The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-04-03
A Memorable Ride.

Hadn't you better leave the door
ah:astened, Ellen - said my husband.
~ / turned the KEY IN the lock, and
dropped it into my pocket.
| don. know | said, douttfullv:
tlen after a moments hesitation. No.
| think it had better be fastened The
children might get out and run down
TO the gate al the foot of the meadow
to play, aud it is bat step from there
to the creek, You ku0..
He made no reply, but stopped down
and looked at some part OF the harness
with slightly perplexed air.
w hat Is the matter ROW - | said,
with some asperiiy.
The truth H. my husband belonged
TO that NUMEROUS class OF individuals
whose motto Is never 10 do to- day what
you can put off until to- MORROW; while
|, on the contrary, was prompt and de-
cided. With me TO will aud TO do were
synonymous, and hat little mercy for
such failing
Il fancy this little pisce OF twine
will bring Us through this time. but l
will certainly mend it morrow" he
replied. as l climbed into the clumsy,
old fashioned ph@ton.
The J rness zbeing adjusted TO his
abstraction. ii not 10 mine, he seated
himself beside me; and nodding last
goodbye to the window pane, We
drove off
Our cottage vas situated In the little
- 10 h.rasf aF hot
wa 1T that tlmc the village of LanOv,
in Canady A hill of considerable
height stood between us and the viii
lage. on our side yerdurecro xned.
geutle rising slope, OF the other more
abrupt descent with Il rather cifcuitous
road winding past little cottages aud
farm houses # more or less pretension.
Oar present crruud was to the st op,
which we carried our produce 10 g. il ac-
cun,alated from time to time, and re-
ceiyed in exchange groceries. clothes,
etc Oar load consisted In part Of
basket of egg. conSeqn ntly We were
obliged - drive rather more slowly
than usual. left, as ha1 often done
before, iie younger children h the care
of Grace who. though bu: eight years
old. had u mind far III advance of her
years, and who WAS never more pleased
than when entrusted with some similar
duty or responsibility. l charged her
not 10 take the baby from the cradle.
bat to rock him gently TO sleep if he
wakened or If he could not sleep. to
amuse him with his playthings until
our return.
Il was lovely day in the latter part
Of September copious showers of rain
had alternated with midsummer's suns,
aud the freshness of the vcrdure was
still uud.mmed. 1t was scarcely yet
tialc for tho ",ers and yellow leaf.
though the naples had hung out their
golden banners, rs ii TO try the effect of
contrast with :he living green OF the
other forest trees The birds still sung
checrily rs they fiuttored 10 and fro in
the hedge-rows; and Numerous little
ground squirrels skinned along the
fence rails, dropped suddenly, and dis.
appeared myslerlousiy.
"old Whitley ambed alons after his
usual monotonors fashion. and We soon
reached our destination. had num-
Der OF articles 10 purchase and examine.
A. well as the merits OF - new churn To
discuss; aud just as We had settled ali
t. our satisfaction, noighbor 10 whom
wc had not sceu for some time ceme IN,
which detained us still longer, So that
when we turned our horses head home
ward. saw with SOME surprise, as well
rs with -omc slight feeling 0t alarm, that
the SUI had already sel. and the soft
gray OF twilight WAS stealing up the
valley. Our load WAS pretty heavy
one. my husband having purchased scv-
cral agricultural implements % IN great
weight individually. but collectively
making no small lead for one horse. so
that though We Mere necessarily anxious
to get home. we were obliged still TO
drive moderately, particularly as the
road was not only h,lly. bat rough
Chatting upon tho various little items
Of gossip which we heard, We drove on
until We nearly reached the top of the
bill. when turning II make sosne re-
mark To nay husband. saw change
come over his face which strnck ne with
sudden terror. H was as pale n
corpse.
tAh'A ttN SsAA'is tti u NhsNC uNti~t
with emotion. pointing IA the direction
Of cur home
My heart gave sndden bound. then
fell like a lamp of lead. in my bosom
\ cloud oi thick. dense smoke. distinct
~ defined against the clear sky beyond.
rose above the tvee-tops | tried 10
speak, but | could not utter "a werd. Al
last said. steadying my VOICE:
Il think II must be Morrison's Isn't
IT IN the lett # our house,"
No" lie said. quickly. A. he seized
his whip aud urged old Whitley" 10
hi, utmost speed. "Doa'l you rrmetn-
bcr ;ha. when We were at the tip of
the h.ll. the smoke from car chimney
ri>es ia>t over ;he top II that little
group If cesiaf~ :
Alas dii remember. and rs be
>n.,ke, " reached the summit. AMI SAW
enough To change eur fears = a certain
~ Neither spoke, but each turned
and looked a, the othcr with quIseTias
lips and iilatiog eyes
Ny Heavens and had i'oked
them In
was fairly beside myself, and fran
tic WIKI terror II; s. Il mas, leap
.r,.,, the ,riticis. aud fS to their tes