The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1905-01-06

Il ed became 4Uic'cr as We Or, - IA. IL
ly Away from the island
That's the first time I'VE ever Ac'' ,
IL, and I've been over this ROAD a. least
once week for years" said my com
panion
What was it," | asked with per
haps an cECusable trcmOr in my voice
for the cry had been truly terrifying.
THE rcpulcd panther on Brigham is
land" replied Deacon Fay, and !
guess II is panther too, for no other
crcaiur" could give sCre"ch like
that. People say that panther has
his den on that rocky island, and
crosses to the nearer shore by leap
ing from rock 10 rock In the channel
I've read all about It In the county pa
per. but never took any stock In the
stories. II didn't seem pOsslbl" that
Il panther could survive In this part
OF the country, yet I'm forced to be-
lieyc 1t now, for that was no human
scream"
We made the last two miles into
Bakcrsyllc 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
I'm take you right TO the oldera
house" said my companion You'll
find his wife one OF the salt Of the
Rarth-scnyiblc. sincere Nnd-hcarted,
brave and unsclfsh Here wc are
and there she is at the door, looking
for Us
The rattle Of the buggy wheels
across the bridge had brought the
minister's wife to the door and there
she stood. pccrinE out into the dusk
with glow Of lamplight streaming
around her figure from behind. She
vas short and slight, with quick, en-
"rgetic movements. and face thai
was both sweet and strong Her hair
was fast grazing. yet she did not i'm
press ono as n person who was growing
old
We'll deacon. you've made good
time she said and I'm rlad yuu
have. for supper is ready a lituo
earlier than ! he'd planned and you
ran stop and have bite with MS be-
fore going home Harold take poa.
con Fays horse around to the barn
\ fine, manly looking hoy of about
lG stepped forward and led the hors.
away. while Deacon Fay brought IN,
up the steps and introduced me Mrs
Wilbur welcomed me cordially. and IN
few moments made me feel entirely
at home She presented her children
Harold and two sisters. younger by n
few years. and soon we all sat down
to delicious and b,uu'ilul supper.
A LITTLE before miAlrhr that Sarur.
day night II began 10 rain in torrents
and every time vol mp / could hear
'hr storm dashug against the window
pf my brl room ana beating with q
1ull roar on the ground outside Too
bad" | thought. slocpily "To-mor-
row'n be q rainy Sunday. and therein
De only n handful Of people At church "
The Thought OF anything more serious
resulting from tn" storm never oc-
Cured 10 me.
Sure enough all day sunday the rain
poured down in torrents But tn
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 hcsilaIinCly. Mr. Wilbur has
been in the habit Of conducting Sun.
day evening mission service in Tho
sChOOlhousc at ihc Four Corners
some three miles mp the valley J
have said nothing 20 the people Their,
about his being away. and suppose
they will assemble in the schoolhOus5
as usual Ny plan was not expect.
ing this s'orm-to lsl, You to drive
down there with NE and hold tho
meeting as usual
And shall be- glad to 20. storm or
no storm ! replied II want to carry
our Mn Wibur's regular programme
IN every detail. But don't think you
ought to go this bad night. Can't
iIarold drive me up there. and show
me- wher" the sch0olhousc iso"
80. must go aud ! want To- e"
replied Mrs Wilbur If rho nicotine
If held. ! must be- there. No one else
can play the organ and head tho sins.
ing don't mind mere weather !
can assure YOU I've encountered good
deal Of II since We came hero. and Won
can see that II hasn't hurt ne"
/ laughed as looked at Mrs. vii.
burs fine color and bright eyes We'll
If you're not TO be frightened by lit
tie wind and rain. certainly am
not | replied when shall we
narr?"
At about $50. Harold will harness
the horse and have It at the door a,
that time"
W" were off promptly at $50 all
bundled up and with a biz carriage
clampcd TO the seat. The
ran was falling, if anything harder
than ever and even the road was get
NAu- W. ~ IKE the Utu Ol NnHilOW
brook our route took us mp the river
valley. the road every now and then
fIirling the very edge of the stream.
We could see by the light OF our Ian
tern. hung in front of the dashboard.
that the water was already almost
bank-hiph. There was stll unmclted
snow In the rccesses OF the mountains
and this warm long-Continued April
rain was rapidly Swelling the trlbu-
'ary brooks,
Il do wish II would stop raining"
said my companion. unoasily. we
have two bridges to cross, and what
should We do II one of them should be
washed away"
We kept on, however, passed the
bridges safely, and drove to the school
house at the Corners which We
'ound lighted and filled with a larger
audience than had been present al
either service in the church. After
warm and inspiring meeting of nearly
wo hours, Mrs Wilbur and | started
IN our return.
Na fought pnr u.au ,raIp,t b.