Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-05-19


themselves into the semblance of q gate
way through which Mary Hope caught,
in fancy, glimpses Of the celestial city.
She did not speak, but sat perfectly
quiet, drinking in the beauties of the
most beautiful morning Dick Hope had
ever witnessed in the West.
"There is Pringle's Flat" said Dick,
suddenly, pointing ahead.
"Surely we have not come seven
miles, Dick2"
Scarcely How far is that ahead..?''
els it mile, Dick g'
"That's what the smart hunters from
the East say when they shoot and miss
their game. It's the atmosphere, Mary"
ssIt's small place." said his wife, as
she looked forward to Pringle's Flat,
lying little below them. Beyond it
there was a 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 -
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 man univer-
sally admired-as fine specimen of his
kind as was ever produced west of Prin-
gle's Flat. The bride during the two
hours they remained in the town created
ripple of talk. There was something
about Dick and his wife that made peo-
pie turn to look at then. When they
drove away g. score of friends waved
good wishes and tossed kisses after
them.
I" Now for Dams Rock" said Dick, as
he gave his mare the rein and cast a
backward glance at Pringle's Flat.
Sc 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 COM
fort about It'll Why, it is like town
that has grown up in a night, it is so
wonderfully clean and neat-iust what
painter would make if he were paint
ing 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
house there"
"Glad you like it."
"Why, Dick?'
cts yours. I bought it before
went East for you. Well look inside of
it 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, 2
said Dick, a, he tied his horse to tree
at the base of the great rock and assist
ed his wife to the ground where they
were to lunch.
Must I climb up there, Dick p said
Mrs. Hope.
That's the programme, what we
came out for to-day. You've heard SO
much of the view from Dams Rock that
you want to see it for yourself. Doyou
know you remind me now of Parthenia
fetching water from the spring ?"
"Parthenia tanned herhusband, 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, &c Irish fashion," as she said after
ward. It was the first time she had ever
had him to 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 mass
i've heap called Dams Rock. Such a
viewl A sweep of forty miles in one
direction, east, and almost as grand a
view to the west.
Dick sat down and handed his wife
the glasses as he lighted fresh cigar.
Do you see that hill away off to the
left there?'
"Hasn't it curious shape?"
"That's where the wind comes from.
They manufacture it up there"
"What do you mean, Dick ?"
There's valley back there that ex-
tends full 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 trouble. Isaw
it once; that is all / want to see.D
els it so awful, Dick p
"It is really awful, Mary"
'sAnd now it looks hke-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?
see it,"
"Its the only speck in the sky said
his wife.
cts 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 a little
while"
"It's three hours since we stopped at
the foot of Dams Rock"
"My goodness, Dickl'
That's what I'm always saying to
4 myself when think you took me be-
fore all the other fellows ~
cit can't be-"
/ "Look for yourself" said Dick, hold.
ing out his watch.
ssIt's the grandest day Of nv life,
Dick. I wouldn't have missed it fof
anything
He gave her his hand and helped hel
down the rough places. Once in q
while Mary would stop to gather bits
of moss and flowers as mementos of q
red letter day. At least an hour was
consumed in the descent. Then they
got into the buggy and turned home
4 vpard Iaf1f not IN tho rood leading no a