The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-06-08

there like the neck OF bottle,
and then--look out for trouble. I saw
it once; that is all 1 want to see."
els it so awful, Dick?"
1t is really awful, Mary"
"And now it looks like-like the
plains of Egypt. I can't conceive of
anything disturbing the perfect peace of
this beautiful scene. See that cloud
away off there, Dick"
"About the size of mans hand? 1
see it,"
cts 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 nowY
"We have only been here little
while"
"It's three hours since we stopped at
the foot of Dams Rock"
"My goodness, DickW
"That's what I'm always saying to
myself when 1 think you took me be-
fore all the other fellows" ="
eft can't be-"
"Look for yourself" said Dick, hold
ing out his watch.
"Tt's the grandest day of my life,
Dick. I 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 mementos of
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 see all that can be seen,
don't weY said Dick.
"By all MEANS" answered his wife,
as she tied her hat loosely and pre-
pared to enjoy the drive 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 Pringle's Flat, Dick"
"Pretty, isn't it ?"
"There is not a leaf stirring, one
would think. 1t looks so restful over
Ju6I6 IL DS u uSo6IOSu
cit 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 a long silence, then the
young wife gleefully pointed out the
house, and there was another long
silence which was broken by Mrs. Hope
saying suddenly: "What is that curious
sound I hear p
81 hear nothing"
"There Do you hear it now%
Dick inclined an ear. They were fair
ly clear of the rough land at the base of
Dams Rock now and the mare was trot-
ting rapidly. Suddenly 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 clutched
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 black
wall was rushing down upon them; it
seemed to Dick Hopes eyes as black
az ink. An awful fear possessed him.
There was hush, stiffness, in the air
as chilling as the terrible cloud behind
them. eco long |" he exclaimed des-
perately, cutting the mare fiercely 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 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
wise. That thought was, spray God
we reach the river bottom !"
The earth groaned under their feet.
A sound like the rush and roar and
scream of a, million locomotives deaf
ened 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
utdIbs LIS OWh Mtso ooA4D 6A0J az tAlA1
moment, as was 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 together.
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 obliterated. Dick
Hope felt himself lifted up and flung
like 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 a
raging beast, had simply taken them up
in his teeth, so to speak, tossed them
aside, and pursued its path. Where
they were lying the water was so shoal
that it scarcely covered them.
Dick sat up and spoke to his wife; she