The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-09-11

and Queeny washing the floor. They
did it well, too.
"Now, remember, Queeny said, the
last thing, everybody is to wear her
Oldest dress. And, Ray, would you be
kind enough to bring d-boiled eggs
for your luncheonP One apiece for us
all roundP"
Ray looked bright all over, and said
yes.
Now think it was Just beautiful of
Queeny to think of that. She knew Lit
cake and French rolls as the rest of us
did.
So she spoke of the eggs. We all re-
membered that Ray had wonderful
chickens. l am sure the word about old
dresses, too, was meant to help her.
The next morning Obed Taintor came
round with his uncovered omnibus and
his two great horses and picked us up.
We went for Ray last. She was stand
ing in front of the old house, beside the
tumble-down gate, with her basket of
eggs in her hand.
She looked perfectly happy, and her
dress was so clean and smooth Kate
whispered to me:
THAT dress has been washed and
ironed since last night. Just think
of it!"
1t was clear, warm morning and
every one was in such glow of good
spirits. think we were all glad we
had Rachel with us.
But if it hadn't been for Queeny Ray
would never have gone, and if Ray hadn't
gone the rest of us would never have
come home, and this story--for there is
a story-would never have been told.
1t is eight miles to the mountain and
there is a carriage-road to the top. The
last two miles are very hard and steep,
because you rise nearly a thousand feet
above the Connecticut river in that dis
tance.
But Obed was a steady, good driver
and his horses were steady, good horses.
We always drew lots for the seat be-
side Obed, and it was one OF our treats
to get him talking about his "team." as
he called it.
"What are their names P" asked
Queeny.
Well"-a pause. Obed was slow
talker, but he had great deal to say.
"The off one there is Cesar an the nigh
one he is Alexander"
Are they afraid of the carsp"
Amt afeard O nothin' in natur."
Obed paused for us to think this over,
and then went on:
Know too much, them creeturs do.
They've carried a load to the mountain
four times week all summer. They'd
take ye bout S well eff l want along
They know-well-beats all what them
animals know. Understand t I'm talk
in bout 'em this mint s well S you do.
They're used to being talked to. My wife
she thinks sight of 'em. Beats ALL
She'll go out to the barn, and she'll
carry 'em apples, and she'll be all over
EN-; an one week when she was sick,
an KEEP in the house, you en- b'lieve it
or not. but it's fact that them creeturs
lost flesh. She braids up their front
hair for 'em, and ties it with q red rib
upbraids it, and it's crimped, all in the
fashion, you'll understand. As they was
a comm to 4 party to-day, they've got
their hairs crimped."
But alas for Caesar, and alack for
Alexander. 1t was a terrible piece of
work that you came near doing that
day, though we girls never shall feel
that you were much to blame.
You see this was what happened.
We were all tucked into the wagon us
tight rs figs in box, that afternoon.
ready to start for home when Lou called
out that she had left her parasol. She
must get out, and run up to the tower to
get it.
You just keep y'r sittin'," said Obed.
"Fll fetch yer umberill;" and he started
for the tower.
1t was about ten rods off. The tower
and stable are built in small cleared
space at the top of the mountain. All
around and below are thick old woods
and great rocks.
Obed had just gone out of sight when
Queeny gave little scream, and put her
hand to her eyes. Something has stung
me-" she said, and then, that instant,
while we were all looking at her, it hap.
pened.
The horses both reared, then gave a
plunge, the omnibus seemed to rise from
the ground with great leap, and sooner
than l can tell it, we were all being
borne, at an awful speed, down that mar
row rocky road.
Iglanced toward Caesar and Alexander,
and saw terrible pair of wild animals.
looked toward the girls, and saw two
rows of white, frightful faces.
The reins were dragging on the ground.
Some of us were shrieking, "Whoaw A
few were getting ready to jump. All
this in an instant, and then, suddenly,
above the noise of the wheels and of
everything else, we heard voice ring
out clear
"Sit still, girls I think can stop the
horses"
1t was Ray Tinkham, of all people in
the world.
She stood up with steady look in her
eyes.
must explain here that the road from
the tower runs down a gentle slope for
halfa mile, and there comes sharp turn.
Beyond that is Long hill, the steepest,
most dangerous part of the way. Kate
seized my hand and whispered:
If the horses are not stopped before
they get to the turn, we shall all be
| killed"
Ray was climbing over the drivers
seat She always could climb anywhere,
like cat. She didn't pause an instant,
but she called back to me:
Natty Brock, put on the brakes.
The rest of you sit still. Only pray as
hard as you can"
| sprang to the drivers seat. and
iammed down the handle of the brakes.
l prayed, too. l believed l should
never pray again.
saw and thought Of hundred things
at once. l. saw the great tree trunks and
the huge black rocks close upon us'
remembered the clematis over the front
door at home, and wondered who would
tell my father that | was dead.
Meanwhile, Ray was over the dash
board, and down with her feet over the
whiffietree.
How she did it, 1 shall never know,