St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20

ne Quiet IL tllt btlttl IOsttl.
"YOu know best. Dick"
Dicks mare went at slapping pace.
"She smells OATS said Dick.
Look ut Pringle's Flat, Dick"
''Pretty, isn't it ~
There is not leaf stirring, one
would think. 1t looks so restful over
there 1t might he deserted village
at does look unusually quiet, now
notice it. But then this sun is terrible.
See if you can find our house over
there, Mary
There was long silence, and 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 | hear ?"
Il hear nothing"
"There Do you hear it now ?"
Dick inclined an ear. They were
fairly clear of the rough land at the
base of Dams Rock now and the mare
was trotting 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 some
thing in the air.
AT that instant Mary's hand clutched
his arm cOnvulsively as she cried out ::
"Oh, Dick, what is that back of us p
She was looking back with horror
stricken eyes and pale lips.
Dick turned. A cloud like a black
wall was rushing down upon them; it
seemed to Dick Hopes eyes as black
as ink. An awful fear possessed him.
There was hush, ii stiffness, i'll the
air us chilling as the terrible cloud be
hind them. $50 long - he exclaimed
desperately, cutting the mare tierccly
with his whip.
The mare shot out like an arrow,
and mt that moment another sound
like the crash of worlds. The mare
plunged, reared, then resumed her on
ward course. Her owner had lost all
control over her.
But one thought animated Dick
Hope as he clasped his wife with his
right arm, while he held fast to the
reins with his left hand, shutting his
teeth like wise. The thought was,
.'Pray God we reach the river bottom :!
The earth groaned under their feet.
A sound like the rush and roar and
scream of il million locomotives deaf
ened them. Dick Hope instinctivcly
turned and claspcd his young wife i'll
his arms. He did not see the mare
he saw nothing but his wife's face, and
something in it struck terror to his
heart. His own was ashy gray at that
moment, as was his young witc's when
l,,,l
upon him and moved her lips. Hi,
one prayer was that they might die to-
gethcr. 1t seemed to them then thai
all the sound in the air and earth wa,
condensed, gathered into one awfu
shrek. Earth and sky were obliterat
ed. Dick Hope felt himself lifted NJ
and flung like flake through the air.
When he recovered his senses h'
was lying where he had prayed to he
in the river-bottom, with his wifi
close beside him. The awful storm
did not divide them. The tornado
like Il raging beast, had simply takeI
them up in its teeth, so to speak
tossed them aside, and pursued it
path Where they were lying the
water was so shallow that it scarcel,
covered them.
Dick sat up and spoke to his wife
she did not answer. Then he put On'
hand up invOluntaIily, i'll Il weak
helpless way. There was blood on hi
face he could not see; ; his eyes were
full of sand. He struck himself il
despair, and, again grasping his wife
said, in Il hoarse voice: lyon are no
dead, Mary?"
Whether it was the water from til,
river he dashed into his face, or the
guSh of tears that came into his eyes
Dick does not know to this day, bu
suddenly his eyes became clear, ano
he could see his wife lying with he
face next him and the water washing
her long hair over her breast. He lift
ed her up. He felt her hands, he
checks. Then suddenly he summoned
all his remaining strength for one Su
prcmc effort, and dragged rather than
carried her up to the dry shelVin!
beach under the bluff. Mary Ilop'
slowly opened her eyes and looked II
her husband. Then she put her hands
slowly up to her face and covered it.
Dick saw the tears cOursin% dow
her checks. "DOn't- don't, Mary :" h
said.
81 can't help it. / am not cryini
with pain or grief; it's because yo
are living, because we both are spared.
Dicks strength returned to him. ii
stood up and looked about him. Unit
that moment he did not know that h
was cOatless and without vest or shirt
he was naked. He pressed his eye
with his hands and looked down o
himself like one awakening out of
dream. He looked at his wife, sti
sitting with her face covered with he
hands .Mary, we are almost nakeC
There is nothing on me, and your dres
is in ribbons" He looked up an
down the river i'll helpless way, sti
pressing IL hand to his heart ~ don
see-any sign Of-the buggy OF til
horse" Then he cast his glance &
the bluff back of them. Come, let Il
go up on the bank"
He had to carry her.
F at is the horrible fright, dear Dicl
I'll soon get over it," she said, when i
set her down gently on the lev'
ground.
"Mary, look over there. Do you 81
anything? My eyes are so full of sane
so sore, that can't make it out quit
Everything looks blurred
She did not answer him. 1t was III
. because her eyes were not clear. \
she looked wonderingly, her hand, til;
had never relinquished her husband
, from the moment he seated her on Il
prairie, clasped his convulsively. The
t she uttered IL loud cry.
"H-l expected as much," said Die
speaking more to himself than to h
> wife. Nothing nothing man ev,
made could stand before that storm
'.Oh, Dick, she exclaimed, sobbingl
..thcre is nothing left of the TOWN.