The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-12-13

ed for the drive home. But didn't your
father tell you to 60 home by Drake's ?"
The other is the hetter road"
"You know best, Dick
Dicks mare went at slapping pace.
"She smells osts," said Dick.
"Pretty, isn't it2"
"There is not leaf stirring, one
would think 1t looks 30 restful over
there! 1t might be deserted village"
at does look unusually quiet, now
that ] notice 1t. But theE this sun is
terrible. See if you can find our house
over there, Mary"
There was a long silence; then she
lgleefully pointed out the house, and there
was another long silence broken by Mrs.
Hope saying suddenly, "What is that
curious sound hear 2"
81 bear nothing"
"'There,, do you hear it nowi"
4 Dick inclined an ear they were fairly
clear of the rough land at the base OF
Dams Rock now, and the mare was trot-
ting rapidly Suddenly ber drivers firm
hand brought her upon her launches.
Dick listened intently. His wife was
right; her ears we're keener than bis.
There was something in the air.
At that instant Mary's hand clutched
his arm as she cried, "Oh, Dick, what is
that back. of US ?" She was looking
back with horrer-stricken eyes and pale
Hips.
Dick turned; cloud like black wall
was Rushing down upon them; it seemed
to Dicks eyes as black as ink. An aw-
ful fear possessed him. There was q
hush, stiffness in the air as chilling as
the cloud behind them. $50 'long!" be
exclaimed desperately, cutting the mare
dercely with the whip
y The mare shot out like an arrow, and
at that moment another sound smote
upon their ears, a sound that was like q
crash OF worlds The mare plunged,
reared, and then resumed her onward
course. Her owner bad lost all control
over her. -s
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 wise.
The thought was: "Prsy God that We
reach the river bottom"
The earth groaned under their feet. A
sound like the rush of million locomo-
tives deafened them. Dick Hope turned
instinctively 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 1t struck terror to his
heart. His own was as ashv gray at
/ that moment as his young wife's when
she turned her last appealing look on
him aud moved her lips. His ore prayer
WAS that they might die together Dick
felt himself lifted up and dung like a
fash through the air.
When he recovered his senses be was
living where he prayed to be-in the
river bottom with bis wife close beside
him.
Dick sat up and spoke to his wife, but
she did not answer. Then he put his
hand up involuntarily in weak, helpless
wav. The river where they fell was so
shoal that itldid not cover them. There
was blood on his face; he could not see
his eyes were full of sand. He struck
himself with despair, and again grasping
his wife said in hoarse voice, You are
not dead, Mary ?"
Whether it was the water from the
river that dashed into his face, or the
gush of tears that came into his eyes,
Dick does not know to this day, but
suddenly his eyes became clear, and he
could see his wife lying with her face
next to him, and the water Washing the
long hair over her breast. He lifted her
up; be felt her hands, her cheeks; then
suddenly he summoned all bis remaining
strength for one supreme effort and
dragged rather than carried her up to
the dry shelving under the bluff. Mary
SLOWLY opened her eyes and looked at
her husband. s..e. -
| Dick saw the tears coursing down her
cheek "Dop't-don't, Mary" he said
81 can't help it. / am not crying With
pain or grief, it is because you are living
because we are both spared ;"
Dicks strength returned 10 him, He
stood up and looked about him. Up to
that moment be did not know that he
was coatless ard without vest or shirt !;
he was naked. He pressed his eyes with
his hands and looked down Upon him
self like one awakening from dream.
He looked at his wife still sitting with
her face covered with her hands.
MARY, we are almost naked. There
| is nothing on me, and your dress is in
r ribbons" He looked up and down the
river in helpless way. still pressing his
hand TO his head. 81 don't see any
sign OF the horse and buggy" Then he
cast his eyes on the bluff back of them
''Come let US go up on the bank. -
He had to carry her.
"It's the horrible fright, dear Dick
E I'll soon get over it," she said when he
? set her down on the level ground.
"I-expected as much," said Dick,
speaking more to himself than to his
wife. ..No,hing-nothing man ever
made could stand against that storm"
"Oh, Dick," she exclaimed, "there Is
nothing left OF the town-not house.
3 only see heap here and there, some
: thing like fallen chimneys and smoke
, and fire.
, "Thst's the end of Pringle's Flat,
Mary"
, He looked over the prairie back to
: the fringe of trees that skirted part OF
the road near the base of Dams Rock
e but little while since. He could not
recognize the place he had looked on a
t hundred times, The trees had disap-
peared they had been swept from the
face of the earth., Then he shaded bis
0 eyes with his hands and looked across
e to where Pringle's Flat had stood in al
1.-The pride OF, new western town. Dich
Hope suddenly knelt BY his wife's side
/. still holding her hand, saying, 'let Us
pray" hae ~ ~
;, Among those who witnessed the awe
II inspired tornado tGat swept Pringle'
Flat until not one stone stood upon an
n other, killing or manning all living crea
% lures in it's path, none have such vivit
: recollections as Dick Hope and his wife
ar When they refer to their experience o.
that terrible day, they speak in lo'
"a tone, reverautly, as though standing ii
" the presence of the dead.
Ill