The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-02-24
BARBARA'S RIDE.

ments of Illinois were long distances
apart, and of the present network of
railroads there was scarcely founda-
ton thread, travelling was fatiguing,
and, in many respects, unsafe. The
highways were imperfect. The bridges
were but temporary shells, that almost
every freshet lifted, or swept away.
Sloughs, over which fair flowers aud
tall grasses bloomed and waved, were
bottomlcss and fatal to the unfortunate
animal or traveller who unwittingly
walked into them. 1t was no unusual
sight to see human bones, parts of ami
mails and pieces of vehicles ooze up
from their horrible, Shiny depths. Who
could know the tragic history of these
remains?
Perhaps these bits of suggested life ap-
peared side by side with the delicate blue
gentian and the pale, yellow sensitive
plant, or the heavy plumes of the gold
en-rod-a strange anomaly!
The ruffian awaited in some unfre-
quented spot the lonely traveller or
verturesome peddler, and committed
his deed of robbery, perhaps of murder,
without fear of molestation. The
whispering trees never told the story
of the dark deed, and the singing stream
carried the cry for help only as a song
on its bosom.
For many years the farmers of Central
Illinois clubbed together and carried
their produce to Chicago, and ex-
changed it for groceries and other
necessaries, the trip occupying from
two to four weeks. When, later, Peo-
ria was settled and made q nearer
market, the forty or fifty miles seemed
but a short distance, and farmers were
jubilant over their better prospects.
Barbara Thornton lived near a small
town about fifty miles from Peoria.
Her parents moved West when she was
only one year old. and although her age
was eighteen at 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 at
sight of single horseman, and hide at
the appearance of dusky figure.
The prairie fires that frequently en-
circled her home, shutting it in with a
blazing wall, scorching the fences and
threatening the buildings with their
fiery tongues. had no grandeur to her,
until long years after, they remained a
picture in her memory; a picture of a
golden chain creeping and betting the
horizon like a thing of life; creeping
nearer, leaping higher, flying swifter
than the swiitest horse; roaring, crack
ing, Kissing, until madly meeting
another line of flame it flashed like a
meteor high in the heavens, and was
soon followed by blackness and dark
ness.
IT, 1:.x.~.1 lo,,., - A. l.xn,
wolf-a cry so hollow, so ghastly, so
hungry, there is no describing it-meant
death and torture to Barbara, and she
connected the prowling brutes with
every path in the forest, every cave in
the hills.
The sweet wild-nowers suggested
rattlesnakes. 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
UNIV elcome rattle.
The brown nuts and wild fruits-of
which there was great abundance,
and corresponding need-were asso-
ciated with these hidden terrors. Even
the blue sky and lovely sunsets, une-
qnaled anywhere. were watched with
fear of approaching hurricane or ap-
sometimes swept the prairies like mock
ing fiends, laughing at human efforts to
raise anything in their path, laying low
the strongest houses and leveling orch
ard and forest.
Barbara's parents retained their love
for their old New England home, and
had journeyed thither and made thcm-
selves young again wandering over the
familiar haunts of their early days. When
they returned they promised Barbara
that she should visit the scenes so 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-
lightful 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
bara's 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.
1.-The water was high in Spoon River,
but the bridge was safe," he said.
Mrs. Thornton inferred from his looks
and manner that the driver had been
drinking, and said so to her husband; :
but he quieted her fears by saying:
He is only putting on airs; all
drivers do"
To the envy of the small boys on the
village green, this monarch of the high
way climbed to his seat, swaying about,
drew his reins, threw his long whip
with flourish and a crack about the
leaders ears, and started of in fine
style.
Mrs. Thornton went into the house