Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-03-28
MIsCELLAHEOU S.
A MEMORABLE RIDE.

"5IeADN'T you better leave tho door up>
fastened, Ellen 7" said my husband, as
| turned the key in the lock, then dropped it
into my pocket.
"Ioon't know" said, doubttully; then. af-
ter = momeHts hesitation: NO, think it
had better be fastened. The children might
get ont and run down to tho gate at the foot
of the meadow to play, and it is but step
from there to the creek, you knew"
He made no reply, but stopped down and
looked at some part of the harness with
slightly perplexed air.
some asperity.
su7Heron Cd of indiRidns'ay eose rboftd;s.
TteVur 70 90 to-day that they eau pat On uteit
to- morrow while ], on the contrary. wac
prompt and decided. With me. to will and
to do were synonymous, and had little mercy
for such failing
81 fancy that this little p:eco Of twino will
bring us through this time, but will Ger.
tEinly mend it Tomorrow" be replied, as !
climbed into the clumsy, oldfashioned pbaetop.
The harness being adjusted to his satisfac>
ton, it not to mine, he seated himself, be-
side me and nodding last good>bye to the
little faces pressed against the window pane,
We drove off.
Our cottage was situated in the little valley
lying to the southwest Of what was at that
time the village of Lanoy, in Carada. A hill
OF considerable height stood between us and
the village, on our side yordure. crowned,
g0ntly-risiug slope; on the other more nb.
rupt descent, with n rather eircuitous read
winding past little cottages and ia1mhouSes
Of moro or less prctension.
Our present GRAND was to tho shop, 10
which We carried our pro5uco as it accumu>
lated from time to time, and received in ex-
shange groceries, clothes. etc. Oar load con.
sisted in part Of basket of eggs couse>
quently We were obliged to drive rrther moro
slowly than usual. l left, as had often
done before, the younger children to the care
OF Grace, who, though but eight years old, had
a mind far in advance of her years, and who
was never better pleased than when intrusted
with some similar duty or responsibility. ]
charged her not to take the baby from the
cradle, bnt to rock hin gently to sleep, TO
amuse him with his playthings until our re-.
turn.
It was lovely day in the latter part of
September, copious showers OF rain had al
ternated with midsumner's suns, and the
freshness of the verdure was still undimmed.
1t was scarcely yet time for the "sere and vel
low leaf, though the naples had hung out
their golden bsouers as if to try the effect of
contrast with the living green of tho other
forest trees, The birds still sang cheerily as
they futtered to and fro in the hedgerows.
and numerous little ground squirrels skinned
along the fence rails, dropped suddenly and
disappeared nysteriously.
Old Whitley smbIed along after his usual
fabian ID
destination. l had number of article. to
purchase and examine, as we'll as the merits
OF new churn to discuss and lust a. we
had settled all to our satisfaction a peirhbor
whom We had not seen for some time came in
which detained Us still longer, 30 that when
We turned our horses head homeward saw
with some surprise, as we'll as n slight feeling
of alarm, that the sun had ALREADY set, and
the soft gray of twilight was stealing up the
valley. Our load was a pretty heavy one. nv
husband having purchased several agricultural
implements, of no great weight Individually,
but collectively making no small load Cor enc
horse; so that though we were necessarily
anxious to get home, We were obliged still to
drive moderately, particularly a. the road was
not only billy but rough
Chatting upon the various little items of
gossip which We had heard, We drove on until
We had nearly reached the top of the hill,
when, turning to make some remark TO nv
husband, | saw a change come over his face
which struck me with q sudden terror. He
MAS pale a. 4 corpse.
Look !" he said. in voice hoarse with
emotion, pointing in the direction of our
home.
My heart gave a snddcn bound, then fell
like lump of lead in my bosom. eloud
of thick. dense smoke. distinctly defined
against the clear sky beyond. rose above the
treetOPs. / tried to speak, but I could not