The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-07
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.
A STORY OF THE MICHIGAN PINER1Es.

A STORY OF THE MICHIGAN PINERIEs.
There were four of us college boys and
Raymond, the engineer Of shingle-mill
1t Onta1agan. We had been boarding
1t his house. The mill had shut down
for few weeks. and b. had gladly Joined
In our tramp, eager as by for the free
hfe OF the woods.
We had found an old lumber camp for
our camping place Before it our fire
was burning. Raymond was the only
moker in the party. He filled his pipe
and leaned back upon the pile of hemlock
boughS to watch the moon come climbing
over the tops of the trees.
1t was nearly twenty years ago, boys,
began Raymond, just after the war, that
Iw:nt to work in u lumber camp on ,h /,
huske. on river. was young fellow
sEen, ,2too light for an AK, and they put
me to driving the to:e-team. 1t wa, a
hresome lonely life. 1 can tell you. A
fellow had to lie out in all kinds of
weather with no company but his horses.
Many times have spent the night on the
road with the wagon stuck fast in the
mud, or with big tree blown down
across the road.
There was only one house on the road
between the town and the camp. That
was little log cabin where old man Bill
ings iveI with his wife and daughter
It got so that I couldn't get by that place
without stopping for drink of water or
to ask the old man some question made
mp on the roid. TIE horses got so they'd
stop right in front of the house every
trip.
We had the roughest crew in camp
that ever saw. There was nothing too
mean for them to do, and they got the
upper hand on the boss, and so had
things their own way.
One mofningI got up early to feed my
horses so I could get a good start and
reach Billings in time for breakfast
Four of the toughest men in camp fol-
lowed me out to the stables and asked me
right out if l would smaggle jug Of
whisky back with my load. 1t was dead
against the rules, and I knew it, but
when they told me, in so many words,
that didn't care to do it, l was foolish
enough to promise. As things happened,
it's good thing perhaps that I did it.
bought the whisky and started back
to camp just after dinner, 1 had two
passengers. They were the quietest
workmen in camp, goods friends of mine,
both of them. They knew nothing about
the whisky, and l was ashamed to tel
them about it.
The thing never would have happened
anyway if my wagon seat had held. 1t
broke down Just as we reached the middle
of the little hill in front of old man Bill
lngss house. had my feet out over the
front of the wagon when it broke, and
fell fiat under the horses feet. They
stopped as soon as they could-I could
trust them for that-but before the
wagon came to stand the front wheel
ran over my leg, and I could hear it snap
like a stick.
Charlie and Ben both jumped to the
ground in time to save themselves. They
pulled me out from under the load and
laid me on some grain sacks at the top oi
the wagon. 1t was only few rods down
the hill to the house. Charlie drove the
horses on while Ben held me in the wagon
We drove right into the yard, and tel
you I felt bad when Mary Billings came
to the door with her big eyes wide open
with fright.
The girl was all alone in the house
Her father and mother had gone to town.
She was not afraid to be left alone. As
lay on the bags could see, standing in
she corner, a bright shotgun, and knew
she could use it If necessary.
The boys carried me into the kitchen
and put me down on the lounge by the
stove. Oh! how my leg hurt pei be.
gan to feel faint and dizzy as they tried
to move my foot. The awful grating OF
that broken bone filled me with ter.
rible feeling. The boys did their best to
make me comfortable. Charlie proposed
taking one of the horses to ride back tc
town after a doctor.
He had even started for the door tc
carry out this plan when the room seemed
suddenly to darken, and great fakes oi
snow came with quick rush against the
windows. AS he opened the door the
thick, binding storm swept in upon us
with wild fury. The storm was a:
fierce as it was sudden. We were shut
up in the midst of whirlwind of snow
that hid even the road and the passage
under the trees.
There was no help for it. The boys
drove the wagon under the shed and un
hitched the horses. Then they came
back to the kitchen, where we all sal
watching the storm. 1t grew darker anG
darker, and at last Mary lit the lamp anG
put the supper things on the table.
1ay ana watched them with that awfu
faint feeling on me.
At last spoke out the thought tha
was on my mind:
II wish I had drink of that whisky,
boys"
Mary dropped the plate she was carry
ing and looked at me so queerly that
was ashamed of myself for speaking.
wished I had bitten my tongue off before
had let her know of that part of my
load.
'.No, don't, boys! I was only fool
ing" said, as quickly as I could; but