Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-04-25

wall had been washed away, and tide
had risen and swept i'll upon them on
that wild coast, carrying with it, as
1T went out, kline and hocks and
little dwellings,, and even land
| itself and how there was mourn
ing throughout the land for those that
| it had done to death-men and wo-
men and children-so that many Il
| household long remembered it with
Woe: This had happened again. The
| sea wall was down-the floods We're
| sweeping in. The bells were ringing
as they had rIIng before in the ears OF
those who now lay in their graves
ringing to tell the same tale to those
who We're then unborn.
The house in which Norah dwelt was
old, and near the sea-far from all hu-
! man aid too and it's occupants were
two very old people and two girls. The
only one who could have aided them
was far away, and the waters were ris-
ing even now above the windows of the
lower rooms. She cOnld see the star
light reflected in it in CLEANS and SPAR
kles, and she knew that the old people
must be drowned i'll their beds if She
did not waken them. She went down
into the room where they slept, and
cried out as she shook them. "The
tide has risen again The tide has
risen again! Hear the hellsi"
Then she led them, trembling and
weeping in their helpless old age. to
the roof, and found May already
cronched there. She was CRYING also,
and she turned to Norah and clutched
Aer arm.
VIII the water rise SO far ?" SHE
askea. "Shall [ be drowned-I who
was toAe married tomorrow? Oh, it
cant be, Norah -
Others @ vii go with you," said No =
ran: Ihereere four of u.s.
But no Other beside me ewould have
been SO happy and so proud to-mor-
row." May moaned. The old people
shook and prayed, and cried softly.
Norah, calm and silent, lept watch.
The lights floating about isld that
boats were out. Help might come
even yet, but the water was creeping
up. 1t filled the house. 1t Tapped the
very eaYes. Still it rose higher and
higher. Those upon the roof climbed
to the very apex of itsslope, and clung
there, but the water reached their feet,
and May was quite mad with terror,
when q light glimmered close before
them and q voice cried
"Good folks, there's room for some
here. How many of you are there 90
-Four" said Norah.
''We've room for three said the
voice. els it Wilton's folk ?''--'sYes."
Then a stout fellow strobe over the
roof and carried away the old woman,
and then the old man, and then came
back
"Well return for the other as soon
as we can,' said he "keep M cour-
age" and seized Norah's arm. "1n
with YOU" he cried. There's little
time to spare y
And May gave n scream and cried,
''Don't leave mel Don't leave me ~
Then Norah, whose heart jealousy
had lighted its fires but an hour or 50
before felt that the ANGELS had puencf-
ed 1t with the waters of love. She
wrenched her strong, white arm from
the grasp of the man who held il.
Leave me. and take her she said.
I'm not afraid III wait. And she
is 20 be Ned Wuton's wife tomorrow.
Save her for lis sake"
- She commanded sue did nos ill.,
plorc. The man who listened hardly
thought. of her saerttice. He o':eyeti-
May was in the boat.
- Keep courage until We como back
be shouted, and rOWCG away.
Norah clung to the chimney, ai.A
kept her feet firm on the roof; but
they were ankle-tieep now. The water
was rising still. She knew that there.
was little hope, bytshe was yery happy
"Oh, dear, dear Ned ;" she said,
90 you'll have your love Tomorrow
Who'll miss her but Il poor old woman.
f,NtlA y ii. \
Is half your life, Ned. Oh God be
thanked that L can give myself for
My, for your sake =
And in the starlight her face shonr-
calm, sweet and happy as the water
arose toward it. At last her feet lost
their hold. and ler strength was gone
She was lifted and whirlcIl away the long
brown hair, 1inlooseucd swept far bellini
her; the marble face cleaned through
rings OF water that the starlight lnndn
d halo OF. \ voice sobbipg through it
said: Ned, Ned, darling Ned, good
bye and there was nothing to bescci.
bat the flood atin rising, and the Sky
spread out above il.
On the morrow, Norah Abbott's BODY
was found lying close to the old church..
whence by that time the water had re-
treated. And Ned anl May, among
others, came I" see. May wcpt Ned
stood quiet, bat with u strange regret.
in his blue eyes. Tho story OF Ilcr
sacrifice had thrilled his heart nc
looked down ut her face, ul which the
beauty of her beautiful love and ili-
selfishness had rested in her r,lyinc mo.
ments, leaving an angelic smile upon
her maeble lips, and said in dreamy
way:
May, she was pretty. Inever knew
Norah Abbott was pretty before.
And theltsle kissed her.