Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-08-09
A DAKOTA ROMANCE.

When father took up his claim il
Douglas county, Dakota, the country
was new and thinly settled. Father anC
my three.brothers took up section, anG
built their four houses on adjoining cor
ners. So, us two brothers were married
we formed little settlement by our
selves. This was well, as our nearest
neighbOr lived eleven miles away. Twas
then merry, rOmping lass of fifteen, al
the wilder for being just from city life.
The first year very destructive cy-
clone visited that part of the country.
Lying as it does between the Missouri
and James rivers, it was feared such Wis
tatiOnS might be frequent, so father and
the boys DUG cave midway between the
houses. Twice we sought refuge there
and heard the demon of destruction at
work among the fruits of our industry.
We escaped without injury, but father,
who was returning from the town, TWEEN
ty miles away, where he got our mail
and supplies, was badly bruised by the
overturning of his wagon. As soon as
he recovered he and the boys dug a cave
about midway on the route to town. The
location was marked by four tall upright
posts, which could be seen for a long
distance.
Years passed with no occasion for its
use, but father was always dreading such
a time, and kept it in repair.
-Four happy years passed, then party
of visitors from the East came. Among
them was Frank Healy. We had been
great friends in the past, and became
something more during that long sum-
mer. We agreed to be married in the
spring, and he would stay until that
time: but early in January he received a
summons home to Chicago, and insisted
that | go along.
So preparation was made for our mar
riage We sent to Bunker for a minis
ter, but our messenger brought word he
could not get away. "Could we not come
to him" We must start to Chicago at
once, so we decided to adopt that plan.
Upon the 18th, after fearful goOd-by to
all but father and mother and Joe, who
would accompany us, we started for
Bunker.
There was great quantity of snow
on the ground, and only one sleigh-that
of our messenger the day before-had
gone over the road. AS consequence,
our progress was slow and laborious. 1t
was a dull, cloudy day, but we knew
nothing of blizzards then, so did not hes
itate to start. We had mentioned l
o'clock as the time for the ceremony, so
made calculation on being at the par
sonage at that time.
Before we were two miles on our way
snow began. to fall in great feathery
fakes. | love SnOw-StOrm, and was
delighted to be out in one. Seeing faith
er and mother grave and troubled, l
laughed and jested, and indeed was in
an unusually merry mood for one who
was leaving home and friends to go
among strangers, with only husbands
love to depend upon.
For some time the snow fell slowly
and heavily, then the wind rose, and the
cold began to increase. Joe suggested
pOooIDlC
Father hesitated, but Frank thought
there was no more danger in advance
than a retreat, so we went. Heavens!
what an experience that was which fol
lowed.
The wind hOwled like a host of de-
mons, bent on our destruction. The
snow became infinitesimally fine, and,
Il 60 ho blast OF nnafC HaCh
when exposed, like needle-points. We
could not see the horses heads, and as
the one track was long since covered up,
we no longer knew which way we were
going, and could only trust to the horses.
Mother became alarmed and cried
quietly behind her veil. All my high
spirits vanished, and instead of the hap
py future had been anticipating saw
nothing but cruel death before us, with
the snow for shroud and pail.
At 2 by Franks watch we were near
ly frozen, and the weary horses could
scarcely move along. Suddenly Joe put
out his hand and clutched at some OBJ
ect close to the side of the sleigh.
"Hurrahv' his CHEEKY voice rang out.
"Whoa."
The tired horses stopped instantly,
only too glad for the chance. Joe sprang
out into the yielding snow. In mo-
ment he shouted again.
"HellooI Here's another sleigh. Faith
erl Frank! Pile out here with your
shovelsl'
They did as he ordered, and mother
and | reused to see what it all meant.
But we could see nothing, and only
family hear their voices above the rush
ing wind.
We soon found out, however, for
father and Frank soon returned and lift
ed mother and | out of the sleigh and
carried us-where? Into fathers cyclone
cave.
We stared about in stupid amazement,
for Joe had brought lantern along, and
he had lighted and hung it up. A mo-
ment later we were joined by the minis
ter from Bunker, who, finding it posi-
hla In Uat away had Starta1