Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-11-06

She could still see little distance
through the deepening gloom, and she
observed that the water had cut bits of
gulleys between the potato rows, and
that the stubble field below had the APP
pearance of having become lake The
rain, too, :instead of decreasing as the
night set In, was, if possible, falling
faster than ever; and she could hear
faint roar coming up from the ravine,
and knew that soon the water would be
rushing through it in great volume, and
with q force that would overwhelm any
living thing caught in its path; and
a half dozen such ravines crossed the
road over which her husband must pass
in coming from Phippsburg.
She shuddered as she listened, and
turning away, went and sat down by
Johnny's crib and tried to interest him
by reading little story from child's
paper. But the boy was too sick to
care for hearing her read; he wanted
his father, and kept asking when he
would come, to which she could only
reply that they might look for him any
moment now, but that the rain might
make him late, and they must be pa
tient
And so the hours wore on and the
rain continued to fall, while every mo-
ment the weight at her heart grew
heavier and more oppressive johnny
slept fitfully, waking every few mo-
ments and always asking If father had
not come YETI or if his mother
''thought father would come home
pretty soon now, until the sudden clap
of thunder came, at which he was
seized with an awful fright and scream
ed again and again with all the force of
his weak lungs. Even his mother was
startled into an involuntary eyclama-
ton by the suddenness of the concus-
sion, and for an instant she thought the
cottage had been caught in land slide.
She controlled herself at the sound of
the child's cry, and bending down.
lifted him tenderly in her arms, cud-
as if he had been but babe. 1t was
only with difficulty that she checked
his screams, and even then he was so
begged so piteously for his father, that
it was only by calling to her aid all the
fortitude which she possessed, that
Martha Parsons was herself enabled to
keep from breaking down.
1t was an hour before Johnny was
sufficiently calm to be again laid in his
crib. AS soon as she could leave his
side for moment she went to the
window and tried to peer out into the
darkness. She had placed one of the
lamps in the window some hours be-
fore, hoping that it might prove bea-
con to guide her husband If he was still
living, which she was almost ready to
doubt, so utterly, desolate all things
seemed.
Pressing her face close to the glass
she endeavored to penetrate the awful
gloom; hut could only see for few
feet into the darkness. The rays of
light from the lamps had power to pene-
trate no farther. 1t seemed to her, as
she stood there, straining her eyes in a
vain effort TO see. that the darkness was
living thing, and that it devoured the
rays of light bodily, or contended with
them and slew them as they strove to
make headway against the night
When the lamp burned low for an in
stant, and the light sent out through
the window was less strong, she was
almost sure she saw the darkness put
out Its hands and grasp the rays of light
and strangle them.
Mingled with the steady swish of the
falling rain, the roar OF the water rush
ing through the ravine now came clear
and distinct and knowing it was all
ones life was worth to attempt to cross
it, she gave up all hope OF seeing her
husband that night, If ever again, and
only prayed that he might be in place
of safety, and out of the reach of the
elements that appeared as if about to
swallow up the mountain.
1t was a little past midnight, and
Johnny had again dropped OFF into a
light sleep. when from the direction of
the gate opening into the inclosure came
the sound'of horse neighing. The
watcher within listened intently, and
with new hope springing up in her
breast. Was 1t possible, after all, that
John had returned; that he had passed
safely through the darkness and the
floods and reached home at lastp Yes,
there was the sound Of the horse walk
ing past the window at the upper end
OF 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, y she said, softly, as she rose
burriedly and went TO light the lantern.
Opening the kitchen door she held the
lantern in way which she hoped
would afford her husband some as
sistance in putting out his animal; II
not, would at least help him in getting
to the house. She heard the whinny
with which the horse in the stable vel
somed his returned mate, and expected
every moment to hear the stable door
open and close, and tho footsteps of
her husband as he made his way
towards ner.
After waiting several momenis and