The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-10-17
MARY AND JOHN.
I'm Incident of a Thunder Storm in the
Mountains of Tennessee.

Mountains of Tennessee.
There was terrible thunder storm
coming up, and thunder storm
lmong the mountains of Tennessee
means much to the traveller over the
narrow and winding roads, each one
'ull of peril from falling rock or rush
ne water. 1t was growing dusky, too,
md in the gloom and the hurry to
each shelter / came near riding over
L woman who was coming down the
toad at run. She screamed and
Jumped aside, and as she stood for q
moment called out:
THE storm will be here in ten min
ltes. Run for the house,
For an instant | caught sight of a
white face under sunbonnet. The
eyes were wild. the teeth set hard, and
thought of maniac 1t was only
for an instant, and then flash of light
ming set the horse off at full gallop.
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 voice shouted in my
ear:
"Git down and come in! Ike will
stable the hoss!"
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 stormed lulled into a steady
pour, accompanied by an occasional
fierce gust, and | knew that it would
be daybreak before we saw the last of
it.
The man placed provisions on the
table and sat down to the board with
me. He made great effort to appear
hospitable and cheerful, but | noticed
that he was listening intently, as if for
voice or step, and twice he rose up
and went to the window. BY and by
| recollected of seeing the woman, and
asked:
rs there cabin within mile or so
of this down the roadp"
'None fur nigh on to three" he re-
piled.
Then God help the woman l met
breaking!'
"a woman! Did she have on a sun
bonnetPn
Yes"
"And dark dress?"
"Yes."
THAT was Mary, my wife! She said
she would, but didn't believe it.
"Would whatPN
He rose up and flung open the door
to look out. A sheet of rain blew hall
way across the room, eXtinguishing the
candle and leaving us in darkness, and
the cabin rocked under the wind as if
il would blow over. The man shut the
door, relighted the candle, and, placing
it at a window so that its light would
shine down the road, he came over to
me and said:
Eyes, that was my wife. We have
been married two years. Yonder in
the cradle sleeps our infant
"And what possessed her to start out
in this awful stormpo
II did!' he exclaimed, in an accus-
ing voice. I'VE had quarrel. But
for me it would have been only a
tritle. She was proud and naughty,
though loving and atlectionate, and,
while | knew | was in the wrong, / was
determined to humble her. An hour
ago, when | demanded, with the bear
ing of a tyrant, that she retract certain
statements, she calmly dressed herself
and set out fora seven-mile walk TO her
fathers.
you must have been insane to LET
her gor'
''God forgive me, but | would not
say one word to keep her! | didn't be.
lieve she would go, and when she wen
out, kissing the baby goodbye, bu
having neither word nor look for me,
would not ask her to-stay."
''And what are her chances in thil
Storm"
His face was deathly pale, and his
voice trembled like child's, as he an
swered:
I'm going to look for her, and
want you to mind the cabin and the
child. The little one is u sounC
sleeper, and the storm will grow nc
worse"
Taking down his rifle, he opened thu
door and dashed out into the storm
and | was left 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 wa
clear, the sun bright and the bird
sang ioyously. The colored man whc
had taken care Of my horse soon ap
peared, and after bite to eat / started
Al 4 L