The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-02-10

away in the kitchen "safe," or cup
board, and the girl sat down by her
window-she was very fond OF that
window in those days-and gazed alb
sently out. The landscape was left
desolate to her, for Albrecht had dis
probably to attire himself
for his outing.
Her father nodded in the shady
doorway over his long, curved pipe.
In the inner room her mother dis
coursed volubly to her second daugh-
ter in her native tongue, which is
never forgotten by the 'old people"
at least. The shouts of the numerous
younger children came from without,
where they romped among the farm
wagons and machinery, and the horses
and cattle grazed oontentedly on the
fenced-in prairie that formed the pas
ture. 1t was all homely, but pea eful,
and presently the girls eyes, heavy
with unaccustomed vigils, closed. She
did not see the cloud rapidly swelling
and taking on the ominous shape
dreaded by the prairie dwellers, the
so-called funnel form, which in this
case was a much fattened one.
1t seemed but few minutes later
when Vlasta reused abruptly in dazed
bewilderment. A distant shout, one
of alarm and warning, seemed echo
ing in her ear. How dark it had grown.
And there were Albrecht and his little
old mother, who kept his house, stand
ing before their door, exclaiming and
gesticulating wildly. At the same mo-
ment there came rush of furious
wind, bringing the sound OF a low.
menaoing roar, while the mass OF
dusky green cloud seemed to quit the
horizon and start swiftly on an earth
ward path.
vlasta guessed instantly the peril
that threatened, and sprang up with q
terrified cry.
"My father, mother, quick! The
cyclonel The cyclone!"
Then followed wild confusion,
screaming children running to their
parents, frantic EXPLANATIONS, hustle
and hurry.
Whittier should hey fly for refuge
in that hour of terri or? 1t was the
good mother that solved the problem
with prompt presence OF mind.
1.-The henhouse, children! Let us
run to the henhouser' she cried, and
she crowded her stout self and her
best feather bed, brought from the
fatherland, valiantly through the mar.
row doorway, followed by her husband
carrying his pipe and armchair, and
by the others with whatever they
Glanced to catch up, all racing through
the thick whirling dust to the deslg'
mated place of refuge.
In fact, it was the most suitable one
within their reach, being really low
"dug- out" in the side Of small hill,
the front or open side facing south
and filed in with a sod wall, contain
ing only a small, rough door and
tiny window, whose four small pane'
were thickly coated with dust.
In they rushed pell NELL, causing
wild discomfort to the usual occupants
of this abode, which few futterine
and cackling wildly from their rude
nests and perches. The father was il
the act of closing the door after tn
last one was in, when it was pushet
violently open from without, ant
Albrecht and his mother, lacking sucl
a shelter of their own. flung them
selves among them.
Then the door, like that Of the ark
was shut and braced by the father
stout shoulder. And none to soon, TO
the air was thick with flying debris
There were twelve of them-mor
souls than the ark carried, and crowo
ed into a much smaller space, but ths
mattered little at such time.
The fowl screamed, the childre
walled, the big mother and little motht
rocked and prayed in each other
arms, and the father bemoaued b
farm a. d stock; but as for Vlasta, tt
cyclone had given her what the fat
had otherwise denied, and the upro'
and danger were all dominated by Il
!, iov that Albrecht was again besl1
her, so c'ose that she could almo
, feel his deep, hurried breathing.
1t was hut a moment, and then, vii
q a deafening roar, a rush OF darkness
= choking breath of sulphur, Il
/, storm centre was upon them.
, vlasta remembered not how it ha
pened, but when she was able to res
n ize anything her arms were aroul
;. Albrecht's neck and he was holdil
her to him and murmuring words
=. endearment, which she felt rath
" than heard. my love, my lit
\ one"-though she was as tall as ne
- "do not fear. will keep thee safe
), I, thine own beloved"
- vlasta's pet white pullet futter
on their shoulders like the viii
!. winged dove of peace. The stol
!, went swiftly on its resistless WI
\ leaving desolation behind.
- Their houses were in ruins; tn
- little possessions torn to pieces
- scattered far and wide, even a la,
o part of the growing crops rooted
:. or ground into the soil.
~ But their lives were spared, q
- they are hardy and courageous. S
!, houses can soon rise again. and OIL
~ crops grow green on sunlit plains. 6
= before long in the new home tn
- will be Sounds of revelry by mig
~ ond another merry wedding dance.