Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-24
Mary and John.
from he Detroit free Press.

There was a terrible thunder storm
coming UP, and thunder storm among
the mountains OF Tennessee means much
to the traveller over the narrow and wind
ing roads each one full of peril from fall
ing rocks, or rushing water. 1T was
growing dusky, too, and in the gloom
and the hurry to reach shelter l
came near riding over woman who
was coming down the road at run.
She screamed out and jumped aside,
and as she stood for a moment l called
out:
"The storm will be here in ten minutes.
Run for the housel"
For an instant l caught sight Of a white
face under a sunbOnnet. The eyes were
wild, the teeth set hard, and l thought OF
3 maniac. II was only for an instant,
and then a flash OF lightning set the horse
off at full gallon. He ran for half mile
as if frightened for his life, turned to the
right and leaped fence, and as he halted
at the door of a cabin a voice shouted in
my ear:
stable the hossp
The storm broke at that moment, and
what with the wind, the rain, the red
flashes and loud-rOlling thunder, we could
only sit and look at each other for the first
quarter of an hour. Then the storm
an occasional fierce gust, and ] knew that
it would by daybreak before we saw the
last Of it.
The man placed provisions on the table
and at down to the board with me. He
made great effort to appear hOspitable
and cheerful, but noticed that he was
listening intenutly, as if for voice or
step, and twice he rose up and went to
the window. BY and by l recOllected
seeing the woman, and asked:
'Is there a cabin within a mile OF so of
this down the road"
"None fur nigh onto three" he re-
Piled.
Then God help the woman meet
half a mile below as the storm was break
ingr"
"a womanl Did she have on sun.
bonnetp
'Yes.v
"And dark dress?"
''YesV
'Ths 1t was Mary, my wife. She said she
would, but didn't believe it,"
"WOuld what"
He rose up and flung open the door TO
look out. A sheet OF rain blew half way
across the room, extinguishing the candle
and leaving us in darkness, and the cabin
rocked under the wind as il it would blow
over. The man shut the door, relghted
the candle, and, placing it at a window so
that its light would shine down the road,
be came over to me and said;
ayes, that was my wife. We have been
married two years. YOnder IN th9 cradle
sleeps our infant"
"And what possessed herto start out in
this awful stormp
II didw he exclaimed, in an accusing
voice. ave had a quarrel. But for me
1t would have been only tribe. she was
proud and naughty, though loving and
af1ec1iOnate, and, while ] Knew / was IN
the wrong, was determined to humble
her. An hour ago, when ! demanded,
with the bearing OF tyrant, that she re-
tract certain statements, she calmly
dressed herself and set out for a seven
mile walk to her father's."
"You must have been insane 70 let her
goW
"God forgive me, but 1 would not say
one word to keep her / didn't believe
she would 70, and then she went out, kiss
ing the baby goodbye, but having neither
word nor look for me, would not ask her
TO stay"
"And what are her chances in this
stOrmw
His face was deathlY pale, and his
voice trembled like childs, az he an
swered
"Pm going TO look for her, and ! want
You TO mind the CABIN ana the cDllo' Ahc
little one is q sound sleeper, and the storm
will grow no worse"
Taking down his rifle he opened the
door and dashed out into the storm, and
was lett alone. For hours there was no
break in the fury Of the storm. For hours
the child slept peacefully through all the
turmoil.
When morning came the sky was clear,
the sun bright and the birds sang loY-
oualv. The cOlored man who had taken
care OF my horse soon appeared, and AFTER
a bite 10 eat started down the road ~
hope TO meet my host returning with his
wife. A mile and half from the cabin
found them both. Whether she nad been
struck down by fash OF Der life beaten
out by lhe storm i could not say.
She Law beside q large rock at the road.
side. In the awful darkness be bad
found her, but she was dead. He Lag De-