Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-07-22

ere the horses were floundering about.
out OF the road, and we know without
telling we were lost on the prairie.
At twelve o'clock by Charles watch
We were yet struggling on. though
tho snow was up to the sleigh box
and the horses were nearly exhausted.
The cold was becoming fearful and
mother and l. terrified with horror
and dread. were rapidly becoming be-
numbed.
The men shouted to ono another
and learned they feared the worst
The horses must give out soon; then.
God help us we must all perish with
out His aid.
Presently the sleigh came to a
standstilL We had not seen the
horses for an hour could hardly SEQ
each other. So the men sprang out
into the snow and found them both
down. utterly used up.
They came back. climbed into the
sleigh and father and Charley sat
down in disheartened silence.
Not so Jack. He seized shovel
and began clearing the snow from the
sleigh. pitching it spitefully fro m
him. Suddenly his shovel struck
against something. A surprised
'.Hullo" escaped the lad and he
sprang again into the yielding snow.
A joyous shout followed.
'Hurrah! came indistinctly through
the rush and roar OF tho bowling tenn
pest '.Hurrah! Father! Mother!
Guess where we areP" as he came TO
the side Of the sleigh.
The object his shovel had struck
against was the post father had set
up to mark the location Of his cyclone
cellar. half way to Morris.
A prayer OF thanksgiving went up
from every heart We were safe.
The men took the lines from the har-
ness and secured one end to tho
sleigh the ether TO Charles waist,
the last to fathers. then they set to
work with will to clear away the
accumulation OF snow from the en-
trance
All at once another shout arose and
we strained our eyes to see through
the binding singing horror which
surged around lis.
Vain effort We could only walt
perforce for Information which soon
came. Jack had discovered a horse
and cutter half drifted under near
by. and its occupant was the vener.
able clergyman whom we had sent
for two days before. We found that
he had started, out OF the kindness of
his heart for our place. and but for
our timely arrival would certainly
have persisted.
1t did not take the men long to
clear a way about the entrance. and
we were soon sheltered from the furi
Gus storm. The air seemed warm
compared with the piercing cold out
side. and by going through persist
cht series Of rather ungraceful calls
themes we succeeded in restoring cir
culntion and warmth to our benumbed
limbs.
The horses were blanketed. all our
belongings brought inside and tho
door closed. However hard the
storm might rage we were safe for
the time being,
How we blessed fathers stubborn
persistence in keeping the cave in re-
par all these years and. most OF ALL
tho thoughtfulness with which he had
set that high post as landmark. In
fact we have conceded kfather's
ideas to be about right ever since.
Mothers capacious and well filled
hamper came in good play. as also
Jacks lantern. though that last would
not burn any great length OF time.
We all slept soundly that night but
the awakening was bewildering, |
tell you. Someone had put out the
light to save oil. and could not I'M
derstand why my bed was so uncom.
Portable gn,
u lit was morning but there were
only the watches to tell of 1T. We
ate a sparing breakfast quenching our
thirst with snow Afterward Charlie
camo and chatted with me for time.
Then he made proposition that at
first startled and shocked me.
| returned n most emphatic refusal
but to his persistent teasing at length
yielded u half hearted consent Then
almost ere father and mother realized
what was going on we stood before
the venerable clerg lyman and he was
speaking the solemn words which
bound us two for BETTER for worse,
for life"
IL was strangely weird and solemn
scene-that dark earthly cave, only
half lighted by smoky lantern, the
bride and groom bundled in furs and
wraps ard the three blanket-robed
witnesses scarcely visible in the semi
gloom.
| think my marriage VOWS spoken
in the near presence of death mean
more TO me than they could under any
other circumstances
The storm ragged forty eight hours.
AS the air in our refuge became close
and unwhoesome the men several
times attempted to clear away the
drift about the door. Each time they
desisted when they found the storm
had not abated.
When they at last tried again,
were already at work for our
deliverance The boys left at home
had started out in search OF us as soon
as the storm ceased and had met
party from Morris in search of Mr..
Ward.
The high mound drifted over the
horses and sleighs attracted their at
tention. and when digging in they
found the sleighs empty my brothers
at once guessed where We were The
poor horses were all dead.
A few minutes vigorous work
cleared way for us and we stood
once more under the blue skys wo had