Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-20
7ringle's Flat.
THE STORY OF A WESTERN TORNADO.
From Lippincott's Masazine.l

tring!e FIAT.
THE STORY OF A WESTERN TORNADO.
From Lppincott's Masazine.l
"You will have n beautiful day, m
dear, said Mrs Hope, as she looked AZ
miringly first at her son Dick, who va
driving up to the door i'll his new buggy
then at her daughter in-law, Mary Hope
I whose honeymoon was mt its full.
Il am SO gladl' said the young wife
"What lovely weather we have had eve
since | came here ! not at all like wha
some of my friends predicted when the
said We ought to spend our honev-moo
in the East.
Dick Hope at that moment spranS on
of his buggy lightly, and gallantly eN
tended hand TO his wife.
Nonsense - exclaimed Mary Hope
81 am not such helpless creature that
can't get i'll myself" and she steppe
lightly into the buggy with a merr
laugh.
Mrs. Hope the elder gave an approx
ing nod: Its Just as well 10 let Die
know you can help yourself Thes
Western men
"Need managing like other men, in
| lCl Ni'h ''h'aAi
er laugh.
Old Mr.. Hope, coming down from th'
stables at that moment, eyed the horse
buggy, and harness Dick had expende'
seven hundred dollars on that turn
then stood patting the herse s neck kindly
He was an admirer of fine horses. nu'
his Judgment was sought far and Wide oi
all points of horse-tiesh There's fin,
mettle mere, Dick"
81 know it, said Dick proudly.
"Cheap at four hundred" said Mr.
Hope. Have you tried her Yet"
81 think she's good for two-twenty-on'
without much of an effort.
"That reminds me, Dick !; you'd bcs
take the road round by brakes.
''And lose good hal!-hour. saiC
Dick.
That's long way round. father,
said the elder Mrs. Hope.
You take my advice, said her hus
band 81 mean coming back. 1t doesn
matter going. If it should blow yor
will find it safest"
Dick, who was adjusting n strap, looked
off east and west. smiled in satisfied
way. and observed, Il don't see any signs
of storm
Nor l., said his father ''but 10 one
knows anything about the wind here. I'll
never forget the sweep got twenty years
ago coming over Pringle's Flat.
THAT is where we are going. isn't 1t.
Dick?" Mrs. Dick Hope looked the least
tritle ANXIOUS rs she turned Ia her hus-
band.
WAS it so bad. Mr.. Hope?'
"Bdd, Bads no name for it, Why,
it blew my wagon rs far as from here to
the barn, blew the horses of their feet,
tore up trees, and lodged me against Il
rock that saved my life
"That must have been terrible" said
Mary Hope
Don't let him frighten you, said Dicl,
smilingly: lightning never strikes
twice i'll the same place. I'm all right,
You see. The only time | was blown
away was when l went East for you. Are
We all ready now? Basket in. mother?'
Mrs Hope nodded gayly, Dick lifted
the reins lightly, and away the new bug
gy with its happy occupants sped over
the prairie.
There is Pringle's Fiat," said Dick
suddenly, pointing ahead.
Surely we have not come seven miles,
Dick?"
Scarcely. How far is that ahead .
''1s it mile, Dick"
Dick laughed loudly: ITS near four.
Il don't understand il.
That what the smart hunters from
the East say, when they shoot and miss
their game. It's the atmosphere, Mary.
''lt's small place." said his wife, rs
she looked forward to Pringle's Flat. ly-
ing little below them. Beyond it there
was a ribbon Of molten gold, made hy
the suns slanting rays falling upon the
river. "And that is the river.
well be there in twenty minutes.
sain Dick Hope, ''when want To intro
duce you to some of the incest people III
this end of the State
The people Dick referred To- received
the young couple i'll manner that made
Mary Hopes check glow with gratifica-
ton. Her husband was man univerally
admire. as 4 fine specimen of his kind
as was ever produced west of Pringle's
Flat. The bride during the two hours
they remained in the town, created a MP
pie of talk. There was something about
Dick and his wife that made people turn
to look at them. When they drove away,
a 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 a back
ward glance at Pringle's Flat. Pretty,
isn't X -
'Pretty - said his wife. "Why. Dick,
it's lovely See the light on the church.
windows it looks as though ii We're real
ly on fire. The houses are soplenty. too,
the streets SO wide, and there is such an
air of peace and comfort about it Why,
it is like town that has grown up i'll Il
night, it is So wonderfully clean and neat,
just what painter would make ii he
were painting towns to please people.
I'm glad You like it. That reminds
me do You see that house above the
church, 10 the left?'
sit looks charming, the rr, r,tticst
house there"
"Glad you like it..
"Why, Dick?"
Its yours. | bouglt it before | went
Fast for you. Well look inside of it
when We return if we have time"
That was Dick Hopes way.
The drive to Dams Rock occupied an
hour Now for trial of your strength
said Dick, as he tied his horse TO II tree at
H.; g a. ,.or'',,,,I - IL. -, !.
H., Innoh o'''
Nj aI;t d. ILL., .;l
Mrs Hone.
That's the prooramme what w,. came
out for to-day. You've heard 50 much of
the view from Dams Rock that Won want
to see it for yourself
That was lunch Mary Hope often re-
.l =. i
forcin@ all kinJs If ,I,iniirs man her
.1risb f,sb;on az she sail ofterw.rJ II
WAS the first time she had ever had him
+, herself in tbe clad Jnv with mo curio,,,
.vn. Ia ,e.,, nn tj.u AMI .b. suI,ie,,eJ
her lori ami m,ster IN Ler tur tn su.I
straits tb,, he Gladly crieJ ouits as IA,
nut his hair ami al lis eyes md vi,wc,
histormentor
Then they SLOWLY p,ou,ird thn mossiv,
heap called bans Rock. Such a view