Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-09-02

I had covered more than half the
distance when I noticed that the
clouds were gathering dark and low
in the west before me, with ragged
streamers hanging out like danger
signals in every direction. Sud-
denly there was Oh agitation among
these rs if by the action OF a violent
wind. They collected and darkened,
and I heard dull, rushing sound
apparently right over the roofs OF the
town mile and q half ahead. In an
instant huge dark blue mass de-
tached itself, rs it seemed, with u
tremendous swirl and swooped
viciously toward the earth. There
was moments interval, and then I
saw cloud of solid objects fly up,
whirling higher and higher with fright.
full rapidity-boards and shingles
and sheaves of wheat and miscel-
laneous small articles. Then the
whirlwind, after gyrating about indie
cisively, lunged straight forward down
the wind.
I had dismounted OF the first ap-
pearance of the "twister," and I now
turned the wheel about with oil haste,
and, getting astride, commenced to
fee for my life. The storm YVES not
more than q mile and quarter be-
hind me. / could not estimate its
velocity, but put my feet hard down
on the pedals and "scorched" with
the utmost energy and enthusiasm.
I found it vastly easier work than
struggling in the teeth OF the wind.
Now the force was all at my back,
and, with the howl Of the oncoming
storm as o stimulus, achieved sur
prising rate Of speed.
The road was level and there was
nothing to imr my course. In
the cautious side glances which I
could spare from my vigilant watch
for rocks upon the track l beheld the
inhabitants of tho farmhouses along
the way standing in amazement and
horror at my terrific pursuer, or run
ming to right and left to escape from
its path. I might have taken to the
fields myself, but this would have
necessitated abandoning my wheel,
which would in all probability be
badly damaged by the cyclone. /
did not feel any great alarm for my
safety, for the next cross-road was
only a quarter of mile farther, and
1 knew that could there turn aside
and let the monster pass. There was
something exhilarating in this race
with the storm, and I almost wished
that it had lasted longer when /
reached the side-road and wheeled off
to the right. Farther down the road
1 had left could just see the roof of
the schoolhouse, and the idea came
to me that it was fortunate that school
had been dismissed.
How I came to forget the existence
of Ethel SO completely can not un-
derstand. The startlingly sudden ap-
pearance OF the tornado seemed to
have driven all thought of anything
else from my mind. But I had not
ridden fifty yards down the road to
safety when the recollection of her
habit of waiting for me flashed through
my brain. 1t was almost certain that
she was there. Icould seem to see
her standing expectantly by the road
as had SO often overtaken her--in
the very track of the whiilwind! 1t
was unlikely that she would have suf-
ficient presence Of mind to escape
across the fields, but would probably
run before it to be infallibly swal-
lowed up.
This idea darted through my mind
before I could even check the wheel.
sprang to the ground and looked
back at the tornado. 1t had gained
upon me, and it seemed impossible