Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-10-04
CAUGHT BY A CYCLONE.
Interesting and Romantic Story of
Torn Letter.

Wal. Abner. I s'pose Tiers no use
In wi=hin' but seems ez il could die
easier ef knew tibet the old farm.
which hez ben in the fam'I ever sence
tho Inluns were druv out o this part o
the keutry. would De owned BY Rich
ards atteg we've passed away. I'd
DIAL rother see every stick o. timber
IN tie house swept of the face o the
airth by one % them cyclones you've
!r,t been readin bout. than 20 hev it,
roof shelter any body who hadn't the
name Fr'ap- faint right 10 feel. but
J wuz born on the old place. We know.
an ! believe. though Your father wuz
sp likely smarter any man for miles
around tthc speaker eyes sparNled
with fash Of pride) I'm not sure
~ would hey married him ef he
hesln't ben a Richards We wuz
second cousins, 50 you hev u double
-hare % the blood. Seems strange You
don't set more by the name.
The tones we're half querulous. half
sad; the speaker. a tai. spare woman
clad in an iroa-gray dress. that looked
a. II II had been chosen % match the
thin. iron-gray locks escaping from
under neat cap. glanced timidly
acrO-s the table al her son. a stalwart
farmer. bronzed and bearded. He had
just risen from his chair. and stood
silent a moment. his head little bent.
looking down At his mother with a
glance that seemed 20 red sct a shade
Of the sadness ech9ing in her voice
No. there = 10 use in wishing. Nv
Fate was settled year, ago. he replied.
in a lOw. firm tone. turning away;
then. il moved by sudden impulse. h
went up to his mothers chair and pat
ted her shoulder, saying kindly:
Il know it IS hard to think OF the
old farm passing into the hands OIL
strangers. but'-he paused moment.
drawing his breath through his sci
teeth-'.it would be still harder for ~.
to put any one else in what should have
been her place
After all these years. Abuer?'
lay. mother-after all these years.
We Richards don't easily forget
He stood still a moment. CHANGING
around the pleasant. spotlessly neat
kitchen, where. according to old Gus
tom, the family meals were served
then walking slowly to the door
opened it, passed out into the bright
autumn sunshine. and turned in thu
direction Of the apple orchard cover.
ing the side Of the hill which sheltered
the house from the fierce. north winds.
The sky was blue and bright. large
heecy clouds swept swiftly across il. a
strong breeze was blowing. q remeTa.
branee Of the storm that had ragged all
the previous night-tossing the guarled
branches Of the apple trees and leaving
here and there disastrous traces of il.
work in an upro0ted trunk. while tbs
ground was streKn with red and COLDER
.-...t
Abnsr strOled slowly on toward IN.
hilltop His erect carriage and long.
steady strides were singularly unllke
the slouchiug gait that frequently
bore witness TO the four years drill OF
isds-6j. he had left the old farm
when a lad Of eighteen. carrying with
him In his constant heart the memory
Of slender. blue-eyed girl. neigh.
oor's daughter. whom be had dragged
to the district sehool-house on his led
through many a winters snow-drift.
and who. on the eve Of his departure,
had given him, under the bougha Of
the apple orchard. lock Of golden
hair. and promised. when he came
back, to be his wife.
Letters signed Lily c. made them
way regularly to the army, and wers
more aud more treasured as the slow
years went by-then, three month.
before Abner's return, they grew les.
frequent The lover. with the proud
reserve Of his New England tempera
meaT, made 10 complaint At last. tw,