Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-04-03
'tGua AID par aatire gaad"

| utG OF TWO us llSilt was ODScufed DI
black, pall-like clouds, that were tear
ing with mad velocity across the sky
and then it was SO dark i that /
could not see my horses head before
me
In the brief intervals of easily. white
light could pereeivewewere surround
ed by sea OF waters and that scarcely
a speck ofdry land was to be seen. THU
ly they were as yet very shallow, scar
cely. above Carlos knees, but / knew
how rapidly they would deepen, and /
tflrged the horse in the direction of the
! town.
Gertrude's arm encireled my waist
and she clung right to me with fear.
Often turned my head to speak to
her few words of eansszlragement and
hope. but was too anxious to secure
her safety and my own to say much.
She was warmly wrapped up in
shaws and wraps, and as she was an
! excellent horsewoman | had no fear
Of her falling of, though the
wind was blowing hard enough to
Wnlrl her from her seat.
Before we had got more than mile
from the farm the rain commenced
with redoubled fury and in few NOM
ents we were wet through. The wind,
too, grew from gale to a hurricane,
and amind the continuous roar of the
thunder and flash of the pale lightning
through the ali we now and then heard
Almighty crash, as some aged monarch
Of plain fell prastrated to the earth.
Suddenly afash of Tightening darted
right In front of Carlos eyes, and with
q snort Of fear, he reared nearly up
right. l.
Hold fast Gertrude" I cried, en-
deayoring to throw my right arm a.
round her to keep her from slipping
off. "
| was too late-she had fallen. I
heard splash in the water, cry, and
the darkness hid her from my sight.
Just, however, as was about to give
way to despair, another flash revealed
her standing amid the flood, not doz-
en- yards distant 5H
spuTed towards her and presently
she was again on Carlos broad back.
The excitementsof this event, and
the turning Of my horse round and
round, had made me forget the proper
direction to the town, so that now we
rode on not knowing whittier we were
heading. ..-....'..r
Meanwhile the flood grew deeper
each moment and presently [ discover
ed that Carlo was swimming. I had
not felt fear until now, but I must say
which every way I guided my charger
no could not touch ground I knew
that weighted as hex he could not
keep up long, and each moment he
seemed to sink deeper and deeper into
the water
At this critical jhnoture Of affairs the
moon shone out again and Eghtened
up the scene as though it had been
broad daylight. Far as the eye could
reach not speek Of dry land was visi
be, but to my great joy l preceived
close by blue gum-tree, whose boughs
we so disposed as to be easily scaled
"Do you think you eau climb that
tree, Gertrude?' l asked. ''It's our on
ly chance Of preserving onr lives now"
She answered feebly in the afirlna-
tive, and with some little difficulty I
swan Carlo alongside. Under the tree
he regained his footing, and I was glad
of this, as he was enable to stand stea-
dy for my poor little companion to
climb into the branches from his back
When she had accomplished this feat
[ took off his bride, so that he would
not catch bis feet in il if he had to
swim for his life, and Gertrude and l
got some twenty feet higher up in the
blue gum, then stopped to rest Shawls
and wraps had long ago fallen off her
and been lost, and now poor Gertrude
was exposed to all the 'inclemency of
the weather in low-necked, short
sleeved dress she had worn during the
evening ,E lam aus hs';-2
| How her plump, white and beauti7
fully moulded arms we're scratched by
the rough tree-bark in climbing, and as
the rain poured down through the I'M
protecting yerticle foliage, the drops
! glittered ON her polished shoulders and
| trickled down her plump snowy bosom.
"Why, Gertrude; you look like a
veritable Undine," [ said; and having
no cape OF overcoat, dofed my uni
form and made her put it on. s.
We then sat side by side, and put
ing my arm around her neck, L told
her ali about my interview with her
father that evening. ~ j..
'And did my papa say that when
you were as rich as himself he would
let me marry you, Willie?" she asked.
Eyes, Gertrude, he gave me his
word of honor to that effect Irespond
| cd
Then he won't break it, she replied,
'sPoor papa! this night has made him
beggar All his money was invested
in improvements on his land and in in
crease of stock. 1t is all lost now, so
you may claim me sooner than you
thought for, Willie" j
This view Of the case had never
struck me before and I nearly jumped
'of, the gum tree in, fear, a most sci
fish ecstacy Of delight. | was bound
to control myself, however, and exert
all my attention in comforting Ger
trude, who, now that the excitement
attending our escape was over, began
| to entertain fears. concerning the fate OF
her PARENTS ii ssl4Y 9Hll sr
At lastI succeeded in convincing her
| that was matter OF. inaposslbility for
| the flood to come over the house be-
fore rescue came in the morning, and
thereupon she. became composed and
our thoughts reverted to ourown hopes
and fears, and amid the rain and howl
Lin Or wind and the still ranillu rising