River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-08-14

Mr.. and Mrs Warren returned to Eng
land to enjoy their well earned compe-
| tency.
The day was tine-no rarity IN the
East-hut sort of silvery haze hung
over the peaks northwards, and there
were frequent gusts of ice-cold wind
rushing down from gap and pass IN the
rocky range that forms the rocky bound
airy of India. l rode on, and presently
| from Az angle in the mountain road
caught 4 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 hEts of the coolies. Then turned
the corner and saw il no more; but even
,, as it vanished from my eyes / heard
strange d en- sound, like that of distant
thunder the nature oil which could not
divine. Nv horse suddenly snorted and
reared and then stood trembling, and
could scarcely be urged forward While
| was il; the act of STOPPING forward to
pat the Arabs glossy neck, speaking
soothingly to him the while. there broke
upon ear a sudden roar, louder, nearer
at each instant, and eliminating IN a
crash Sc dreadful that the simultaneous
discharge of a thousand cannon would
have seemed puny when compared with
It.
Deafeued, dizzy and confused, dis
mounted from my frightened horse, now
wholly unmaRageabie, and hurried to
spot, when, as / remember, EdIth's home
was in sight The air was thick with
dust and withered leaves. but as the pros
pect grew clearer | could see no trace OF
the bungalow, of its homesteads and gar
dens, OF of the thriving tea-plantations
and verdant meadows around it. Falnly
did strain my eyes to catch one we'll
known feature of the familiar scene.
Nothing was visible save dreary waste
of stones, mud and rocks, filling up halt
the valley, and above which hung cloud
of tawny dust that was slowly subsiding.
As stood stupidity gazing on the scene
of ruin. caught sight of a man bare
headed, and with scared, white face.
knew mm. 1t was the young clergyman
who had come over from Nynee Tai to
perform the marriage ceremony between
Edith and me.
MIR. Edwardsl" | said, inquiringly, as
| neared him.
He caught my hand, covered his face,
and burst into tears. Then for the first
time realized what fear vas.
For PHYS sake, tell me ALL" cried l, |
hoarsely. as Miss Warren-is Edith
safe2 What has"
"Of all beneath that roof-the roof OF
Mr. Warren's hospitable house, alone
am spared, answered the clergyman in
broken accents. death, the grim mower, |
has earned in his harvest there
The cause of the disaster was but too
evident A stone avalanche, or mnratne,
~ it is called in Switzerland, had rushed |
down from the unscaled teights of the |
huge mountain towering above Yirmi |
Sou, and had overwhelmed all beneath it. |
II caught glimps of Miss Warren in
the garden as the stony flood burst on us
With its deafening roar" said the clergy
man as he grew calmer; lit may by that |
Gods mercy has spared her life, too"
And, indeed, ave much To be thank
ful for since nv dear Edith was found, |
fuintlng, but unhurt, at the foot of tall |
cedar, the only tree left standing, edged |
IN bet cen fallen roc-s. But the other
inmates of the house had persisted, nor
were even their bodies ever eXtric ted
from the mighty mausoleum which ma
lures own hand had piled above them.
Edith and | have been married this |
i've years, but our home is IN England,
not in India; and sometimes when | see a
shadow come across my u ife's talr face,
| know she is thins ing of those no sleep |
below tile cruel stones at YirmI Sou.