Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-11-10
PRINGLE'S FLAT.

A day of December and June.
The Spectator.
--Ds-s->--
PRINGLE'S FLAT. -
A Honeymoon Experience In the Far West.
''You will have beautiful day. my dear, 3"
said Mrs. Hope. as she looked admiringly
first at hel son Dick, as he was driving up
to the door in a new buggy, then at her
daughter in law, Mrs. Hope whose honey
moon was at its full.
Il am SO glad' said the young wife.
what lovely weather we have had ever
since I came here! not at all what some of
my 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 gallantly extended
q hand to his wife.
1Nonsense!" exclaimed Mary Hope. Il
am not such helpless creature that can't
get in myself, and she stepped lightly into
the buggy with merry 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 the turn ouO.
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 metal there, Dick"
81 know it, said Dick proudly.
Cheap at feur hundred" said Mr.. Hope.
"Haye you tried her YETI"
81 think she is good for two-twenty -one
without an effort.
why, isn't that fast horse, Dick? asked
his wife, whose curiosity was aroused.
just middling," answered her husband.
We have them out here faster than that. "
1T is FAST" said his father ave used
to think it impossible, but we've got So far
on that there's no telling what's in a horse.
l like this mare very much. If it was any
body elses I'd
Come, now, what would you give, ia
tber?" said Dick, banteringly.
1T S all in the family, so I'm saved
hundred dollars, at least
"a hundred more wouldn't buy her, IA
Their. Just say to anybody that covets my
new mare l won't take a cent less than
800. Why, she goes like the wind"
THAT reminds me, Dick. you'd best take
the road round by brakes"
And loose 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'll find it
safest"
Dick, who was adjusting strap. looked
off east and west, smiled in a satisfied way,
and observed: II don't see any signs of a
storm
Nor I" said his father, ''hut no on
knows anything about that wind here. II
never forget the sweep got twenty years.
ago coming over Pringle's Flat"
u-l
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 off their feet, tore
up trees, and lodged me against rock and
saved my life.
That must have been TERRIBLE" said
Mary Hope.
Don't let him brighten you," said Dick,
smilingly; lightning never strikes ice in
the same place. I'm all right you see. The
only time l was blown away was when l
went east foI you. Are We ready now?
Basket In, mother?'
Mrs. Hope nodded gaily, 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
shadowy mist that hung over the prairie,
and the line of woodland that.lay away off
to the west like the fringe of neatly cut
garment. The young wife inhaled the per-
fumes exhaled from the flowers, filling
the atmosphere with rich oders. There
were lines upon lines of variegated tints
above the horizon. Such sunrise Mary
Hope mad never looked upon except among
the mountains. There tints of crimson,
amber and gold, and all white pillars rolled
majestically-palaces more magnificent and
stately than the human mind can conceive.
"How grand! she said, as Dick looked
smilingly at her.
As the red and golden glories stretched
above he horizon. light breeze sprung up,
tanning Mary Hopes cheeks, caressing her
hair lightly, and signing through the thin
shelvage of trees that Dicks father had
planted along the roadside before Dick
was born. The god of dav wheeled his
chariot aloft, radiating. as only the summer
sun can, the rarest tints of amber, crimson
and gold, until the purple glories, rolling
like great pillows, gradually arched them
selves into the semblance of 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 Prlngles Flat" said Dick sud-
denly pointing ahead.
Surely we have not come seven miles
yet, Dick?"
scarcely How far is that ahead?"
cit is mile, DICK. " .r.--.
Dick laughed loudly; "Its near .our "
I 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 small place" said his wife, as she
looked forward to Pringles Flat, lying a
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, when I want to introduce 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 qualification. Her
husband was universally admired-as fine a
specimen of his kind as was ever produced
west Of Pringle's fiat. The bride, during
the two hours they remained in the town
created q ripple Of talk There was some
thing about Dick and his wife that made
people turn and look at them. When they
drove away, 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 backward
glance at Pringle's Flat. Pretty, isn't it2
Pretty!" said his wife, ''why, Dick, it is
lovelyi See the hight on the church win
dows; it looks as though it really were on
fire. The houses are so pretty, too"
I am glad you like it. That reninds
me; do you see that house above the church,
to the left?"
ut looks charming-the prettiest house
there"
Glad you like it."
'Why, Dick?a
Its yours. I bought it before I went
east for you. Wen look inside Of it when
we return, if we have time"
That was Dick Hopes way.