The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-06
PRINGLEs FLAT.

J
you viii have beautiful day,
Mary dear" said Mrs. Hope, as she
looked admiringly first at her son
Dick, who was driving UP to the
door in his new buggy, then at her
daughter-in-law, Mary Hope, whose
honeymoon was at its full.
II am so glad !" said the young
wife. what lovely weather we
have had ever since / came here !
not at all like what some of my
friends predicted when they sid we
ought to spend our honeymoon in
the East
Dick Hope at that moment
sprang out of his buggy lightly,
and gallantly extended a hand to
his wife.
Nonsense !" exclaimed Mary
Hope. Il am not such helpless
creature that | can't get in myself; J"
and she stepped lightly into the
buggy, with a merry laugh.
Mrs. Hope the elder gave an ap-
proving nod Its just as well to
LET Dick know you can help your
sell. These Western men
'Need managing like other men"
interrupted her daugter-in-law, with
another laugh.
Old Mr.. Hope, coming down from
the stables at that moment, eyed the
horse, buggy and harness, (Dick had
expended seven hundred dollars ON
that turn-ouD, then stood patting
the horses neck kindly. He was
an admirer Of fine horses, and his
judgment was sought far and wide
on all points of horse flesh There's
fine mettle here, Dick"
Il know it." said Dick, proudly.
"Cheap at four hundred" said
Mr.. Hope. Have you tried her
yet ?"
Il think she is good for two
twenty-one without much OF an eff
fort"
"Why, isn't that fast horse,
Dick ?" asked his wife, whose curl
osity was aroused.
'Just middling," answered her
husband. I'VE have them out here
faster than that"
'.It is fast" said his father. "We
used to think it impossible, but we
have got so far on now there's no
telling what's in a horse. | like this
mare very much. If it was any
body else's, I'd"
"Come now, father, what would
you give ?" said Dick, banteringly.
Its all ia the family, SO I'm say
ed a hundred dollars at least
"A hundred more wouldn't buy
her father. Just say to anybody
that covets my new mare that |
won't take n cent less than seven
hundred dollars. Why she goes like
the wind"
'That reminds me, Dick, you'd
best take the road round by Mr..
brakes.
"And lose good half-hour," said
Dick.
"That's long way round, father"
said the elder Mrs. Hope
"You take my advice" said her
husband. II mean coming back. |
1t doesn't matter going. If it should
blow YOU will find it safest"
Dick, who was adjusting strap,
looked off east and west, smiled in a |
satisfied way and observed: 81 don't
see any signs of.a storm"
Nor |, said his father but no
one knows anything about the wind |
here. III 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 trifle anxious as she turn
ed to her husband. WAS itso bad,
Mr.. Hope ?"
bad Bad's no name for it.
Why it blew my wagon as far as
from here to the barn, blew the
horses off their feet, tore up trees |
and lodged me againsta rock that
saved my life"
'sThat must have been terrible"
said Mary Hope. 4
Don't let him frighten you" said |
Dick. smilingly; lightning never
strikes twice in the same place. I'm
all right. you see. The only time l
was blown away was when | went
East for you. Are we all ready now2
Basket in, mother ?"
Mrs. Hope nodded gayly. Dick
lifted the reins lightly and away the
new buggy with its happy occu-
pants sped over the prairie.
1t was early morning. The fin
gers of the dew stretched upward,
iissolying the shadowy mist that
hung over the prairie and the
thin line of woodland that lay away
off TO the west like a fringe on a
neatly cut garment. The young
wife inhaled the perfumes exhaled
from the flowers, filling the atmos-
phere with rich oders. There were
lines upon lines of vsriegated tints
above the horizon. Such sunrise
Mary Hope had never looked on ex-
cept among the mountains. There
were fints of crimson, amber and