The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-22

roof, WAS constant source of trouble be-
tween himself and his energetic, thrifty
wife. just that morning she had threat
ened TO burn il down and take the child
rem to the poor house il he did not try to
build better one. He remembered now
that he had left her no stove wood and it
was almost dinner time. He would hurry
home and get the wood as kind of
peace Offering to the mornings quarrel.
The Corners, as the few scattered houses,
the one store and blacksmith shop which
comprised it were called, lay directly in a
great storm path. For soue reason it had
never vet been visited by a storm out of
the ordinary. The destructive cyclone
and electric storm had passed it on all
sides and so far had given il good berth.
A few days after the above narrated
conversation saw the black clouds rolling
up in the west and south in q way that
sent the scarey ones of The Corners of in
q tremor OF apprehension.
mo use talkin'- It's a comm this time
sure, said Jim Bantly from his out post,
the hitch rack, In front of the store.
There's mistaken that green re-
flectun in the clouds. Hunt your holes,
boys, an lay clost fur its a comein, as
live" and Jim's long legs put out for home
in way and pace their owner seldom
accustomed them to.
Il won't git in that bed agin' an make
a fool OF myself" said Marian, a little
snapping-eyed. sharp-tongued woman.
There's no cyclone comein'. Your
always predictin' something that never
comes to pass. ! wish one would come
and blow this old shanty of'n the face of
the earth. Then maybe you'd be forced
to get better one"
IT, IT, A.
blow me aud the younguns off with it.
You'll De Wishin' next | reckon. Git in
grandpap. Well make room for you, too
Take two or three of them kids in your
arms. Hustle, its a comm.
No use to tell them 10 hustle now. For
with strained ears and blanched checks
they knew the terror was almost upon
them. No one who has ever heard the
strange ominous roar will ever mistake IT.
No noise go far upon earth can equal ii.
And in less time than 1t takes TO tell 1t,
blackness of night and dire suffOcation
had settled dowd upon the Bantlys. The
awful whiz ana roar was around them a
moment and gone as quickly as 1t had
come.
"Lor pap" said the Oldest Bantly boy,
Where air We. underground or above the
clouds ?"
Mercy, give me air or I'll smother"
groaned grandfather. pinned down under
the weight of the children.
Marian, air you dead?" howled jim,
who had more breath il seemed, than all
together, and he tugged vigorously at the
ropes, which he could not get loose for
the weight above them.
Il never thought the old house had so
much weight and timber in it, he solilo-
Quized in his frantic endeavors. The
upper tick gave way scattering and threat
ening to engult them in its mass
OF feathers A puff of wind and rain
came flashing through some opening in
the boards near them, scattering the feath-
ers and bringing partial relief. Ii seemed
hours although 1t was only the half of
one before help came to the sufferers.
Then voices, lanterns and even torches.
suite the storm, appeared upon the
scene headed by the smart Young man,
sti rolling a wad of fine cut in his cheek,
though now in a rather reckless manner.
"HeavIngs and airth. boys, l believe the
whole Bantly Kit are under this pile !;
every one of 'em alive. too, from the
screechin' there putin through 'em. He
called loudly as he swung his lantern to
and fro. Were comm, Jim.
keep up spirits, your own
house is bowed away an good deal big
ger an stouter one blowed right In on top
of you. Every house in town is down
Jim and nobody hurt les its YOU folks.
And the windy young man made his ak
fly as fast as his tongue flew.
They all got out safely and soundly ex-
cept Mariah, who was shook up a little"
to use her own diagnosis of her case.
sure enough the old house was gone,
and IN its place was the frame, siding and
roof OF one much larger and newer, come
from no one knew where, or ever could
find out.
It's ours" said Marian; land I want
you to 90 to work and put it right to-
gether, Jim. And dig cellar under it,
too, for cyclone purposes"
We'll, l guess I'll have to-" said Jim
reflectively to a neighbor, who was sizing
uD the situation of affairs with them the
old house is gone, hide an hair, an not a
thing hey found vet that was in it. unless
it was pair of bed ticken Overalls found
up in tree an 1 can't swear To- them for
sure, for Sam Pickerin' says he lost a pair
prezactly like 'em the evenin' of the cy-
Gone"
still. hold to it Wit, with all the loss,
that feather beds is the thing to tie to in
twister." IDA SHEPLER.