breakfast this morn
ing, Nancy"
"Oh, l allowed most likely you'd
want to get off soon," she answered.
"Yes, Jones wants us there ag'i in sun
up. It's only fifty-log raft reckon
we can get it down to Leavenworth ag'i
the night train starts, and I'll get right
on, and be back to Atchison afore day.
Don't catch me foolin' away another
day round that old fort"
"Oh, John I'm so proud l'-she
paused abruptly, for his eyes dropped
with look of conscious shame. What
mood was he in9 Would it do to speak
then9 He had showed back from the
table, and there was serious, far-away
look in his eyes, but nothing sullen or
forbidding.
She went around, and dropping on
her knees beside him, slipped her arms
about his neck, saying "Oh, John, 1
wish you'd promise me you'd never
drink any more whisky"
"That's most too hard on fellow ;
but I'll promise not to-not drink too
much ag'in," he answered.
"But I'm afeard that wouldn't do any
good"
"You talk like you thought hadn t
sense enough to stop when I've got
enough, if try," he exclaimed.
"Oh, John, don't talk so you know
you promised me that nigh onto year
ago {; but you think you'll just take one
dram, and then just one more, and
afore you know it, it's too much. If
you'd only promise me now that you'd
never taste nary drop ag'in."
Still he kept his eyes steadily turned
away from hers.
"Don't you mind, now," she went
on, show your mother said one time
Il reckon. Nancy, You count John &
mighty rough chap, but he's all right at
the core and don't you mind how she
used to pray for you in them old times Z
Don't you mind the evenin' we heard
her prayin' down by the old spring ?
If she's watching you among the stars,
how proud she'd be to hear you pro-
mise. And John," she continued, drop
ping her voice to whisper, 81 pray,
too, sometimes. I have never told you,
but I've been feeling right serious here
of late. I've taken to readin' my Bible,
and I've just made up my mind to live
better'n used to; and pray for you, too,
and it seems like God hears me-" And
she laid her head on his shoulder to hide
her tears.
His arms slipped around her, but he
still kept his eyes turned stubbornly
away from hers. At last, laying his face
against hers, he spoke earnestly eyes,
Nancy, I promise.
Presently, starting up, he exclaimed
"If haven't stayed till plum daylight"
ooh, John come and kiss baby afore
you go, he looks so sweet. Sammy
Sammy wake up, honey, and kiss
pappy p
little man ! I'll bring him some candy
when I come home ag'in."
All day Nancy went about with such q
light, CHEEKY heart as she had not car
ried in her bosom for many day sing
ing snatches of old hymns, and thinking
happy, hopeful thoughts of him who,
all those long hours, was working his
rudder against the strong current of the
Missouri.
That evening the stars shone brightly
down upon her, when she knelt by the
little window, and asked Gods blessing
on her husband and his good resolu-
tions.
But she was awakened, few hours
afterward, by rush and confusion, a
shower of glass and hail across her bed
and, catching her baby in her arms, she
sprung up, frightened and bewildered.
It was terrible storm one long to be
remembered by all who felt it's terrors.
The deafening roar of the wind and hail
almost drowned the loud thunder. A
binding fash of lightning showed the
trees almost bent to the ground, and
the house rocked to and fro like q
cradle.
She suddenly felt new, strange feel
ing, as if she was flying, floating,
through the air. She thought that she
was dizzy, and caught hold of the bed
A terrible crash-she never knew hoW
it all happened! Her baby's cries
aroused her. The wind and rain chilled
her through. She started to spring up
but something held her down. A shocl
of pain darted over her, and, putting
out her hand, she felt great bean
lying heavily across her limbs. i
seemed as though it was crushing her
Something struck her, then another
and another. How they stung Oh
was her child unsheitered from that pitt
less stormP His screams grew louder
Oh she must reach him She coult
see nothing through the thick darkness
but she knew that he was not far off
What if he, too, was fastened, crippled
She stretched her arms every move
ment made her pain more excruciatine
She strained every nerve, she could al
most reach him. What il he was fire,
and could come to her2 "Oh, Sammy
Sammy !" she called, "come to nanny.
The child ceased crying. She hear,
him move. His warm body touchet
her hands, hat were cropping in tn
2 darkness. She caught him in her arm
and hugged him to her breast. She fel
/ of his head, his arms, his feet soun,
r and whole. How thankful she was fo
that. But how those cruel Maidstone
must have bruised him. She reste,
him on the ground and crouched owe
him she could move just enough fo
D that. The frightened child ceased CRY
ing, and put his arms about her neck
, II she could only find something t
] cover them from the storm. She reache
0 around, but could touch only cold mud
: Oh that terrible pain | She had a
8 most forgotten it in her anxiety for he
D child, IT grew more and mora intole,