The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-08-25
MARY AND JOHN.
An Incident of a Thunder Storm in
the Mountains of Tennessee.

11@
An Incident of a Thunder Storm in
the Mountains of Tennessee.
There was terrible thunder storm
coming up. and thunder storm among
the mountains of Tennessee means much
to the traveller over the narrow and win
ding roads, each one full of peril from
failing rocks or rushing water. IL was
growing dusky, too, and in the gloom
and the hurry to reach shelter came
near riding over woman who was com-
ing down tie road at run. She scream
Ell and jumpeh aside, and as she stood
for moment | called ou.: "
:The storm will be here in ten min
utes Ran tor the house,"
For on instant caught sight OF q
wbife face under asunbonnet. The eyes
we're wild, the teeth set hard, and
thought Of maniac. II was only for
an instant. and then fash Of lightning
set the horse off at full gailop. He ran
for half mile as II frightened for his
life, turned to the right and leaped a
fence, and as she halted at the door OF u
cabin a voice shouted in my ear:
"Git down anil coule in! Ike will
stable the hoss!"
The s'orm 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 luled into steady pour, &C.
companiei by an occasional fierce gust.
and knew that it would be day ybreak
before We saw the last of 1t.
The man placed provisions on the Ia.
BILE and sat down to the board with me.
He made great effort to appear hospit-
able and cheerful. but l noticed that he
was listening intentlv, as II for voice
or step. and twice he rose up and went
TO the window. By and bv recollect-
ed of seeing the woman, and asked:
rs there cabin within q mile or 80
OF this down the road ?"
IN me fur nigh on to three" be re
piled.
"Then God help the woman ] met hall
mile below as the storm was break
ing!"
"a woman! Did she have on SUM-
bonnet p
"Yes."
Sand dark dress1"
"Yes
"That was Mary, nv wife! She said
she would, but didn't believe It,"
"Would what ?"
Herose up and flung open the door
to look out. A sheet OF rain blew half
way across the room, extinguishing the
candle aud leaving US in darkness. and
the cabin rocked under the wind as II it
would blow over. TIE man shut the
door, relighted the candle, aud, placing
it at window so that its light would
shine down the road, he came over to
"Yes, that was my wife. We have
been married two years. Yonder in the
cradle sleeps our infant"
sand " lat possessed here to start out
in this awful storm ?"
81 did!" be exclaimed, In an accusing
voice. ave had quarrel. But for me
it would have been only trife. She
was proud and naughty, though loving
and affectionate. and, while l knew / was
in the wrong, was determined to hum
BILE her. An hour ago, when I deman-
ded, with the bearing of tyrani, that
she retract certain statements, she calm
ly dressed herself and set out tor sew.
eu.mile walk to her father's."
You must have been insane to let her
go!"
"God forgive me. but I would not say
one word to keep her' Ididn't believe
she would go, and when she went out,
kissing tie baby goodbye, but having
neither word nor look for me, ! would
not ask her to stay"
"And what are her chances in this
storm 2"
His face was deathly pale, and bis
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 sound sleeper, and the
storm will grow no worse"
Taking down his rife, be opened the
door and dashed ont 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 was clear,
the sun bright and the birds sang Joy
ously. The colored man who had taken
care Of my horse soon appeared. and
after bite to eat started down the
road in hopes to meet my host return
ing with bis wife A mile and half
from the cabin found them BOTH
Whether she had been struck down by
fash or her life beaten out bv the storm
could not say. She lay beside large
rock at the roadside. In the awful dark
ness he had found her, but she was dead
He lav beside her. one arm partly COW
ering her face, and in the center Of his
forehead was blue. black hole. from
which the blood SLOWLY oozed. He Dad
shot himself beaide Msrv's dead body.
N. Quad, IN Detroit Free Press
wA curious relic of Murat has just