Year: 1873

arms about her neck. If she could only
find something to cover them from the
storm. She reached around, but could
only touch cold mud. .4..s ..sft
Oh that terrible pam She had al


most forgotten it in her anxiety for her


child. 1t grew more and more intolera-


bic. 1t seemed as though the hailstones


struck through into her brain. What if
it killed her Was she afraid to die p
Visions of eternity, of the heaven of her
faith rose before her. Should she dwell
with God and the angels forever? Was
it possible that there would never be an
end ? No, she was not afraid of death.


But her child, her husband-how could


she leave them ? Not yet no, no, when


life opened before her. She must live to


help John keep his promise. God would


spare her for that. How long would it be


until morningP How could she bear the


pain so long? Oh it would be SO terri


Bile if John should come and find her ly-


ing there cold and stiff. John did love


her, oh so we'll. He had loved her so


long. 1t seemed so many years since he


first told her that he loved her it was on
the mountain side in dear old Tennessee.
How far away it seemed. How the sun
shone and tho birds sang. How dreamy
and bewildered her thoughts were. How
still the baby was. Yes, she could foel
his heart beat. She no longer felt tho
pelting of the storm had it ceased


Her thought was answered by rush of
wind from new direction. She felt the
great weight lifting off from her. She
free Then-something struck her.


The train went snorting into Winthrop
just at daylight. John jumped off and
was the first to reach the ferry. Ho had
never seen Atchison so quiet. With tho
exception of those who had crossed on
the ferry, and few early .risers who
were hurrying up the street, the town
seemed asleep; butas he passed CONNER
cial street, he saw man who was riding
amule.coming down in great haste. who
cried out, "lIow d'y, John ~ .sr..a


"Why, Jake" he replied, sis that
you? / allowed you was half way to Dem
yer afore now."


4" We started yesterday, but we had
powerful storm on the prairie out here
last night. We chanced to be right
near house, and they let us in but il
sent our old wagons rolling over and
across the prairie like patch of tumble
weeds, and our oxen all stampeded
am on the hunt of 'em."


at don't look like il had reached At
chson."


"No, reckon it just took streak"


John hurried on down the river. The
road ran so near the bank that the steady
swash of the waters seemed under his
feet The birds were singing in the trees
and the sunshine came creeping down
the bluffs overhead. How eager he was
to get homo that morning. His heart
was full of new plans and new purposes.
He could keep his promise, and he would;
he would never make Nancy's heart ache
agAin by breaking that promise. He
stopped suddenly-had the storm reached
Sumner? The tall buildings along the
wharf were leaning roofess, one this way
one that, as if the wind coming over the
bluff, had reached just low enough to un-
roof them. He hastcned around the foot
Of the hill there lay the brick hotel, tho
boast Of the town, in scattered fragments
around, like wasp's nest scaattered
by the housekeeper's broom. lie looked
around three-fourths of the town lay in
ruins. How was it with his home? lie
ran up the street until he could soc where
it stood. Gone Not Hestige of il left.
And his family? Perhaps they had es-
capped before the storm; perhaps
Scarce knowing what he, did he hurried
to the nearest house that was yet stand
ing, and without ceremony opened the
door. There was no one ia the room,
but on n couch in a corner white sheet
sunk to the still proportions of two
silent forms. Moved by some strange
impulse he turned back the covering that
shrouded the faces-Nancy and the baby!
Shocked, stunned, he sank on his knees
and laid his face on that dear form. Who
can describe, who can comprehend the
utter desolation of that hour? None but
those who have felt it. Oh. the thoughts
and memories that crowded upon him
many of them bitter, regretful thoughts.
But there was one memory for which he
was thankful-that he had not listened 10
the temper which whispered to him yes
ter-morn, that it would be weak and un-
manly to yield to her request.


They found him there an hour after
ward; but he asked no questions, made
no reply to their attempts at consolation,
and they left him alone with his dead.


There was "hurrying to and fro" in
Sumner that day, for many were left
many bruised and crippled by
the storm. And the mourners who
wended their way up the long hill to the
burying ground were rs sad as though
the silence had been broken by the toll
ing of solemn bells.-Rdnsas Monthly.


A YOUNG lady in Gloucester is charged
With keeping light burning in the par


an -