Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-04-27

saving suddenly. What is that curious
sound hear?'
i hear nothing
There Do you hear it now p
Dick inclined an ear They were
fairly clear of the rough land at the base
of Dams Rock now. and the mare was
trotting rapidly. Suddenly her drivers
firm hand brOugh, her upon her haunch-
es Dick listened intently His wife
was right: her ears were keener than
his. There ,cds something in the air.
At that instant Mary's hand clutch
ed his arm convulsively as she cried out,
oh, Dick, what is that back of us p
She was looking back with horror
stricken eyes and pale lips.
Dick turned. A cloud like black
mass was rushing down on them: it
seemed to Dick Hopes eyes as black as
ink. An awful fear possessed him.
There was hush, stiffness, in the
air as chilling as the terrible cloud be-
hind them. Go 'long!' he exclaimed
desperately, cutting the mare fiercely
with his whip.
The mare shot out like an arrow, and
at that moment another sou d smote
their ears,--a sound that W. like the
crash of worlds The mare plunged.
reared, then resumed her onward
course. Her owner had lost all control
over her.
But one thought animated Dick
Hope as he clasped bis wife with his
right arm, while he held fast to the
reins with his left hand, shutting his
teeth like a wise. That thought was,
Pray God we reach the river-bottom y
The earth groaned under their feet.
A sound like tie rush and roar and
scream of million locomotives deafen-
ed them. Dick Hope instinctively
turned and clasped his young wife in
his arms. He did not see the mare
he saw nothing but his wife's face, and
something in it struck terror to his
heart. His own was ashy gray at that
moment as his young wife's when she
turned her last appealing look upon
him and moved her lips. His one
prayer was that they might die togeth-
rr. 1t seemed to them then that all
the sound in the air and earth was con-
densed, gathered into one awful shrek
Earth and sky were oblitcrated. Dick
Hope felt himself lifted up and flung
like fake through the air.
When he recovered his senses he vas
wing where he had prayed to be-in
the river bottom, with his wife close
beside him. The awful storm did not
divide them. The tornado, like rag
ing beast, bad simply taken them up in
'ts teeth, so to speak, tossed them
aside, and pursued its path. Where
they were lying the water was 50 shoal
hat it scarcely covered them.
Dick sat up and spoke to his wife,
ut she did not answer Then he put
ne hand up involuntsrily, in weak,
helpless way. There was blood on his
face; be could not see his eyes were
ul of sand He struck himself in de-
pair, and. again grasping his wife,
aid in hoarse voice, You are not
ieod, Mary p
WLethcr it was the water from the
liver he dashed into his face or the gush
If tears that came into his eyes, Dick
ioes not know to this day, but sudden
v bis eyes became clear, and he could
g. his wife lying with her face neat
him and the water washing her long
aair over her breast He lifted her up.
lie felt her hanGs, ber checks. Then
.uddenly he summoned oil his remain
ng strength for one supreme effort, and
4 En, rrt. hnr n n
he DIR, shelving beach under the bluff.
Nary Hope slowly opened her eyes
and looked at her husband Then she
,ut her hands slowly up to her face and
.overed it.
Dick saw the tears coursng down
her cheeks. Don't don't, Maryv he
said
Il can't help it, / ON not crying
with pain or grief: it's because you are
living.-because we are both spared
Dicks strength returned to him He
stood up and looked about him Until
that moment he did not know that he
was contess and without vest or shirt:
he was naked He pressed his eyes
with his hands and looked down on
himself ike one wnkening out OF
dream. He looked ot his wife, still sit.
ting with her face covered with her
hands Mary. we are almost naked
There is nothing on me, and your dress
is IL ribbons lie looked up and down
The river in helpless way, still press
np hand to his head: i don't see
any sign of-the-buggy or horse. ;
Then he casr his glance at the BLUM
back of them. Come, let us go up on
the bank
He had to carry her.
1T is the horrible fright, dear Dick.
III soon get over il, she said when he
set her down gently on the level
ground.
Mary, look over there. Do you see
ANYTHING? Myeyes are so ful' of sand,
90 sore that cant make it out quite.
Everything looks SO blurred
She did not answer him IL was not
because her eyes were not clear. AS
sbc looked wondcringly, her hand, that
bad never rclinqushcd her husbands
from the moment he seated her on the
prairie closped his convulsively. Then
She uttered loud cry.
IL expected as much, said Dick
speaking more to himself than to his
wife. Nothing-nothpg man ever
made could stand before that storm
oh. Dick she exclaimed sobbingly,
there IL nothing fl Of the town-not
house. can only see heap here
and there-someihing like fallen chin
neys. and smoke and fire.
That's the end Of lringle's Flat,
Mary
lie looked back over the prairie
back to the fringe of trees that skirted
portion of the road near the base OF
Dams Rock but little while since.