St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20


some ''solid enjoyment"
As the red and golden glories stretch
ed above the horizon a light breeze
sprang up, tanning Mary Hopes
cheeks, caressing her hair lightly, and
signing through the thin selvage of
trees which Dicks father had planted
along the roadway before his son was
born The god of day wheeled his
chariot aloft, radiating, as only the
summer can, the rarest tints of amber,
and crimson and gold, until the purple
glories, rolling aloft like great billOws,
gradually arched themselves into the
semhlance of gateway; through
which Mary Hope caught, in fancy,
glimpses of the celestial city. She did
not speak, but sat perfectly quiet,
drinking in the beauties of the most
beautiful morning Dick Hope had ever
witnessed in the West.
.There is Pringle's Flat" said Dick,
suddenly, pointing ahead.
"Surely we have not come seven
miles, Dick ~
Scarcely. How far is that ahead ?"
'"Is it ii mile, Dick ~
'.That's what the smart hunters
from the East say when they shoot
and miss their game. It's the atmos
phcre, Mary"
.It's a small place." said his wife, as
she looked forward to Pringle's Flat,
lying little below them. Beyond it
there was Il ribbon of molten gold,
made by the suns slanting rays falling
upon the river. 'And that is the
river"
"'We1l be there in twenty minutes" !"
said Dick Hope, "when | want to in
troducc you to some of the incest peo-
pie in this end of the State"
The people Dick referred to received
the Young couple in Il manner that
made Mary Hopes checks glow with
qualification. Her husband was Il man
universally admired fine Il speci-
men of his kind as was ever produced
west of Pringle's Flat. The bride dur
ing the two hours they remained i'll
the town created ripple of talk.
There was something about Dick and
his wife that made people turn to look
at them. When they drove away a
score of friends waved good wishes
and tossed kisses after them.
"Now for Dams Rock" said Dick, as
he gave his mare the rein and east IA
backward glance ut Pringle's Flat.
''Prctty, isn't it p
pretty ?' said his wife. "Why,
Dick, it's lovely See the light on the
church windows it looks as though 1t
were really on fire. The houses are so
pretty, too, the streets so wide, and
there is such an air of peace and com
fort about it Why, it is like Il town
that has grown up in Il night, it is 50
wonderfully clean and neat-iust what
painter would make if he were paint
ing towns to please people"
.'I'm glad you like it. That reminds
me do you see that house above the
church, to the left -
"It looks charming ng-the prettiest
house there"
''Glad you like it,"
"Why, Dick ?"
"It's yours. | bought it before
went East for you. Wen look insid,
of it when we return, if we have time.
That was Dick Hopes way.
The drive to Dams Rock occupied III
hour.
"Now for trial of your strength,
said Dick, as he tied his horse to tree
at the base of the great rock and as
SlSIcu his WIG 10 llt SIoltllu NH'l'
they were to lunch.
"Must | climb up there, Dick y sai'
Mrs. Hope.
''That'S the programme, what We
came out for to-day. You've heard 81
much of the view from Dams Rock tina
you want to see it for yourself. De
vou know YOU remind me now of Par
thenia fetching water from the spring 2
'Parthenia tanned her husband, didn'
she, DickP I'm glad your mother saveC
me the trouble"
That was IL lunch Mary Hope Otter
recalled in after years. Dick persisted
in forcing all kinds of dainties upon
her, '.Irish fashion, as she said after
ward. 1t was the first time she hat
ever had him to herself in the glad day
with no curious eyes to peer on them
and she subjected her lord and maste
in her turn to such straits that he glad
ly cried quits as he put his hair out q
his ewes and viewed his tormcntor.
Then they slowly mounted the mas
sivc heap they called Dams Rock
Such a view A sweep of forty mile
in one direction, east, and almost ~
grand Il view to the west.
Dick sat down and handed his wifi
the glasses us he lighted Il fresh cigar
"Do you see that hill away off to th'
left there ?"
''IIaSn't it IL curious shape 7"
That's where the wind comes from
They manufacture it up there"
'What do you mean, Dick p
"There's a valley back there tina
extends full forty miles northwest
where you come to prairie land lik
ours back of Pringle's Flat, only ther
is ten times more oft. The wind roll
down the valley and plays the yer
deuce with things on the river abOu
the Point. Sometimes it rains, an
then you'd think the heavens were EN-
, tying: all the water i'll the vale
+ sweeps down below lis here, fills tn
. valley where it narrows there like tn
+, neck of IA bottle, and then-look out fo
trouble. saw it once; that is all wan
to see.n
.'Is it so awful, Dick?"
e at is really awful, Mary"
T "And now it looks like-like til
e plains of Egypt. | can't conceive {
anything disturbing the perfect peac
- of this beautiful scene. See that clou
away off there, Dick"
Il "About the size of mans hand
r see it."
Il 'It's the only speck in the sky" sal
: his wife.
# 'Its not like our sky, then" sal
t Dick. as he kissed her standing on IL
very top of Dams Rock. 'Do yOu kno
d it is time we were moving now -
" 1--WE have only been here lit
d while
ats three hours since we stopped ;
II 4 ID. L