The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-10-21

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q loud, hoarse, startling scream rang
across the water. The horse gave .
! leap that nearly jerked us backward
out of the buggy, and then broke into
a gallop down the river road. My
| companion twisted the reins about his
hands, and finally succeeded in slowing
down the frightened horse to trot.
The cry was not repeated, and our
steed became quieter as we drew rapid
ly away from the island.
'"That's the first time I've ever heard
it, and I've been over this road at least
once week for years." said my COM
panion.
"What was it," I asked, with per-
haps an excusable tremor in my voice,
for the cry had been truly terrifying.
'The reputed panther on Brigham is
land" replied Deacon Fay, "and I
guess it is panther, too, for no other
creature could give screech like
that. People say that panther has
his den on that rocky island, and
crosses to the nearer shore by leap
ing from rock to rock in the channel.
I've read all about it in the county pa
per, but never took any stock in the
stories. It didn't seem possible that
a panther could survive in this part
of the country, yet I'm forced to be-
lieye it now, for that was no human
scream
We made the last two miles into
Bakersville in surprisingly quick
time, and ratified across the wooden
bridge over the river just as lights be-
gan to twinkle down the single street
of the village.
"Ill take you right to the elders
house." said my companion. you'll
find his wife one of the salt of the
earth-sensible, sincere, kind-hearted,
brave and unselish. Here we are
and there she is at the door, looking
for u.s.
The rattle Of the buggy wheels
across the bridge had brought the
minister's wife to the door, and there
she stood, peering out into the dusk,
with a glow of lamplight streaming
around her figure from behind. She
was short and slight, with quick, en-
ergetic movements, and a face that
was both sweet and strong. Her hair
was fast grazing, vt she did not i'm.
press one as person. who was growing
old.
"Well, deacon, ysu've made good
time," she said "and I'm glad you
have, for supper is ready little
earlier than I had planned, and you
can stop and have bite with us be-
fore going home. Harold, take Dea>
con Fay's horse around to the barn"
A fine, manipulating boy Of about
is stepped forward and led the horse
away, while Deacon Fay brought me
up the steps and introduced me. Mrs.
Wilbur welcomed me cordially, and in
a few moments made me feel entirely
at home She presented her children,
Harold and two sisters, younger by a
few years, and soon we all sat down
to delicious and bountiful supper.
A little before midnight, that Satur-
day night, it began to rain in torrents,
and every time woke up could hear
|
OF my bed room and beating with a
dull roar on the ground outside. "Too
bad!" I thought, sleepily. 'To-mor~
rowll be a rainy Sunday, and there'll
be only handful of people at church. -
The thought of anything more serious
resulting from the storm never oc-
CURED to me.
| Sure enough, all day Sunday the rain
poured down in torrents. But the
church was not far away, so, of course,
we all went, both morning and after
noon. At the supper table, after the
second service, Mrs. Wilbur said, some
what hesitatingly, "Mr. Wilbur has
been in the habit of conducting Sun
day evening mission service in the
schoolhouse at the Four Corners,
some three miles up the valley. I
have said nothing to the people there
about his being away, and suppose
they will assemble in the schoolhouse
as usual. My plan was-not expect
ing this storm-to ask you to drive
down there with me and hold the
meeting as usual"
"And I shall be glad to go, storm or
no storm I replied. II want to carry
out Mr.. Wilbur's regular programme
in every detail. But don't think you
ought to. go, this bad night. Can't
Harold drive me up there, and show
me where the schoolhouse is?"
mo, I must go, and want to co."
replied Mrs. Wilbur IF the meeting
is held, must be there. No one else
can play the organ and lead the sing
ing. I don't mind mere weather. l
can assure you I've encountered good
deal of it since We came here, and you
can see that it hasn't hurt me-"
l laughed as I looked at Mrs. Will
bur's fine color and bright eyes. "Well,
If you're not to be frightened by lit
tie wind and rain, certainly am
not?" I replied. when shall we
start?'
"At about 6:30, Harold will harness
| tho h0rSo o~1 ho,,o l>.- -