The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-02
a MEMORABLE RIDE.

then alter mOmenp9 ueSlGhllOU, mo,
think it had better be fastened. The
children might get out and run down to
the gate at the loot OF the meadow to
play, and 1t is but step from there TO
the creek, you know"
He made no reply, but stopped down
and looked at some part of the harness
with slightly perpleXed air.
"What is the matter now" l said,
with some asperity.
The truth Is, my husband belonged to
that numerous class Of individuals
whose mutLo is never to do to-day what
they can put off until tomorrow; while
|, on the contrary, Was prompt and de-
cided. With me 10 Will and to do were
synonomous, and L had little mercy for
such failing.
'"I fancy this little piece OF twine will
bring US through this time, but will
certainly mend it Tomorrow" he re-
Piled, as CLIMBED into the clumsy, old
fashioned phaeton.
The harness being adjusted to his sat-
isfactioD, if not to mine, he seated him.
self beside me; and nOdding last good
by 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 La
noy, in Canada. A Mill of considerable
height stood between us and the village,
on our side a verdure-croWned gently
rising slope, on the other more abrupt
descent, with rather circuiLous road
winding past little cottages and farm
houses of more or less pretension.
Our present errand was to the shop, to
which we carried our produce as it ac-
cumulated from time TO time, and re-
.lIu in xy.,hn n1p hnC
&c. Our load consisted In part OF Das-
ket of eggs, consequently we were
obliged to drive rather more slowly than
usual. lett, as had often done before,
| The younger children to the care OF
Grace, who, though but eight years old
mad MIND far in advance OF her years,
and who was never more pleased tnan
when entrusted with some similar duty
or responsibility. l charged her not to
| take the baby from the cradle, but to
rock him gently to sleep if ne wakened,
or, ii he could not sleep, to amuse him
with his play things until our return.
1t was lovely day in the latter part
of September, cOplous showers OF rain
had alternated with mid-summers suns,
and the freshness Of the verdure was
still uudimmed. 1t was scarcely yet
time for the "sere and yellow leai,"
though the naples had hung out their
golden banners, as ii to try the effect OF
other forest trees. The birds still sang
cheerily as they futtered to and fro in
the hedge-rows; and numerous little
ground-squirrels skinned along the
fence-rails, dropped suddenly, and dis
| appeared mysterlously.
| Old Whitley ambIed along after his
usual monotOnOus fashion, and we soon
reached our destination. l had num-
| ber Of articles 10 purchase and examine,
| as well as the merits OF new churn to
discuss; and just as we had settled all
| TO our satisfaction, neighbor whom we
/ mad not seen for some time came in,
which detained us still longer, 30 that
| when we turned our horses head home
| ward, / saw with some surprise, as we'll
as a slight feeling Of alarm, that the sun
| had already set, and the soft gray OF
twilight was stealing up the valley. Our
| load was pretty heaVy one, my hus-
band having purchased several agricul-
tural implements, OF no great weight in
dividually, but collectively making no
small load for one horse, SO that tnougI
we were necessarily anxious to get
home, we were obliged SILL to drive
moderately, particularly as the road
Chatting upon tue various little items
OF gossip winch we had heard, we drove
on until we had nearly reached the tol
of the hill, when turning to make some
remark to my husband, l saw change
come over mis- face which struck mt
with sudden terror. He was pale as {
corpse.
"Lookv' he said, in voice hoarse witt
emotion, pointing In the direction Of ou
nome.
My heart gave sudden bound, ther
fell, like lump of lead, in my bosom
A cloud Of thick, dense smoke, distinct
ly defined against the clear sky beyond
rose above the tree-tops. l tried t.
speak, but could not utter a word. A
last said, steadying my voice:
81 think it must be Morrison's. Ism
it to the left of our housep
"NoW he said, quickly, as he seizet
: his whip and urged old Whitley to hi
utmost speed. "Don't you remembe
that when we are at the top of the hill
the smoke from our chimney rises JUS
over the center of that little group O
cedarsW W
= Alas! L did remember; and as h.
spoke, we reached the summit, and say
enough to change our fears to certainty
, Neither spoke, but each turned an
looked at The other with quiyering lip
, and dilaLing eyes.
| "My HeaVensl and 1 had locked ther
imp
l was fairly beside myself, tranti
: with terror. 1 felt as if l must lea
rom the vehicle, and fly to their rescue
Old Whitley seemed to understan
hat life or death depended upon his VI
lorts, and he eXerted himself nobly
On we flew, down the hill, dashin
through the stony little brook tina
crossed the road, over the tumble-doW
bridge, whose rotten boards ratified an
started up from their places, past th
hedge-rows, that looked like one contir
uous mass OF flying green; past the littl
: cottages, with the startled children stal
q ing from the doors, thinking of nothins
caring 1or nothing but to rescue our dal
d hugs. l buried my face in my hand.
b and rocked to and tro in my seat, almos
bereft of reason, as l thought OF th
scene which might be awaiting us. In
agination conjured up all the dreadfr
Z tales / had heard OF or read, to add t
my horror. Once only raised my hea
4 and saw, or tancied l saw, slende
: tongues OF flame cleaYing the mass
smoke, which had by this time increase
: fearfully in volume and density.
. At last, alter what seemed an age, bU
= was In reality only few minutes, W