Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-17

1t Is eight miles to the mountain, ana
there is carriage road to the top. The
last two miles are verv hard and steep,
because YOU rise nearly thousand feet
above The Connecticut river in that dis
lance
But Obed was steady good driver,
and his horses were very steady, good
horses
We always drew lots for the seat be-
side Obed, and it was one of our treats
10 get him talking about his "team," as
he called it,
"What are their names?" asked
Queeny.
''Well"--a pause, Obed was slow
talker, but he had a great deal to say.
"The off one there is Cesar, an the nigh
one he is Alexander"
Are they afraid of the cars!''
Ain { afcard o nothin' in natur,"
Obcd paused for us to think this over,
and went on:
know too much, them creeturs do.
They've carried load to the mountain
four times week all summer. They'd
take We bouts well ct / want along.
They know--well-bea all what them
animals know. Underestimate I'm talk
in bout 'em this minit's Wells 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
'em; an one week when she was sick,
an KEEP in the house, You en- b'lieve 1t
or not, but it's fact that them croetcrs
lost flesh. She kraids up their front
hair for EN-, and ties il with red rib
bon one day, and then the next day she
unbraids it, and it's crimped in the fash
ion, you'll understand As they was o
comm TO II party to-day, they've got
their hairs crimped"
But alas for Caesar and alack for Alex.
ander. 1t was terrible piece OF work
that you came near doing that day,
though we girls shall never feel that you
were much to blame.
You see this was what happened:
We were all tucked into the wagon rs
tight as figs in n box, that afternoon,
ready to start for home, when Lou call.
ed 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
I'll fetch yer umberill," and he started
for the tower
It was about ten rods off The tower
and stable arc built in small cleared
space ut the top Of the mountain. All
around and below are thick old woods
and great rocks.
0bed had just gone out Of sight when
Queeny gave little scream and put her
hand 20 hsr eyes. Something has
stung me" She said; and then that IN
slant, while we were all looking at her,
i happened
The horses both reared, then gave .
plunge, til; omnibus seemed 10 rise from
The slould with a great leap and sooner
than | can tell il, we were all being
horne ut an awful speed down that mar
row, rocky road.
glanced toward Caesar and Alexander
and saw terrible pair OF wild animals.
looked toward The girls and saw two
rows Of white, frighttul faces.
The rcins were dragging on the ground
land some Of us were shrieking whoa"
* Jew were getting ready to jump. All
tins 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. think can stop the
horses"
Il was Ray 'Iinkhan, Of all people in
The world
| She stood up with astcudy look in her
eyes
must explain fcre that the road from
The tower runs down Il gentle slope Tor
half mile. and then comes sharp
turn. Beyond hat Is Long hill, the
,teepest, and mos dangerous part of the
way Kate seized my hand and whis-
pcred,-
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,
lut 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
iammcd down the handle Of the brakes.
| prayed, too believed should never
pray again.
saw and thought Of hundrcl
things at once. saw the great tree
trunks and the huge black rocks close
upon us remembered the clematis
over thc front door at home, and won
dered who would tell ny father that l
was dead
Meanwhile Ray was over the dash
board, and down with her feet over the
whitiietree
How She did il | shall never know. but
The icxt We saw Of her she was creeping
along the pole between the horses,
steadying herself with her hands on
their backs.
The horses went tear ng on like wild
horses, their names flying, and their
great nodies quivering all over.
Every instant the girls were becoming
.aore excited.
Queenv was holding Mrs. BANDS
cousin with both hands to prevent her
leaping out Kate cried