Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-05-13

LICK nope, when L want to introduce you
to some of the incest people in this end of
the state"
The people Dick referred to received the
young couple in manner that made Mary
Hopes cheeks glow with qualification. Her
husband was man universally admired-aA
| fine specimen Of his kind as was ever pro-
| duced west of Pringle's Flat. The bride
during the two hours they remained in town,
created ripple Of talk. There was some.
thing about Dick and his wife that made peo-
pie turn to look at them. When they drove
away 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 cast backward
glance at Pringle's Flat. Pretty, isn't it ?"
''Pretty" said his wife. "Why, Dick, it's
lovely See the light on the church win
dows II looks as though It were really on
fire. The houses are so pretty, too, the
streets 80 wide, and there Is such an air of
peace and comfort about IL Why, it is so
wonderfully clean and neat, just what a
painter would make il he were painting towns
to please people,"
''Im glad you like it. That reminds me
do you see that house above the church, to
the left 2"
1T looks charming-the prettiest house
there"
"Glad you like it,"
"why, Dick 2"
''It's yours. l bought it before 1 went
East for you. Well look inside of Il when
we return, If we have time"
That was Dick Hopes way
The drive to Dams Rock occupied an hour
Now for trial of your strength, said Dick,
as he tied his horse to tree at the base of
the great rock and assisted his wife to the
ground where they were to lunch.
'Must climb up there Dick ?" said Mrs
Hope;
That's the programme, what we came out
for to-day. You've heard 80 much of the
view from Dams Rock that you want TO see
for yourself. Do you know you remind me
now of Parthenia fetching water from the
SPRING"
"Parthenia tanned her husband, didn't she
Dick I'm glad your mother saved me the
trouble"
That was lunch Mary Hope often recalled
in after years. Dick persisted in forcing all
kinds Of dainties upon her. ''Irish fashion,"
as she said hfterward. 1t was the first time she
had ever had him 10 herself in the glad day
with no curious eyes TO peer on them, and
she subjected her lord and master in her turn
to such straits that he gladly cried quits as he
put his hair out of his eyes and viewed his
tormentor
Then they slowly mounted the massive
A
sweep Of forty miles in one direction, east.
and almost as grand a view toAhe west
Dick sat down and handed his wife the
glasses as he lighted fresh cigar ''Do you
see that hill away of TO the left there ?"
Hasn't 1t curious shape ?"
''That's where the wind comes from They
manufacture it up there"
''What do you mean, Dick 2"
There's valley back there that extends
fully forty miles northwest, where you come
to prairie land like ours back of Pringle's
Flat, only there is ten times more OF it. The
wind rolls down the valley and plays the very
deuce with things on the river about the
Point Sometimes it rains, and then you'd
think the heavens were emptying; all the
water in the valley sweeps down below us
here, fills the valley where it narrows there
like the neck of bottle, and then-look out
for tronbls. saw il once that is all l want
TO see."
'Is it SO awful, Dick ?"
1T is really awful, Mary"
And now it looks like-like the plains of
Egypt 1 can't conceive of anything disturb
ing the perfect peace of this beautiful scene
See that cloud away of there, Dick"
About the size of q mans hand? see it."
Its the only speck in the sky" said 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?"
''We have only been here little while"
Its three hours since we stopped at the
foot of Dams Rock"
my goodness, Dick !"
''Thats what am always saying to myself
when I think you took me before all the 9TH
er fellows"
''It can't be-"
'LoOk for yourself" said Dick, holding
out his watch.
IT'S 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 a while Mary
would stop to gather bits of moss and flowers
as mementoes of a red-letter day. At least
an hour was consumed in the descent. Then
they got into the buggy and turned home
ward, but not on the road leading past
brakes
'we want to sec all that can be seen, don't
we ?" said Dick.
''By all MEANS" answered his wife, as she
tied her hat loosely and prepared to enjoy the
ride home. 'But didn't your father tell you
to go home by Drake's"
THE other is the better road"
'You know best, Dick"
Dicks mare went at slapping pace ''She
smells oats" said Dick.
Look at Pingle's Flat, Dick"
''Pretty, isn't it ?"
''There is not q leaf stirring, one would
think. 1t looks so restful over there. II
might be deserted village"
"It does look unusually quiet now notice
it. But then this sun is terrible. See If you |
can find our house over there, Mary"
There was a long silence, then the young
wife gleefully pointed out the house, and |
fhara annthar oil
broken by Mrs Hope saying suddenly |
''What is that curious sound hear ?"
81 hear nothing"
'"Ihere Do you hear il now Z"
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 |
her drivers firm hand brought her |
upon her launches. Dick listened intently. |
His wife was right her ears were keener
than his. There was something in the air.
At that instant, Mary's hand olutched his |
arm convulsively as she cried out, 'Oh Dick,
what is that back of us?" She was looking
back with horror-stricken eyes and pale lips
Dick turned. A cloud like a black wall
was rushing down on them it seemed TO
Dick Hopes eyes as black as ink An awful
fear possessed him. There was a hush, a
in the air as chilling as the terrible
cloud behind them. go long I" he exclaim-
ed desperately, cutting the mare iercely with
his whip.
The mare shot out like an arrow, and at
that moment another sound smote their ears
"a sound that was like the crash of worlds
The mare plunged, reared, then resumed her
onward course. Her owner had lost all CON
troll over her.
But one thought animated Dick Hope as
be olasped his wife with his right arm, while
he held fast to the reins with his left hand,
shutting his testh like a vice. That thought
was, PRAY God we reach the river bottom I"
The earth groAned under their feet A
sound like the rush and roar and scream Of
million locomotives deafened them. Dick
Hope instinetively turned and olasped his
young wife in his arms. He did not see the
mare, he saw nothing but his wife's face, and