The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-11-15
tCopuicht Secured. Al Rights 3esc,psdl
Driven From Sea to Sea,
Or, JUST A CAMPIN'.
~ 6. Q. POST.
eUBL1sHEp ny PERMISSION OF J. Z. DowNRY
1 Co., PUBLISHERS, CHICAGO
CHAPTER yyy,-cosrrSuEp

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 a
faint roar coming up from the ravine,
and knew that soon the water would be
rushing through it in great volume, and
with force that would overwhelm any
living thing caught in its path; and
road over which her husband must pass
in coming from Phippsburg.
She shuidered rs she listened, and
turning away, went and sat down by
Johnny's crib and tried to interest him
by reading little story from chili's
paper. But the boy was too sick to
care for hearing Ler 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 ut her heart grew
heavier and more oppressive, Johnny
slept fitfully, waking every few mo-
ments and always asking If father had
not come yet or If his mother
'thought father would come home
pretty soon now, until the sudden clap
OF thunder came, ut 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 exclama-
tion by the suddcnness of the concus-
sion, and for an instant she thought the
cottage had been caught in land slide.
She controlled herself at the sound oil
the child's cry, and bending down,
lifted him tenderly in her arms. cud-
ding his poor wasted form to her breas,
rs If he had been but babe. 1t was
only with difficulty that she checked
his screams, and even then he was sc
fearful and nervous. and sobbed and
begged so piteously for his father. thai
it was only by calling 10 her aid all thu
forttude which she possessed, tina
Martha Parsons was herself enabled K
keep from breaking down.
1t was an hour before Johnny wa
sufficiently calm to be again laid in hi
crib. As soon as she could leave hi!
side for q moment she went to til.
window and tried to peer out into thu
darkness. She had placed one of thu
lamps in the window some hours be
fore, hoping that it might prove . bea
con to guide her husband ii he was still
living, which she was almost ready t.
doubt, so utterly desolate all thing.
seemed.
Pressing her face close to the glass
she endeayored to penetrate the awful
gloom; hut could only sec for . few
feet into the darkness. Tie rays O.
Light from the lamps had power to pene
trate no farther. 1t seemed to her, a.
she stood there, straining her eyes in ,
vain effort TO see. that the darkness wa
b living thing, and that it devoured tn,
rays of light bodily, or contended will
them and slew them rs they strove t.
make Roadway against the night
When the lamp burned low for an in
slant, and the light sent out through
the window was less strong, she wa.
almost sure she saw the darkness pu
out its hands and grasp the rays of ligh
and strangle them.
Mingled with the steady swish of til,
falling rain, the roar of the water rush
ing through the ravine now came clea
and distinct, and knowing it was al
pnc's life was worth to attempt to eros
IT, she gave up all hope OF seeing he
husband that night, if ever again, an,
only prayed that he might be in plac
elements that appeared as if about +
swallow up the mountain.
1t was a little past midnight an
Johnny had again dropped of into
light sleep, when from the direction q
the gate opening into the Enclosure cam
the sound of horse neighing. TIL
watcher within listened intently, an
with new hope springing up in he
breast. Was it possible. after all, tina
John had returned; that he had passe
safely through the darkness and tn
floods and reached home at last? Yes
there was the sound of the horse walk
ing past the window at the upper en-
of the house, where Mr.. Parsons was il
the habit OF riding through to tn
stable.
Poor dear, what an awful time h
must have had coming through tn
storm" she said, softly, as she ros
hurriedly and went to light the lantern
Opening the kitchen door she held tb
lantern in a way which she hope
would afford her husband some as
sistanes in putting out his animal;
not, would at least help him in gettin
to the house. She heard the whinn
with which the horse in the stable vel
coined his returned mate, and expects
every moment to hear the stable doc
open and close, and the footsteps @
her husband as he made his wa
towards her.
After waiting several moments an,