The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-04-11

and when my head rested on its pillow,
vague sense of insecurity beset me
afresh; and even when fell asleep my
dreams were troubled and sad, not such
as should visit the slumbers of one on
whom the world smiled as it did on me,
George Musgrave. The dawning of the
new day--my neutrality-suspicious.,
chased away the clouds from my mind,
and when mounted my horse to ride
to Yirmi Sou, attired as bridegroom
should be, my heart was light and full
of hope. Edith loved me better than
deserved, knew that; and it was her
fathers intention to establish the young
couple on his own fine plantation, while
he and Mrs. Warren returned to En-
gland to enjoy their well-earned compe-
tency.
The day was fine-no rarity in the
East-but sort of silvery haze hung
over the peaks nOrthward, and there were
frequent gusts of ice-cold wind rushing
down from gap and pass in the rocky
range that forms the boundary of India.
l rode on, and presently, from an angle
in the mountain road, caught a
glimpse Of the Twenty Springs" as
Mr.: Warren's thriving station was
called. with its gardens and meadows,
and the now deserted plantation and
the empty huts of the coolies. Then |
turned the corner and saw it no more,
but even rs it vanished from my ewes [
heard strange, deep sound, like that
OF distant thunder, the nature of which
could not divine. My horse suddenly
snorted and reared. and then stood
trembling, and could scarcely be urged
forward. While was in the act of
STOPPING forward to pat the Arabs
glossy neck. speaking soothingly to him
the while. there broke upon my ear a
sullen roar, louder, nearer ut each in
slant. and eliminating in crash so
dreadful that the Simultaneous dis
charge of a thousand cannon would
have seemed puny when compared with
it.
Deafened, dizzy and confused, l dis
from my frightened horse,
now wholly unmanageable, and hurried
on foot to . spot whence, rs l remem-
bered. Edith's home was in sight. The
air was thick with dust and withered
leaves. but as the prospect grew clearer
of it's homestead and gardens, or of the
thriving tea plantations and verdant
meadows around it. Vainly did strain
my eyes to catch one well-known feat
ure of the familiar scene. Nothing was
visible save a dreary waste of stones,
mud and rocks, filling up half the val
ley. and above which hung Il cloud of
tawny dust that was slowly subsiding.
AS stood stupidity gazing on the
scene of ruin, l caught sight of man,
and with scared white
face. l knew him. 1t was the Young
who had come over from
Nynee Tai to perform the marriage
ceremony between Edith and me.
Mr.. Edwards?' l said, inquiringly,
as l neared him.
He caught my hand, covered his face
and burst into tears. Then for the first
time realized what fear was.
For PHYS sake, tell me ALL" cried
l hoarsely. lis Miss Warren-is Edith
safe? What has,
"Of all beneath that roof-the roof
of MIR. Warren's hospitable house,
alone am spared answered the clergy
man in broken accents; death, the
grim mower, has garnercd in his har-
vest there"
The cause of the disaster was but too
evident. = stone avalanche, or n,oraiue
as it is called in Switzerland, had
rushed down from the unsealed heights
Of the huge mountain towering above
Yirmi Sou, and had overwhelmed all
beneath it.
~ caught a glimpse of Miss Warren
in the garden, rs the stony flood burst
on us with its deafening roar" said
the clergyman, as he grew calmer; cit
may be that Gods mercy has spared
her life too"
And, indeed, l have much to be
thankful for, since my dear Edith was
found, fainting but unhurt, at the foot
Of a tall cedar, the only tree left stand
ing, wedged in between fallen rocks.
But the other inmates of the house had
persisted, nor were even their bodies
ever extricated from the mighty mauso-
leum which Natures own hand had
piled above them. Edith and l have
been married these five years, but our
home is in England, not in India; and
when see shadow come
across my wife's fair face, l know that
she is thinking Of those who sleep be-
low the cruel stones at Yirmi Sou.-l
CasseWs Magazine.