The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1885-12-03
FERGUSON & CoNLrY, Publishers.


breast. Was It possible, aIftor all, ubes
John had returned; that he had pas,ga
safely through the darkness and tho
floods and reached home at lasts Yes,
there was the sound of the horse walk
ling past the window at the upper end
lof the house. where Mr.. Parsons was in
the habit of riding through to The
stable.
Poor dear, what an awful time he
must have had coming through the
Storm" she said, softly, as she rosa
hurriedly and went TO light tho lantern
Opening the kitchen door she held ia
lantern in way which she hoped
would afford her husband some as
sistance in putting out his animal; if
not, would Mt least help him in getting
to the house. She heard tie whinny
with which the horse in the stable well
coined his returned mate, and expected
every moment 10 hear the stable door
open and close. and the footsteps Of
her husband as no made his way
towards her
| After waiting several moments nd
lhearing nothing further she began TO
be frightened and finally called softly:
"Johnl John!'
Getting no reply. she caught up an
old garment OF some kind, threw ii
about her shoulders. aud holding the
lantern above her mead made her way
through the rain to the stable. The
horse which her husband had ridden
stood at the door waiting to be let in.
but she could see nothing of his rider
She listened a moment and then again
called low at first and tnen with ali
her might
"John! Ooh Johnr'
The weary. drenched and mud-be-
spattered horse lifted his head and gave
a low whinny. but no answer came to
her call
'Johni 0.o-oh Johnr'
She listened; but only the swish O.
the rain, falling in literal sheets. a''S
the dull roar of the swollen waters j
the ravine below, reached her ear.
And now she noticed that the hors
IIbridie-rein was dragging. Hal "a
thrown his master, or had .Inas ~,
mounted in order to better ,reD ..sa
road. and by some means pcrlltsel tlss
animal to escape him?
She examined the bride rein and
found it broken. and she felt certain
that the horse had thrown har hnsbar'
and afterwards stepped upon tho roia
and broken it.
Then JOHN was dead The father OF
her crippled boy, her companion for SO
many years, was drowned. it might DO.
in tho angry waters that even now pGs
pouring through the gorge wi iaA
roar OF demon. Or he wa /.
the road, cold and stiff, wls - s,gO,s
eyes starsngup into the blirkon, ..sl,-
ems. the pltiless rain beatty u,l5n his
face.
Such were tho thoughts that burned
theii, way through the brain of Marlhs
Parsons as she stood dnmoly lookingat
the broken RON by tie dim light Of the
lantern. The impatient pawng Of the
horse, demanding to be lot undet
shelter. recalled her to a knowledge oj
her surroundings, and quite mecnauic,
ally she opened the stable doar. The
horse sntgred. rubbed his noso seanst
that of his fellow and began at oHae tcs
eat from tn bin IN front OF him Te.
Parsons followed him in, remoyea
saddle and Birdie, and iasing The Ian,
torn fromthe floor whelc she hjy set it.
retraoed her steps through the storm 10
the house.
Fortunately. .oHnny had not wakened
TO noe her absence and was
unaware of the return of tao horse
without his father, and size could 50
iown and think what to do. What
could she doP Over and over a.rain
she asked herself this question. II twas
Two miles to tho nearest neighbors, and
between ran the gorge, in attempting
10 cross which, perhaps. John had lost
MS life. 1t was too dark to see more
han few feet ahead of ono. even by
he aid of @ lantern, and if that were to
20 out, it would .save htr utter mas
)ility to return Besides, there waz
he sick child, who would scream him
ELF to death if he wakened and fcitnu
himself alone in the house And iusra.
hen he did waken. and she went to hin.
md gave him the water he asked FOL.
ind induced him to again close hiseyss
Isd sleep, doing it all without showins
he terrible agony at her heart. or say
ng word about the return of tlis
inrse without his ride ,.
70 hc co q