The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-08-15

4 don pun them IN. f4 yifs<,4
ssWhy, Rob?" asked the two small
boys in breath. There isn't a speck
of wind here"
g But there's plenty up there. Do
you see those clouds flying? There
a storm not far off, or I'm mistaken"
The kites were flying SO beautifully
and they had set them so high that they
could not make up their minds to bring
them down at once, although ominous
jerks at the long strings ought to have
warned them that Rob was right.
Presently Harry's string was sudden
~ pulled to its utmost tention, and then
with snap the kite was gone, sailing
quickly out Of sight in the cloudy sky.
The same gust burned Jacks over, dart
| ing about in very crazy manner, final
" landing it in far-away tree.
100 bad'' whimpered the bows
"Don't stop to fret over kites" said
Rob. II dom like the look of those
clouds; they are getting darker, and
I'm afraid we're going to have blow.
Jack, you'd better run to the house
and help mother get things fixed up
tight. Harry, come with me and we Il
see about the stock and the stables with
| father"
The blow came in good earnest, tear
ing down fences. twisting huge branch
es off trees and leveling the standing
grain. For an anxious twenty min
utes all waited in fear of still more
serious mischief, but then the wind
swept on.
I'm afraid we've only had the out
side edge OF something worse sad
father, as he looked around out of
doors and saw few fragments of
boards which looked as if they might be
from building long distance away.
And SD it proved Before night, chance
passers-by brought sad news of ruin
and desolation wrought by the cyclone,
the center of whose terrible track had
been number of miles to the south of
them, and whose chief force seemed to
have been spent on little prairie vii
lage about thirty miles distant
''Es where Cousin Annie lives"
said the boys.
Cousin Annie had lived with them as
a sister, and even Harry could remem-
Der when she had left them to 90 to
snug little home of her own in Rose
vile.
Father had enough to do to look aft
er fences. but early the next morning
Bob and Jack set out in the spring
wagon to drive over and see how Cous-
in Annie had Jared in the storm. They
had not gone many miles before its
traces lay thick about as they drove,
and Rob's anxiety grew to grave fear
as he saw more and more of its fearful
effect.
1.-THE bridge is gone" cried Jack as
they approached stream which they
must cross
Rob saw it with dismay. In ordinary
summer weather they could have ford
ed, but the stream was so swollen by
the rain which had accompanied the
storm that this was now impossible,
and, much discouraged, they turned to
take long round which would bring
them to another bridge.
As they entered the real storm track,
their way became very difficult Fall
en- trees were entangled in the brush
wood, and in many places the roadway
was partially filed with broken branch
es and the wreck of far-off ruined homes.
Turning from it to drive across the
Prairie, they tried to pass through bit
of timber, but found it almost impossi-
BILE to go on.
ave can never get to Roseviller.'
said Jack, in despair, land if we do
everything will be blown away
1--WE must 90 on, said Rob. s.Hark!
What was thatp"
A loud wailing cry came to them, and
they held their breath to listen.
Il do believe it's wildcatr' said
Jack, turning pale. .'Old Jim says he's
seen wildcats in the TIMBER
Nonsense lstenr' Again the cry
came. and Rob got out Of the wagon
and made his way among the bushes in
the direction from which the sound
came, calling as he went Jack fol-
lowed at safe distance, but hurried up
as he heard Rob say:
''Oh, you poor little thing!''
He was pulling apart a tangle of
bushes, under which, looking up at
them with wistful eyes aud pitiful little |
sobs. was pretty boy two or three
years old.
In great excitement Rob raised him |
in his arm, greatly touched at seeing |
how the little fellow chung to him. His |
clothing was almost torn of, and he
seemed badly scratched and bruised
Brought here by the stormr' said |
Rob. Whose can he be, and how can |
we find his parents?'
They gave him something to eat,
pleased at seeing how eagerly he drank |
some milk mother had put into bottle
for their lunch. And then he sank con-
tentedly to sleep on Jacks arm, while |
Rob tried his best to get free of the OBJ
structioDs which surrounded him; and |
st last. as twilight was falling, made
his way to what was left of the pretty
village he had visited the previous sum-
mer.
What a sad scene of devastation il |
was. Very few houses were left stand
ing, and few of the people were
H.. x Il L