Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-28
TCspsrtohf Secured al RtoAb RsssYoedl
Driven From Sea to Sea,
Or, JUST A CAMPIN.
xr o. O. rosr.

HY O. q 1ooT.
ding his poor wasted form to her breast
as if he had been but q babe. 1t was
only with difficulty that she checked
his screams and even then he was SO
fearful and nervous, and sobbed and
begged SO piteously for his father, that
it was only by calling to her aid all the
fort tude which she possessed. that
Martha Parsons was herself enabled to
keep from breaking down.
1t was an hour before Johnny was
sufficiently calm to b. again laid in his
crib. AS soon as she could leave his
side for moment she we 1t to the
window and tried to peer Tut into the
darkness. She had placed one of the
lamps in the window some hours be-
fore. hoping that it might prove bea-
con to guide her husband If he was still
living, which she was a most ready to
doubt. so utterly desolate all things
seemed.
Pressing her face close to the glass
| she endea, ored to penetrate the awful
gloom; hut could only see for few
ct into the darkness. THE rays of
light from the lamps had power to pene-
trate no farther. 1t seemed to her, as
vain effort 10 see. that the darkness was
. living thing. and that it devoured the
rays Of light bodily. or commended with
them and slew them a. they strove to
make Roadway again,t the night
When the lamp burned low for an in
slant, and the light sent out through
the window was less strong, she was
almost sure she saw the darkness put
out its hands and grasp the rays of Iii ht
and strangle them.
Mingled with the steady ;sh of the
falling RI u. the roar of the water rush.
ing through the ravine now came clear
and distinct, and knowing it was all
ones life was worth to attempt to cross
it, she gave up all hope OF seeing her
husband that night. fever again, and
only prayed that he might be in place
of safety, and out of the reach of the
elements that appeared as if about to
swallow up the mountain.
1t was little past midnight and
Johnny had again dropped of into a
light sleep. when from the direction of
the gate opening into the inclo ure came
the sound of horse neighing. The
watcher within listened ntently, and
with new hope spring ng up in her
breast Was it possible, alter all, that
John had returned; that he had passed
safely through the darkness and the
floods and reached home at last? Yes.
there was the sound of the horse walk
ing past the window at the upper end
of the house, where Mr.. Parsons was in
the habit of riding through to the
stable.
! poor dear, what an awful time he
must have had com ng through the
Storm" she said, softly, as she rose
hurriedly and went to light the lantern.
Opening the kitchen door she held the
lantern in a way which she hoped
sistance in putting out his animal; if
not, would at least help him in getting
to the house. She heard the whinny
with which the horse in the stable well
coined his returned mate, and expected
every moment to hear the stable door
open and close, and the footsteps of
her husband as he made his way
towards her.
After waiting several moments and
hearing nothing further she began to
be frightened and finally called softly:
/ John! Johnr'
Getting no reply. she caught up an
old garment of some kind. threw it
about her shoulders, aud holding the
lantern above her head made her way
through the rain to the stable. The
horse which her husl and had ridden
stood at the door waiting to be let IN,
but she could see nothing of his rider.
She listened a moment and then again
called-low at first and then with all
her might.
John! Ooh Johnr'
The weary, drenched and mud-be-
spattered horse lifted his head and gave
low VIII .nny. but no answer came to
her call
John! O-o-oh John!''
She listened; but only the swish OF
the ra n. fall ng in teral sheets. and
the dull roar Of the swollen waters in
the ravine below, reached her ears.
And now she noticed that the horses
bridle-rein was dragging, Had he
thrown his master, or had John dis
mounted in order to better keep the
road, and by some means permitted the
animal to escape him?
She examined the bride rein and
found it broken, aid she felt certain
that the horse had thrown her husband
and afterwards stepped upon the rein
and broken it.
Then John was dead. The father o.
her crippled boy, Ter companion for sc
many years, was drowned. it might be.
in the angry waters that even now were
pouring through the gorge with the
roar of demon. Or he was lying il
the road. cold and stiff, with his lifeles>
eyes star ng up into the blackened heav
ems. the pitiless rain beating upon hii
face.
Such were the thoughts that burned
their way through the brain of Marth.
the broken rein by the dim light of I'll.
lantern. The impatient paving of the
horse, demanding to lie let under
shelter, recalled her to knowledge O
her surroundings. and quite mechanic
ally she opened the stable door. Tit
horse entered, rubbe his nose aga MS
that of his fellow and began at once L
| aaf fr1,r,o th hin ir, front nf him Mra