Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-13
Barbara's Ride.

Thirty years ago, when tho settle
nents Of Illinois were long distance
apart, and OF the present network o
railroads there was scarcely q founda
ZION thread, travelling was fatiguing
and in many respects, unsafe. Til
highways we're imperfect. The bridge
were but temporary shells, that almos
every freshet lifted, or swept away.
Sloughs over which fair flowers AMI
tall grass bloomed and waved. wer,
bottomless and fatal to the unfortunat,
animal or traveller Who unwittiDgly
walked into them. It was no unusus
sight TO $50 human bones, parts of AMI
mails and pieces OF vehicles, ooze u,
from their horrible Shiny depths. WIZ
could know the tragic history of thes'
remains
Perhaps these bits of suggested lif.
appeared side By side with the delicat.
blue gentian, and the pale yellow sensi
tive plant, or the heavy plumes of the
solden.rod; q strange anomaly
The ruffian awaited in some unfre
quented spot the lonely traveller or ven
turesome peddler, and committed hi
deed of robbery, perhaps Of murder
without fear Of mo1estation. The whis
pering trees never told the story of the
dark deed. and the singing stream car
ried the cry for help only as song or
its bosom.
For many years the farmers OF Cen.
trail Illinois dubbed together and car
ried their produce to Chicago, and ex.
changed it for groceries and other nee.
eesaries, the trip occupying from two
to four weeks. When, later; Peoria
was settled and made nearer market,
the forty or fifty miles seemed but a
short distance, and farmers were jubi.
LIANT over their better prospects.
Barbara Thorton lived near Q small
town about fifty miles from Peoria.
Her parents moved West whom she was
only one year old, and although her age
Wa eighteen ut the time of our story.
she could not be termed brave girl.
There was something in the newness
and wildness OF the West that kept her
in constant terror. The stories of
prowling Indians made her start st
night Of = single horseman, and hide
= The appearance Of dusky figure.
The prairie fires that frequently on
sircled her homo. shutting It in with
blaming wall, soorching the fences and
threatening the buildings with their
fiery tongues, had NO grandeur to her,
until long years after. they remained Q
picture in her memory; . picture of .
golden chain creeping and betting the
horizon like . thing Of life; creepine
nearer, leaping higher. flying swifter
than the swiftest horse; roaring, crack
ing, hissing, until madly meeting IN.
other line Of fame il flashed like .
meteor high in tho heavens, and WAS
soon followed by blsokness and dark
ness.
Tho dismal howl Of the detestsble
voH-a cry 20 hollow, 30 ghastly, so
hungry, there il no describing it
meant death and torture to Barbara, and
she connected the providing brutes with
every path in the forest. every cave in
the hills.
The sweet wild flowers suggested rat.
tlesnakes. She never dared to pick a
blossom without first feeling around
with stick for the cold, ugly coils of
her enemy, Or listening in terror for
its unwelcome rattle.
The brown auts and wild fruits-of
which there was great abundance, and
. corresponding need-were associated
with these hidden tsrrors. Even the
blue sky and lovely sunsets, unequaled
anywhere, were watched with fear OF
approaching hurricane or appalling
thunder storm; for the tempests some
times swept the prairies like hooking
fiends,. laughing at human efforts to
raise anything in their path. lay ing low
the strongest houses and leveling or
chard7 and forest.
Bsrbars's parents retained their love
for their old New England home, and
had journeyed thither and made them.
selves young again wandering over the
familiar haunts of their early DAYS.
When they returned they promised
Barbara that she should visit the scenes
sp dear to them.
The spring Of 1852 was the time set
for her visit East. The day of starting
arrived, and with her mind full of de.
ightful anticipation. Barbara stepped
into the stage, one bright morning, that
was to convey her to Peoria. There she
had arranged to meet friends, who were
to accompany her by river to La Sale,
by canal to Chicago, and thence by rail
upon her Eastern journey.
There had been heavy rains, and Bar
barss parents felt apprehensive of dan
ger on the roads to Peoria, though the
stage driver assured them they were in
good condition the day before.
"The water was high in Spoon River.
but the bridge was SAFE" he said.
Mrs. Thorton inferred from his looks
and manner that the driver had been
drinking, and said 40 to her husband;
but he quieted her fears by saying
4" He is onl- putting on airs; all
drivers do"
To the envy Of the small boys on the
village green, this monarch of high
way climbed on his seat. swaying about,
drew his reins, threw his long whip
With flourish and q crack about the
leaders, ears, and started off in fine
lyle.