Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-11-08

solitary Sunday train, which passes
there about eight o'clock in the morn
ing.''
..And how far is it from here?"
We called the conductor and held a
parley. We found that Claynor was
forty miles off by rail, but that a road
to it lay over the mountains, which
was less than half that length.
81 tell you what gentlemen" said
the conductor; '.if you are very
anxious to get on, why not strike
across the fields to that little town
over yonder-there-just where you
see the white spire above the treesp
You can hire a horse and buggy there.
I've no doubt. and, If you're not afraid
OF night-ride across the mountains,
You can reach Claynor long before the
time that the train is due. As for this
smash-up here, I'll tell you frankly
that if we get things to rights by mid
day tomorrow, it's as much as / think
we can do. You see the track is all
torn up-sleepers splintered and rails
spread out like fan-besides the dam
age to the engine
81 must reach New York before
Monday morning, if possible" said DIR.
Max. turning toward me. what say
you, Paul? Are you ready to make
the attempt?"
''O course Any thing is better than
to stay stewing here, with a prospect
of being roasted at Claynor all day to-
morrow. Besides, the moon is at it's
full, so that night-drive in this
weather will be rather pleasant than
otherwise"
"Come along, then" And with a
goodbye to our friend, the conductor,
we turned our backs upon the disor-
ganized train and the idle groups that
were collected. round it, and started off
in search of the little town to which
we had been directed.
We reached it after about half an
hours walk, and found it very small
and sleepy place, indeed, though re-
joicing in the pompous cognomen of
New Nineveh. The little white-washed
hotel afforded us material for copious
additions and good supper. and the
horse and buggy were easily found,
and were hired by us at a reasonable
rate. We were to leave them with the
Claynor, their owner having business
there in the course of the next week,
and as he very sensibly said: HE could
go there by rail and then drive him
self home just as we'll as not" Our
road was perfectly plain; it lay straight
before us, we were told, and it was a
remarkably good road, except just
about three miles of it, which led over
the range of blue hills which we could
see stretching away into the purple
distance.
The sun had not long been set when
we started on our journey. The heat
was still intense, while the atmosphere
seemed stagnant with dull, Cypress
i've closeness that weighed on mind
and body alike No breath of fresher
air sprang up with the going down of
the sun, and no cooling change crept
over the parching earth. We almost
gasped for breath, and forbore to urge
ol1O pesSO Va Jul poAoiAS9 poo pescAOiAo
steed. The moon hung above the ho-
rizon, blood-red and rayless, like the
battle-crimsoned shield of some war
rior of old. There was something
ominous in the aspect of the heavens,
and in the unnatural stiffness which
seemed to prevail on all sides. The
insect-voices that fill the summer day
with their shrillness were hushed and
mute. The birds sang no more. Only
the tree-frogs broke the silence with
their noisy cry.
1--WE shall have storm before long,"
quoth DR.. Max, after we had gone a
few miles; there is thunder N the air.
But it will hardly come up before to
morrow morning, l think"
Our way at first lay among verdant
pastures and productive fields, which
skirted either side of the road. Grad
| ually the road began to ascend, the
traces of cultivation became fewer, and
half-cleared patches of land took the
place of well-tilled farms. AT last
even these gave way to a dense forest
of pines which rose on either side like
walls of gloom, looking dark and
dreary in the gathering shadows of the
| twilight. The road, too, became
rough and stony, and our progress was
necessarily slow and impeded. Our
talk had long since died into silence,
| and we drove on for some time with
out exchanging word. Suddenly a
| heavy roll of thunder was audible in
the distance. We were just entering
wood. the trees having hindered us
from noticing the approach of the
storm. DIR. Melfort, who had been
acting as driver, refined up the horse
and looked around him.
1--WE are in for heavy gust, 1 am
afraid" he remarked, land it is grow
ing too dark to be pleasant"
In fact, the heavy storm-clouds that
were now vailing the heavens had
blotted out the last vestiges of day
light Under the shadow Of the for
est trees the darkness was profound.
The storm burst upon us in all its fury.
The rain poured down in torrents,
blazing streams of lightning, attracted
by the tall pines that studded the
wood, ran hither and thither like SER
penis of flame on either side OF us. The
danger was terrific, and even my calm,
cool companion was visibly disturbed.
Finally our road emerged upon a clear.
ing half way up the side of the mount