The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-01-24

er be mine, for hat he was tolorably
wealthy man, and he had resolved never to
wed his child to one who waH not possess
cd OF portion equal to her own.
In vain told him how much loved his
daughter, that she loved me i'll return, and
that we never could oxist apart from each
other. The old man merely smiled sarcas-
tically, and, pointing to my uniform, said:
''The man whose coat is not his own,
and whose pay is only seven shillings and
slxpence day, cannot marry my heiress'
lie laid n long stress on the last word,
and don't know what possessed me- but
l replied:
"And what may be the extent OF your
present wealth, Mr.. Martin?''
The question was certainly very rude
one, but the old gentleman did not seem I"
regard it as such, for he answered simply
"Well, three months ago had "a. 600 in
tho Bank of Australia, but | took it all
out and expended it in tho purchase OF all
ditional st 'cks and improvements on my
farm; l dare say am worth altogether
G12, OOO and Gertrude will bc the sole pos
SCISSOR when die"
"Then you don't object to mo in myself,
Mr.. Martin, hut only because l Ann poor p
| said, bitterly.
Just 10, my boy object ON principle;
but to show you that bear no personal
anmosity, come into the kitchen, and we
will honor your last evening among us by
glass OF nay best grog, and some tobacco,
such as you have not tasted for many long
day"
s'Stay moment" I cried. "Were I az
rich as you. Mr.. Martin, would you give
me your child ?''
AYE, that / would, lad, right willingly"
was the reply.
''And directly am as rich as you if Ger
trude is then single will you consent TO our
marriage ?'' persisted.
"Nye. verify. will on my word OF honor,
Mr.. Rush. But you talk OF impossibili-
ties ~ he added where are you going to
realize a sudden fortune ''
All 7 whore WAS /? My heart sank as
asked myself the question, and followed
the old man into the kitchen in almost
heart-broken silence. y bright fire WAS
burning on the hearth, for CRATES are still
very rare in Austr;.lia-in fact, they would
be i'll adapted for the logs Of rcd-gum wood
that form the invariable fuel.
Presently glasses and pipes were laid on
the table. and | did my best to rekindle
hope within my breast by the aid of Hol
lands and Barrett's twist, but it was no
good.
Ga the other side of the fire sat Mrs.
Martin, = comely dame OF fifty years, fully
as broad as she was long, and with mind
wholly given to the concern of the dairy,
and the making OF orange malmalade, Ger
trulde, knowing that something was wrong,
but scarcely guessing what, nestled up to
my side, and 10 my great joy, her father
did not rebukc her.
And thus we sat f.a 4 long time, neither
of rs sI,cakino 4 word bnt listening 10 Tho
falling rain and howling wind without, and
to the great forest trees as their branches
are SWAY o,l au,i Luss, ii 10y tic blast. Anon
came another sound-a loud yet 4 soot!l-
ing murmur. Ike The sigEing Of = SUM-
mer breeze mid the cork-wood.
Noonc seemed to notice it but me, and
only did SO as wondering how So gentle and
SO musical murmur could make itself au-
diblc above the uproar of the wind and
tempest Suddenly, however, there broke
upon our cars the dashing open of gate,
and mans voice shouting
master Martin, if you value your life,
look sharp. The river has ovcriiown it's
banks, and the waters are out.
Then we heard the splash, splash, splash
of horses feet, as the warning visitor rode
away.
Water out Impossible" muttered the
| old farmer. why, bless my heart the
river was not level with the banks by some
inches this morning, and we've had no rain
to speak of since"
| You don't know what weather it has
| been among the mountains, Mr.. Martin. ="
l said. ''Ah hark put your ear To the
floor. Heavens the warning was a time
| ly one. We have not moment to lose. "
! We all bent our heads down and listened
| sound under our feet, and little jets OF
spray leapcd up from between the crevices
Of the flooring.
The house, according to the common
custom in the colonies, was built on piles,
| and thus the down stairs rooms were about
four feet from the ground, between which
| anI tl,a thp sntTry waters were now
| frctting and fumng, and dashing against
the stout woodwork with momentarily in
| creaSing power.
Tho women began to cry, tho farmer was
too stupcficd to move.
'.ThiS win never do / said 'tberc Is
not moment to lose. ! can take one oi
YOU up behind me on my horse, and know
that Carlo and | will get through it some
how. The rest had better get up stairs
or, il possible or the roof-and with the
first peep of dawn I'll send n boat to bring
yor; off Nov, whom am l to take charge
of?'
| was very much afraid he would bid me
take the old lady, but to my great reliot
both the parents cried ont
Save Gertrude ~
lost no time i'll acting. l few dowI:
the four steps that le,! to- tic garden, and
with the water above my Napoleon boots,
made my way TO the stable. Mine was the
only stecd therefor Australian settlers
seldom stable their horscs-and he, poor
fellow, was very miserable and frightened:
did not stop to reas: ure HIM, but led
lIiln round to tho house Uoor III L minute,
and then Gertrude, after bidding weep
ing adicu TO her parents, sprung up behind
The, and away we dashed.
It was indeed Il .sild, fearful night the
moon shonc brightly, but every minute OF
two its light was oiscurcd by black, pail
like clouds, that were tearing with mad ve-
locity across the sky, and then it was sc
dark could not sec my horses head be-
fore me.
In the brief intervals OF ghast!y white
light, l could perceive that we were sur
rounded by sea of waters, and that scarcely
\ spccIS of dry land was to be seon. True,
,,.t SlIl liltlNg- Sclrcol II