Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-02-17


cursed himself and his folly in having
joined them. No one seemed TO want
him. Maud, with her usual perverse-
ness, had given him careless greeting,
and turned away TO lavish her brightest
smiles and merriest speeches on Gilbert
Livingston, n man whom he cordially
hated and dcspised Mrs. Wellington
alone seemed TO need him. She was
nervous, weak and timid, dreading the
journey, and unable to control her chill
drcn's madness, so she clung TO Thorn
ton with instructive trust in his sober
strength He never dreamed, being
blind as men are, that Maud saw every
motion that he made, that she had so
placed herself as to hear every word he
| spoke. He only saw, with wrath and
shame, that she was flirting openly,
desperately, with that soulless, brainless
Livingston.
But even Thornton shook off his gloom
when they came among the hills. The
highest peaks were white with snow, re-
| flecting the setting sun with dazzling
brilliancy against the marvellous blue of
the sky. II was very cold, but clear and
still, when they left the cars for their
drive of few miles. Mr. Little met
them with his six-horse stage; the wind
had not left enough snow on the rising
ground for slcighing, to Maud's regret.
1t was an exhilarating drive. The air
was like wine, and made each inhalation
an increasing joy. The laughter and
the sweet, ringing voices of the girls no
longer Jared upon him; he was boy
again himself, and startled them by his
wit and gayety. Maud was delighted.
She warmed toward him, and left poor
Livingston shivering out of the sunlight
of her favor. 1t was all going to be
perfect success, she thought, and blessed
herself for the inspiration.
The hotel, when they reached it, after
the stars had come out superbly in the
clear air, looked as if prepared for a
siege. 1t was closed, except q few rooms
on the ground-hoor of the west and
south sides. On the north and east ev-
cry blind was securely fastened.
| "Have you had an east blow yetp'
asked Maud, as they dashed up to the
door.
"No, miss, not yet" said the land
lord. 81 guess we will hev, pretty
quick, though. The maountings hev
kinder looked like it all day.
~ hope it will come. L should con-
slider our whole trip u failure if it
doesn't"
Mr.. Little shook his head and smiled
doubtfully. ~ guess when you've seen
one, you won't be likely to want to see
another very quick"
The next day was gloriously clear.
There was no wind stirring as yet. 1t
was this stiffness that reused the fore
bodings of the landlord. His guests
had n magnificent walk, they said: they
climbed part way up Starr King, and
had view n hundred times more SUI
perb than they had ever imagined it
could be. 1t had been hard work climb
ing over the slippery rocks, and they
came back to the house delightfully."-
tired and in undiminished spirits. The
general hiarity Jagged not during the
cozy evening round the huge open fire,
and one and all pronounced their salts
faction and delight-all except Mrs.
Wellington, who had not stirred from
the fire all day, and who grew moreand
more nervous as the talk about the ex-
pected east blow continued.
In the morning Mr.. Little's predic-
tions were verified. The city peoples
ears were startled by what he had so
often described as the roaring of the
maountings." This strange, steadily
increasing roar, which seemed so mex
plicable, filled some with alarm, some
with most enjoyable excitement. Mr..
Little called them to see the s.churning
of the clouds up the chasm," and, look
ing, they forgot TO smile because he
pronounced the ch of the last word as
he did in the first. 1t was sight not to
be forgotten, grand, terrible sight, as
the angry clouds came up, rolling over
and over, as it seemed, through the gap
which opened out toward the east.
Within the house there were hurried
preparations. Mrs. Little and her sons
went about making everything as fast
as possible, while her husband and his
two men went to the barns to give the
cattle and horses food and water to last
them till the storm had passed; for when
it had reached its height, neither man
nor beast could stand against it. Thorn
ton, George and his classmate prepared
to go down to the barn and help them,
for the time seemed very short. Every
moment the tempest increased in yio-
lence. Quick as thought Maud wrapped
herself in her fur cloak, and said she
would go with them. Her mother was
so distressed that she would have de-
sisted, but that she caught Thornton's S
look of disapproval and disgust, she
thought, and then nothing could have
prevented her. Seizing her brothers.
hand, she rushed out of the house. The
barns were west of the hotel, some little
distance down the hill. The wind
carried them on as if they We're straws,
and drove them breathless against the
building. Maud had never dreamed of
its force. When they were inside the
barn, and the door had been closed with
difficulty, Thornton said to her, very
sternly:
"This is perfect folly. If you do not
go back to the house instantly, you will
not be able to go at all.''
Mr.. Little said the same; the storm
roared SO they could scarcely hear each
other even then. Maud was bitterly
ashamed of her folly, but not one whit
afraid. Even Thornton could not help
admiring even while he blamed her.
He asked Little to take her and ''the
boys' back to the house. He himself,
being strong and large. would stay and
help the men. 1t was the best plan.
The four had hard fight to return.
Holding each others hands, one keep.
ing behind the other as much as posi-
BILE, they struggled up the hill. Once
, they fell flat to the earth, but, regainine
their feet after moment, they toiled
on, and reached the protection of the
house. Little said he had never seer
the "blow come on so fast" There
was no use in his trying to go back tt
the barn; the men would do what wa.
necessary, and his strength was hal
used up by his efforts already. Aftel
, Maud had regained her breath she wen
TO the window, and would not stir o.
speak. Her eyes were fixed on tn,
, barns. The Others gathered round th,
fire in awed silence. The terror of tn,
storm was upon them. 1t seemed as |
nothing could stand against its violence
: Mrs. Wellington was nearly faintint