Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-05-13
GALES arrb Skettbts.
From Lippincott's Magazine
PRIyCLE'S FLAT.
Continued from Yesterday

Tney manufacture it up there"
F'What do you mean, Dick
There's valley back there that ex-
iruds full forty miles northwest, where
YOU come to prairie-land like ours back Of
PEingle's Flat, only there is ten times
more Of it, The wind rolls down the val
leg and PLAYS the very deuce with things on
thu river about the point. Sometimes 1T
rains, and then you'd think the heavens
were emptying: all the water in the val
ley sweeps down below ms here. fills the
valley where it Darrows there like the
neck Of bottle, and then-look out tor
trouble. saw it once; that il all | want
to:see.''
is it 50 awful. Dick ?"
1T is really awful, Mary"
,'And now it looks like-like the plains
of Egypt can't conceive Of anything
disturbing the perfect peace OF this beau
tiful scene. See that cloud away off there,
Dick
about the size of mans hand see
ITS the only speck in the sky" sad
his wife.
Its not like our sky, then" said Dick
as he kissed her standing on the very top
Of Dams Rock. "Do You know it is time
we were moving now?"
I'VE have only been here a little while"
Its three hours since we stopped at
the foot Of Dams Rock"
MY goodness, Dick :"
That's what I'm always saying to my
self when think you took me before all
the other fellows
1T cant be-
Look Tor yourself" said Dick. holding
out his watch.
ITS the grandest day of my life, Dick.
wouldn't have missed it for anything"
He gave her his hand and helped her
down the rough places. Once in while
Mary would stop to gather bits of moss
and flowers as mementos of a red-leuer
day. At least an hour was consumed in
the descent. Then they got into the bug
gy and turned homeward, but not on the
road leading past brakes.
I'VE want to see all that can be seen.
don't we ?n said Dick.
"By all means answered his wife, as
she tied her hat loosely and prepared to
enjoy the drive home. ''But didn't your
father tell you to 90 home by
Drake'sP'
The other is the better road.
You know best. Dick
Dicks mare went at slapping pace.
-'She smells oats, SAID Dick.
Look at Pringlc's Flat, Dick
Pretty, isn't it
There is not leaf stirring, one would
think. 1t looks so restful over there 1t
might be n deserted village
at does look unusually quiet. now I
notice it, But then this sun is terrible.
See if you can find our house over there,
Mary"
There was long silence, then the
young wife gIceiully pointed out the
house, then there was another long silence
which was broken bv Mrs. Hope saying
suddenly, "What is that curious sound
hear p''
II hear nothing
There DO You hear it now ?''
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 brought her upon
her launches. Dick listened intently
His wife WIS right; her ears were ,kecner
than his There was something in the air
At that instant Mary's hand clutched his
arm convulsively rs she cried ont. sob,
Dick, what is that back OF us?' She was
looking back with horror-strickcn eyes
and pale lips
Dick turned \ cloud like a black wall
was rushing down on them; it seemed to
Dick Hopes ewes rs black as ink An
awful fear possessed him There was Il
hush. stiffness. in the air rs calling as
the terrible cloud behind them. 60
long, he exclaimed desperately. cutting
the mare iiercely with his whip.
The mare shot out like an arrow. and
al hat nj tb.,r tt,ni.
ears-a sound that was like the crash ot
worlds. The mare plunged. reared. then
resumed her onward course. Her owner
had lost al! control over her.
But one thought animated Dick Hope
AS he clasped his. 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 rivcr-bottom -
The earth groaned under their feet A.
sound like the rush and roar and scream
OF a million locomotives deafened them.
Dick Hope instinctivcly turned and clasp
ed his young wife in his arms. lie 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 wite's
when she turned her last appealing look
upon him and moved her lips. His one
prayer was that thev might die together.
1t seemed to them then that all the sound
i'm the air and earth was condensed. gath
cred into one awful shrek. Earth and
sky were obliterated. Dick Hope felt
himself lii,ed up and flung like a flake
through the air.
When he recovered his senses he was
lying 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 raging beast
had simply taken them up in its teeth. SO
to speak. tossed them aside. and pursued
its path. Where they were lying the
water was So shoal that it scarcely COW
cred them.
Dick sat up and spoke to his wife; she
did not answer. Then he put one hand
up involuntarily. in weak. helpless way.
There was blood on his lace he could net
see his eyes were full of sand. He struck
himself in despair, and. again grasping
his wife, said in hoarse voice, "Iou are
not dead. Nary"
Whether it was the water from the river
he dashed into his face or the gush of tears