Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-03-24

regard to the journey to care fol
breakfast.
1t was a splendid April morning
and bat 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 eV.
erything seemed delightful. The two
BOYS were constantly finding some
thing new to admire in, the things
about them, and their merry shouts
often occasioned a sympathetic
5000" 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
Bile charges were left with Becky as
world.
It was after eleven o'clock when
they reached the mill. The wagon
had been left at the enc. of the road,
a 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 plow, and would
stand where they were left hours at
time. The farmer, however, had
taken. the preeaution, after putting
the bridles in the wagon to tie the
halter to one of the wheels.
The mill stood down close to the
water, and in front and all around
it were heaps of blocks, refuse tim
Der, logs and shaVings. 1t was not q
very romantic looking place, but the
children were delighted with it.
The long ride had given them all
good appetite. A rough table was
made out of some boards laid across
couple of stumps, and the contents
of the big basket was soon placed
upon it. Lunch finished, the farmer
and his soon began their investiga-
tions, while Mrs. Allen and the chill
dren wandered about looking for
arbutus aud gathering pine cones.
There was more TO be looked after
about the mill than was expected,
and it was about 2 O'Clock before the
Job was finished. 4 otASA e..
So busy had they all been that the
gradual clouding up the sky had not
been noticed, and it was not until
the sudden pattering of rain upon
the leaves that the little party began
to lock about them.
It's nothing but an April shower,
said Tom. We shall have to get
under the mill till it passes over.
Don't you believe il, returned the
farmer. We have had rain hanging
around for week past, and we've
got it now, sure enough. Do the
best we can, we shall all be drench-
ed. 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
brides lay just where they were
thrown, but the horses were gone.
For moment the farmer stood
dumbfounded. Then he began to
examine their tracks.
It's plain enough, at last he hur-
riedly said, they've slipped the hal
ter and have started back home.-
You'll have to see if you can over
take them, Tom. III take your moth
er and children back to the mill; the
wind is rising and it is setting 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 wet
through. A fre.was soon kindled
in the little cracked stove, used by
the shingle-makers the winter be-
fore, and the time spent in waiting
for Toms return was spent in dry
ing their clothes. sil
An hour passed away; the storm
grew more furious. The rain pour
ed down in torrents, and the great
tops of the pine trees bent and writh-
ed in the terrible gusts, which be-
came more and more frequent. 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 no use, he exclaimed, we've
got to stay here or swim home. I
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 some
thing had happened, and come for
US; but there's no chance for that,
now.
At this Harry and Jack began to
cry, and Mrs. Allen looked dismay-
ed. yTrrrl lEHtrfTe7 i
Staying here all night is out of the
question, said Mrs. Allen. We must
get home somehow. We haven't
morsel to eat, and every, hour We.
stay makes it worse. We're in for 8
long storm, and the roads half the
way from here to the turnpike viii
be under water withintwelye hours.
What shall we do, then2 asked
Tom, who was holding his dripping
coat before the blaze.
Mr.. Allen shook his head.
If it was fair weather, I should
know what to do quick enough; and
/ don't know but we shall be oblig-
ed to come to it anyway. i.lti
Why, what do you mean, fatherP
asked Mrs. Allen, anxiously.
He pointed to the river.
should take the shingle-raft ".
ing there by the landing. It is
staunch and strong, and Just as safe
as any boat that ever foated on the
St. John river.
Mrs. Allen had all woman's dread
of water, and her heart sank at once.
But the idea of being compelled to
remain fur two or three daYslin that
desolste spot, without food or chance
to sleep, was more dreadful yet, and
she felt almost like urging her hus-
( band TO carry out the desperate idea