Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-12-21

| think we were all glad that we had
Rachel with us.
But if it hadn't been for Queenie, 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 hundred 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: asked
Queenie.
"Welr'-a pause. Obed was a slow
talker, but he had great deal to say.
1.-The off one there is Caesar. an the
nigh one he is Alexander"
"Are they afraid Of the cars'"
"Aint afraid O nothin' in natur."
Obed paused for us to think this over,
and then went on:
know too much. them creeturs do.
They have carried a load to the noun
tains four times week all summer.
They'd take you bouts well ef wasn't
along They know-well-beats all
what them animals know. Understands
I'm talking bout 'em this minit's wells
you do. They're used to being talked
to. My wife, she thinks sight of EN-.
Beats all She'll 90 out to the barn,
and she'll carry 'em apples, and she'll be
all over EN-; one week when she was
sick. and KEEP in the house, you en- be-
lieve it or not, it's fact that them
creeturs lost flesh. She braids up their
front hair for 'em, and ties it with red
ribbin ore day, and then the next day
she unbraids it, and it's crimped in the
fashion, you'll understand. AS they wes
coming to party to- day, they've got
their hairs crimped."
But alas for Caesar and alack for
Alexander. II was a terrible piece of
work you came near doing that day,
though we girls never shall feel that you
were much to blame.
You see that this was what happened.
We were all tucked into the wagon as
tight as figs in a 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 and
get it.
"You just keep yr sittin, said Obed,
I'm fetch yer umbrill;' and he started
for the tower.
II 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 woods and
great rocks.
Obed had just gone out Of sight when
Queenie gave little scream, and put
her hand to her eye.
Something has stung me-" she said,
and then, that instant. while we were
looking at her, it happened.
The horses both reared, and then gave
a plunge, the omnibus seemed to rise
from the ground with a great leap, and,
sooner than can tell it, we were all be-
ing borne at an awful speed down that
narrow rocky road.
! glanced toward Caesar and Alexan-
der, and saw a terrible pair Of wild ami
mails. / looked toward the girls and
saw two rows of white, frightened faces.
The reins were dragging on the ground.
Some of US were shrieking, Whoa" A
few of US 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 l think l can stop
the horses "
1t was Ray Tinkham, of II people in
the world. She stood up with steady
look in her eyes.
must explain here that the road from
the tower runs down gentle slope for
half a mile, and then comes a shary 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.
| prayed too. l believed should never
pray again.
saw and thought of a 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 Kay was over the dash
board, and down with her feet over the
whiffletree.
How she did it, / shall never know,
but the next we saw of her, she was
creeping along the pole between the
horses, steadying herself with her hands
on their backs.
The horses went tearing on like wild