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

''You will have beautiful day, my 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 daugh-
ter-in-law, Mary Hope, whose honeymoon
was at its full.
Il am so glad :" said the young wife.
"WhAt lovely weather we have had ever since
l came here not at all like what some of
friends predicted when they said we ought to
spend our honeymoon in the East"
Dick Hope at that moment sprang out of
his buggy lightly, and calamity extended a
hand TO his wife.
Nonsense !" exclaimed Mary Hope. ''I
am not such helpless creature that can't
get in myself !" and she stepped lightly into
the buggy with merry laugh.
Mrs Hope the elder gave an approving
nod: ITS just as well to let Dick know you
can help yourself These Western men"
Need managing like other men," inter
rupted her daughter-in-law with another
laugh.
Old Mr.. Hope, coming down from the sta
bles at that moment, eyed the horse, buggy,
and harness (Dick had expended seven hun
dred dollars on that turn OUT, then stood pat
ting the horses neck kindly. He was an ad-
mirer of fine horses, and his judgment was
sought far and wide on all points of horse
flesh: ''There's fine mettle here, Dick"
81 know it," said Dick proudly.
"Cheap at four hundred" said Mr.. Hope.
''Have you tried her yet 2"
81 think she's good for two-twenty-one
without much of an effort"
'Why, isn't that fast horse, Dick ?" asked
his wife, whose curiosity was aroused.
Just middling," answered the husband.
1--WE have them out here faster than that"
1T is fast" said his father ''We used to
think 1t impossible, but we have got SO far
on now there's no telling what's in horse.
l like this mare very much. If it was any
body else's, I'd"
Come now, what would you give, father ?"
said Dick banteringy.
ITS all in the family, SO I'm saved hun
dred dollars at least"
"A hundred more wouldn't buy her, father
just say to anybody that covets my new
mare wont take cent less than seven hun
dred dollars. Why, she goes like the wind"
THAT reminds me, Dick; you'd best take
the road round by brakes"
'And lose good half hour" said the elder
Mrs. Hope.
'You take my advice" said her husband.
II mean coming back. 1t doesn't matter
going. II it should blow you will find it
safest"
Dick, who was adjusting q strap, louked of
east and west, smiled in a satisfied way, and
observed, ~ don't see any signs of a storm"
Nor l." said his father; "but no one
knows anything about the wind here I'll
never forget the sweep l got twenty years
ago coming over Pringles Flat"
That is where We are going, isn't it,
Dick?" Mrs. Dick Hope looked the least
trife anxious as she turned to her husband
"Was it SO 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 of their feet, tore up
trees, and lodged me against rock that
THAT must have been terrible, said Mary
Hope.
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 / was blown away was when went
East for you. Are we all ready now? Bas-
ket in, mother?"
Mrs. Hope nodded gayly, Dick lifted the
reins lightly and away the new buggy with
its happy occupants sped over the prairie.
1t was early morning. The fingers of the
dawn stretched upward, dissolving the shad-
owy mist that hung over the prairie and the
thin line of woodland that lay away of to the
west like fringe on a neatly 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 tints above the horizon. Such
sunrise Mary Hope had never looked on ex-
cept among the mountains. There were
tints of crimson, amber and gold and above
all white pillars rose majestically-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
aud settled himself down for some 'solid en-
joyment"
As the red and golden glories stretched
above the horizon, a light breeze sprang up,
hair lightly, and signing through the thin
selvage of trees which Dicks father had
planted along the roadway before his son was
born. The god of day wheeled his chariot
aloft, radiating, as only the summer sun can,
the rarest tints Of amber and crimson and
gold, until the purple glories, rolling aloft
like great billows, gradually arched them
selves into the semblance of a gateway
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 sudden
ly pointing ahead
'Surely we have not come seven miles,
DickY
Scarcely How far is that ahead 2"
rs II q mile, DickY
Dick laughed loudly. "It's nearer four"
81 don't understand IT,"