Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-05-31

take the road round by brakes
And lose a good half-hour," said
Dick.
That's long way round, father
said the elder Mrs. Hope.
"You take my advice" said her hus-
band. Il mean coming back. 1t does
mt matter going. If it should blow you
will find il safest
Dick, who was adjusting strap, look
ed off east and west, smiled in a satisfied
way, and observed, - don't see any signs
of storm
Nor !" said his father; "but no one
knows anything about the wind here.
I'll never forget the sweep | got twenty
years ago coming over Pringle's Flat.
That is where we are going, isn't IL.
Dick = Mrs. Dick Hope looked the
least ,riAe anxious as she turned TO her
husband. "Was it SO bad, Mr.. Hope >
Bad Bads no name for it. Why
it blew my wagon as far as from here to
the the barn, blew the horses off their
feet, tore up trees, and lodged me ag ains'
a rock that saved my life.
THAT must have been terrible" said
Mary Hope.
Don't let him frighien you,' said
Dick smilingly lightning never strikes
twice in the same place. I'm all right,
YOU see. The Only time | was blown
away was when | went East for yol.
Are we all ready now: Basket in,
mother
Mrs Hope nodded gaily, Dick lifted
the reins lightly, and away the new bug
gy with its happy occupants sped over
the prairie.
|, was early morning The fingers Of
the dawn stretched upward, dissolying
the shadowy mist that hung over the
prairie and the thin line of woodland that
lay away off 10 the ives; like fringe on
newly.cut garment. The young wife
inhaled the perfumes exhaled from the
flowers, filling the atmosphere with rich
odors. There were lines upon lines Of
variegated ;ints above the horizon. Such
a sunrise Mary Hope had never looked
on exccp, among the mountains. There
were tints of crimson, amber and gold !;
and above ali white pillars rolled majes-
ticallv,-palaces more magnificent and
stately than any that the human mind
could conceive.
How grand she said, as Dick
looked smilingly at her.
The mind of man cannot measure all
its beauties, . said Dick as he lighted a
cigar and settled himself down for some
solid enjoyment.
As the red and golden glories stretched
above the horizon, light breeze sprang
up, tanning Mary Hopes checks, caress-
ing her hair lightly, and signing through
the thin selyage of trees which Dick $
father had planted along the roadway be.
fore his son was born. The god of day
wheeled his chariot alott, radiating, as
only the summer sun can, the rarest ,lnts
of amber, and crimson and gold, until the
purple glories, rolling aloft like great
pillows, gradually arched themselves into
the semblance of a gateway; through
which Mary Hope caught, in fancy,
glimpses O: the celestial city. She did
not speak, but sat perfectly quiet, drink
ing in the beauties OF the most beautiful
morning Dick Hope had ever witnessed
in the West.
There is Pringles Flat, said Dick
suddenly, pointed ahead.
Surely we have not come seven miles,
Dick :"
Scarcely. How far is that ahead :"
'Is it a mile, Dick -
Dick laughed loudly; "lt's nearer
four
II don't understand it,
That's what the smart hunters from
the East say when they shoot and miss
their game. It's the atmosphere, Mary"
"It's a small place" said his wife as
size looked forward to Pringle's Flat, ly-
ing a little below item. Beyond it there
was ribbon of molten gold, made by
the suns slanting rays falling upon the
river. And that is the river.
We'll be there in twenty minutes, y
said Dick Hope, when | want to intro
duce 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 gratifica-
ton. Her husband was a man univer.
sally admired,-as fine sp. cimen Of his
kind as was ever produced west Of Prin-
gle's Flat. The bride, during the two
hours they remained in town, created a
ripple of talk. There was something
about Dick and his wife that made peo-
pie turn TO look at them. When they
drove away, q 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 a
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
windows; it looks as though it were
really on fire. The houses are so pretty,
too, the streets so wide, and there is such
an air of peace and comfort about it |.
Why, it is like town that has grown up
in night and neat,-just what paint
er would make if he were painting towns
to please people"
I'm glad you like it. That reminds
me: do you see that house above the
church to the left -
1t looks charming-the prettiest