The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-08-23

Edwards attention to the condition OF the near
horses front shoe, which was somewhat dis
If placed.
II will have it fixed" exclaimed Edward
SIS there Il smthy ncar;'
l. Eyes sir, Just across the way
rs Edward accompanied the boy; The shoe was
C righted and firmly nailed, and when all was
;, ready he ran up the steps "a settle his reckon
= ;, Ing and call his mother
u BY this time IL was two O'Clock, but the
Il roads were pretty good and the distance TO
n travel not over sixteen miles-they were on II
. visit to friends near small village on the Ma.
y tional Turnpike, six miles west OF Browns
u vile.
;, Soon mother and son we're on the way. For
!. two hours past there had been an Ominous
j, stiffness in the atmosphere. The cattle had
y sought the shade of the great trees and the
e sheep had crawled closer under the shade Of
. the rail fences and locust trees, while the birds
p that had been so merry in the morning hours
were seeking the deep shelter Of the forest and
y taking their afternoon nap or rest.
! The road tor five miles lay along deep val.
y ley, then reached long hill. AS our friends
, moved around the west side near the top, they
q, discovered the western heavens clothed in
black, and the fresh breeze and the deeply
G rolling thunder proclaimed rain storm near
at hand
Edward" said Mrs Wentworth, in some
alarm "there is heavy storm approaching
+, You had best drive rapidly tor the next mile
or so, and we shall reach an inn, if | am not
mistaken" Edward touched up the bays, aud
they dashed rapidly forward.
; They had not accomplished but three.quar.
tiers of mile when the storm was upon them.
The dark, heavy clouds rolled up from the
west, south and north, and the forkcd light
ming was beginning to play grandly among
them.
This would look splendid from the porch or
window of substantial mansion but viewed
from an open barouche, with heavy timber
or woods to pass through, it was not 80 en-
chanting.
Urge your horses, Edward pass that wood
and we are safe" cried the excited mother
And Edward gave the rein to the gallant bays
and they fairly flew along the road. In two
minutes they would enter the wood when they
were met by young lady mounted on a
black horse, her hat in her nand and her coal
black hair flying loosely in the wind She
waved her hat and cried wildly:
do no, enter the woods! Follow me-"
Edward quickly checked his team and turn
ed them in the broad open road and followed
the flying horsewoman.
| They heard the wind raving in their rear,
and away off to the west Mrs. Wentworth wit
messed novel slght-houses, trees, haystacks
Soon they heard crash, and glancing back
they saw the wood leveled to the ground amid
dust and splinters. Looking forward, they
behcld the fair rider leave the highway ard
dash into a narrow lane, and IN moment she
disappeared, waving her straw hat high above
her head
Edward followed quickly but upon ascend
IN gentle rise Of ground a steep hill was OBJ
served before them.
"Be careful, Edward" cried Lady Almyra
with pale face and compressed lips. Edward
checked the headlong speed of the bays with
some difficulty, and the next moment observ-
inga man at the side of the road holding open
a large farm gate, and the lady Of the black
horse standing on the broad piazza in front of
large frame farm house. He turned in and
the next moment was assisting his mother
through torrent of rain to reach the porch.
Then man sprang into the carriage and drove
the team, carriage and ali, into the barn, the
great doors closed after them, and Edward {
knew that they were safe. Quickly turning,
he followed his mother and the young lady,
who had Mrs. Wentworth by the hand, into
the house, closing she door behind him. Then t
came fearful blow that shook the farm house
from center to circumference. And as the 1
wind seemed to pass away and the rain came t
down in torrents the young lady exclaimed: I
The worst is over! The hill has protected
us, Come in, madam, and you, too, sir" adj i
dressing Edward. I'VE have all had u narrow '
escape" She led the way into a large draw +
ingroom, plainly but comfortably furnished /
"And we owe oHr escape to you, young lady" r
said Mrs Wentworth, still retaining the hand I
of their dcliverer land would tam know Ic
your name" Il
any name is Agnes Carey, and this is our c
home, am glad met you" i
"And my name is Almyra Wentworth, from |
Pittsburgh, and this is my son Edward" Ed t
ward bowed low, and Agnes made like obei-
sance, saying: ii
II shall have to ask yon Mr. Wentworth, to {
be seated tor momcnt-my father will be in
presently. And you, madam, come to my
room, you are dripping Mrs, w. was very {
willing to obey, and soon Agnes had her into ,
her room and supplied with dry clothing,
which was very acceptable.
Soon farmer Carey came in, and Edward in
troduced himself, and was made very welcome
by the genial farmer,
This is regular tornado, such as We have
not experienced in thirty years In these parts"
81 never witnessed such blow" said Ed I,
ward Had 1t not been for the presence of
your daughter, we would have been crashed
in the woods. She met us just this side and
babe us follow her, and we are safe"
"Aggie is a knowing lass. She has beard
me tell Of the blow of thirty years ago, and
that the woods is the most dangerous place to
be. | think we are just on the edge OF the
track Of the tornado, otherwise my staunch
house and strong barn must have gone. Such
"A wind is no respecter of persons or property"
where do you think was the track of the
wnd?"
Not over a half mile south of us think
you will find the wood Frustrated"
Il know it," said Edward II glanced back.
ward and saw the tall oaks and witty sap
lings wound together and uprooted as by the
hand of the Eternal never saw such havoc
and confusion in my lie-it was perfectly
awful
Yes; | am thankful that these terrible
storms come SO seldom. Many persons were