River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-04-27

and turned away to lavish her brightea
smiles and merriest speeches on Gilber
Livingston, a man whom he cordial,
hated and despised. Mrs. Wellington
alone seemed to need him. She wa
nervous, weak and timid, dl eading tn,
journey, and unable to control he
children's madness, so she chung Z
Thornton with instructive trust in hi
sober strength. He never dreamed
being blind as men are, that Maud saw
every motion that he made, that sh,
had so placed herself as to hear ever,
word he spoke. He only saw witt
wrath and shame, that she was flirting
openly, desperately, with that soulless
brainless Livingston.
But even Thornton shook off hi
gloom when they came among the
hills. The highest peaks were white
with snow, rejecting the setting sur
with dazzling brilliancy against the
marvellous blue of the sky. 1t 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 fol
sleighing, to Maud's regret. 1t was an
exhilarating drive. The clear air made
each inhalation an increasing Joy.
The laughter and the sweet, ringing
voices of the girls no longer Jared
upon him he was 10y himself and
startled them by his wit and gayety
Maud was delighted. She warmed to-
ward him and left poor Livingston
Of thn 1nhf IF h.
favor. 1t was all going to be perfect
success, she thought, and blessed her.
self 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 siege. 1t was closed, except a
few rooms on the ground floor of the
west and south sides. On the north
and east every blind was securely
fastened.
Have you had an east blow yet?''
asked Maud, as they dashed up to the
door.
mo, miss; not yet" said the land
lord. 81 guess we will hev, pretty
quick, though. The mountings hev
kinder looked like it all day"
81 hope it will come. l should con-
slider our whole trip failure if it
does Mt"
Mr.. Little shook his head and smiled
doubtfully. "I guess when you've seed
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
holdings of the landlord. His guests
had a manifcent walk, they said; they
climbed part way up Starr king and
had view a hundred times more SUI
perb than they had ever imagined it
could be. 1t had been hard work
climbing over the slippery rocks and
they came back to the house delight
fully tired and in undiminished spirits.
The general hiiarity tagged not dur
ing the coy evening round the huge,
open fire, and one and all pronounced
their satisfaction and delight-all ex-
cept Mr.. Wellington, who had not stir
red from the fired all day, and who
grew more and more nervous as the
talk about the expected east blow con-
tinued.
In the morning Mr.. Titles predict
ions were verified. The city peoples
ears were startled by what he had so
often described as the roaring of the
maounting.." The strange, steadily
increasing roar, which seemed so mex
plicable, filled some with alarm, some
with most enjoyable excitem ent. Mr..
Little called them to see the ''churnlng
of the clouds up the chasm," and, look
ing, they forgot the smile because he
pronounced CHI of the last word as he
did in-the first. Ii 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 Masking 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 until the storm had passed;
for when it had reached its height,
neither man or beast could stand
against it. Thernton, 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 violence.
Quick as thought Maud wrapped her
self in her fur cloak, and said that she
would 90 with them. Her mother was
so distressed that she would have de-
sisted, but that she caught Thornton's
look of disapproval and disgust, she
thought, and then nothing could have
prevented her. Selling her brothers
hand she rushed out of the house. The
barns was west of the hotel and some
little distance down hill. The wind
carried them on as if they were 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 goat all"
Mr.. Little said the same; the storm
roared so that they could scarcely hear
each other even then. Maud was bit
terly a. named 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 a hard fight to return. Tax
ing each others hands, one keeping
behind the other as much as possible,
they struggled up the hill. Once they
fell fiat to the earth, but regaining their
feet after moment they toiled on and
reached the protection of the house
Little said he had never seen the elbow
como OH so fast" There was no use IN
his trying to go back to the barn. the
men would do what was necessary, and
his strength was half used up in his
efforts already. After Maud had re-
gained her breath she went to the win
dow, and would not stir or speak. Hel
ewes we're fixed on the barns. The
others gathered round the fire in awed
silence. The terror of the storm wal
upon them. 1t seemed as If nothing
could stand against its violence. Mrs