The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-08-13

we'll to my sweet EOltn In tnc Poleh'
draped with the glistening leaves and Dig
white blossoms of the Indian creeper, at
ter the ride home to my own dwelling
among the hills, and with my head rest
ing on it's pillow, vague sense OF 1nse-
curity beset me afresh; and even when l
fell asleep my dreams were troubled and
sad, not such as should visit the slum6er
of one on whom the world smiled as it
did on me, George Musgrave: The dawn
ing Of the new day-my wedding day
however, chased away the clouds from
my mind. and when mountec my horse
to ride to Yirmi Sou, attired as BRIDE!
groom should be, my heart was light and
! full of happy hope. Edith loved me bet
| ter than | deserved, kne v that; and 1t
| was her fathers intention to establish the
young couple on his fine plantation, while
| Mr.. and Mrs. Warren returned to Eng
land to enjoy their we'll earned compe-
tency. -s
The day was 6ne-no rarity in the
East-but 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
ary of India. I rode on, and presently
from an angle in the mountain road
caught 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
as it vanished from my eyes heard
strange, ep sound, like that OF distant
thunder. the nature OF which l could not
divine. NV 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 Arab's glossy neck, speaking
soothingly to him the while. there broke
upon ear sudden roar, louder, nearer
at each instant, and eliminating IN a
crash so dreadful that the simultaneous
discharge of a thousand cannon would
have seemed puny when compared with
it.
Deafened, dizzy and confused, I dis
mounted from my frightened horse, now
wholly manageable, and hurried to Il
spot, when, as l remember, Edlths 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, or of the thriving tea-plantatlons
5 and verdant meadows around it. Valnly
A did strain my eyes to catch one we'll
9 known feature of the familiar scene
q Nothing was visible save dreary ~aste
I of stones, mud and rocks, filling up hall
I the valley, and above which hung a clouc
q of tawny dust that was slowly subsiding
As l stood stupidity gazing on the scene
D Of ruin, caught sight of man bare
n headed, and with scared, white face.
+ knew him. 1t was the young clergyman
who had come over from Nynee Tai t.
|. perform the marriage ceremony between
l. Edith and me.
Y "Mr. Edwards?" I said, inquiringly, a
II | neared him.
n He caught nv hand, covered his face
u and burst into tears. Then for the frs
Ii time l realized what fear vas.
J. "For PHYS sake, tell me ALP cried
hoarsely. els Miss Warren-is Edith
" safe? What has
l. "Of all beneath that roof-the roof Q
ii Mr. Warren's hespitable house, alon
d am spared" answered the clergyman i
,e broken accents. ''Death, the grim mower
has earned in his harvest there" "
re The cause of the disaster was but to
a evident. A stone avalanche, or m"rain
ut as it is called in Switzerland, had rushe
a. down from the unscaled heights of tn
g. huge mountain towering above Yirn
l. Sou, and had overwhelmed all beneath i
I'd II caught glimps of Miss Warren
G. the garden as the stony flood burst on
ID with its deafening roar" said the clerg.
n, man as he grew calmer; "it may by ths
1g Gods mercy has spared her life, too"
he And, indeed, I lave much to be thanl
as full for since my dear Edith was foun'
eh faintlng, but unhurt, at the foot Of ia
"a cedar, the only tree left standing, wedge
or in bet. cen fallen roc.s. But the 9th
st inmates Of the house had persisted, NJ
IL were even their bodies ever extricate
from the mighty mausoleum which n
IN lures own hand had piled above them.
af- Edith and have been married tn
ay five years, but our home is in Englan
not in India; and sometimes when see
nd shadow come across my ~ife's tair fac
ny know she is thinking of those " no sle'
en- below the cruel stones at Yirm1 Sou.
VS.,