Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-07-15

remind me now of Parthenia fetching wa
ter from the spring?"
''Parthenia tanned her husband, didn't
she, Dick? Pm glad your mother saved
me the trouble
That was lunch Mary Hope often re-
called in after years. Dick persisted in
forcing all kinds of dainties upon her.
"Irish fashion, as she said afterward. 1t
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
traits that he gladly cried quits as he put
his hair out of his eyes and viewed his tor
mentor.
Then they slowly mounted the massive
heap called Dan g Rock. Such view A
sweep of forty miles in one direction, east,
and almost as grand view to the west.
Dick sat down and handed his wife the
glasses as he lighted a fresh cigar. ''Do
you see that hill away off to the left
there
''Hasn't it a curious shape 20
''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 val
ley 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 neck OF
bottle. 1 saw it once; that is all want to
see.'
SIS il so awful, Dick ?'
SIT is really awful, Mary"
"And now it looks like-like the plains
of Lgypt. 1 can't conceive of anything
disturbing the perfect peace of this beau
tiful scene. See that cloud away off there
Dick"
'"About the size of mans hand +? I
see it.'
''It's the only speck in the sky" said
his wife.
''It's 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 little while"
cts three hours since we stopped at
the foot of Ian's Rock"
"My goodness, Dick -
"That's what I'm always saying to my
self when think you took me before all
the other fellows
sit can't be-"
''Look for YOURSELF" said Dick, holding
out his watch.
''It'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 while
Mary would stop to gather bits of moss
and flowers as mementoes of red-letter
day. At least an hour was consumed in
the descent. Then they got into the bug
gy and turned homeward. but not on the
road leading past Brakes.
"We want to see all that can be seen,
don't we ?" said Dick.'
"By all MEANS" answered his wife, as
she tied her hat loosely and prepared to
enjoy the drive home. sBut didn't your
father tell you to go home by brakes ?''
"The other is the better road.''
'sY GU know best, Dick.''
Dicks mare went at a slapping pace.
''She smells oats,' said Dick"
''Look at Pringle's Flat, Dick"
''Pretty, isn't it ?"
"There is not leaf stirring, one would
think. 1t looks so restful over there! It
might be a deserted village"
"It does look unusually quiet, now no.
tice it. But then this sun is terrible. see
if you can find our house over there,
Mary"
There was 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 1 hear 20
81 hear nothing"
Dick inclined an ear. They were fairly
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.
khok ,,ota No Into
bis 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
% Dick Hopes eyes as black as ink. An
awful fear possessed him. There was a
lusb, a stiffness, in the air as chilling as
The terrible cloud behind them. $50
long p he exclaimed desperately, cutting
he mare fercely with his whip.
The mare shot out like an arrow, and at
hat moment another sound smote their
,ars-a sound that was like the crash of
worlds. The mare plunged, reared, then
esumed her onward course. Her owner
lad lost all control over her.
But one thought animated Dick Hope as
le clasped his wife with his right arm,
While he held fast to the reins with his |
eft hand, shutting his teeth like vise-
That thought was, "Pray God we reach |
he river bottom!''
The earth groaned under their feet. A
ound like the rush and roar and scream
f million locomotives deafening them.
Dick Hope instinctively turned and clasp
d his young wife in his arms. He did
lot see the mare; he saw nothing but his
7ife's face, and something in it struck ter
or to his heart. His own was ashY gray