Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-04-08

W """'' NH'J tuSo''ono Nv uiS', spcio
was no answer. Then boy, running up
the road, paused under Mrs Humphreys
window.
Its tie river the river-broken
through the dike-al around the mill
carried away Mr.. Humphreys Office
floating down." he uttered breathess'y.
But the disconnected sentences were in
telligibie enough. Mrs. Humphreys
turned, with white face, to explain TO the
invalid, who had only partly heard or
comprehended.
The street, so quiet moment before,
was speedily alive with people. hurryipg
hither and thrher, and talking eagerly.
Mr. Humphreys, attracted by the sound
without, insisted upon sitting up, but it
proved poor relief for bis intense eIcit-
ment.
Its dreadful to be shut up here, TIL
dy" he repeated again and again.
His wife returned but brief answers,
She was listening--such an evening of
listening this had been for Philips step,
for Jeauie's returning feet. Philip might
have been in the mil proper, instead of in
the smaller, adjoining building, and So
have escaped; Jeanne might have started
on her homeward way before retreat was
Cut off. Ah she had not meant to to put
so much toge.her-not Philip and danger;
not Jeanie and death. Slowly the faint
hope died out; there was no sound of their
coming. Gradually the noise in The street
ebbed away in the direction Of the river.
The village grew still agaiu--so still that
it seemed iutoerabls. Mrs. Humphreys
arose and put on her wrappings with a
trembling, eager haste, strangely unlike
her usual methodical planning self.
I" | cannot stay here, John. l must 90
where | can hear something" she said.
There was life and activity enough on
the river-bank below the village. Fires
kindled here and there threw their red
glow out over the dark water, aud a mot
ley crowd had collected on. the shore
some working excitedly, others watching
and calculating chances with curious cool.
ness. Many faces and forms stood out
clearly iu the freight, while the further
groups looked like shadows fitting to and
fro. Mrs. Humphreys only glanced at
them, thea turned ber eyes in the drec-
tioa so many ether eyes were taking-up
the river, where black moving mass was
dimly discernable through the gloom.
Coming down now, said a voic. near
her. Got stopped up above bit, some.
way, and they thought they'd be able to
get to it; but its whirled loose again, and
coming down" o
As the floating building drew nearer,
Mrs. Humphreys, watching it with strain
ed, intense gaze, fancied she saw moving
forms at an upper window. Suddenly
there was a movement among a group
down near the waters edge, aud a boat
pushed out upon the wild, wreck-strewn
stream.
"What be they trying for now 7"
questioned woman's sharp, half-queru-
Gus voice. Think there won't enough
If 'em drown without that ?"
Trying to push out ahead, and como
,ear eneug to 'em to throw rope, or
AXE 'em off, don't rightly understand
he notion" answered gruffer voice. "lts
aolfe Towne. and they say he'd do any.
hing for MIR. Philip. He's brave fellow,
hat Rolie, but its no use trying this"
The sentence was drowned in chorus
Shouts to the venturous observation-disclosures
ngs of peril. and calls to return; but he
'"'o w hSeu W 'HcH. Wrs. humphreys
ecognized voice her, and il seemed,
ddly enough, to recall her almost lost
IDENTITY, and arouse her brain to flash
4 its old working. She turned and spoke
or the FIRST time since she had reached
he shore. p" Mr. Scone this is dreadful!
What has become of our quiet village?
First. somebody burned ysur barn, and
ow-" eH 2
Yes. It's but somebody didn't burn
ny barn, bless je it just took fire. in.
Mr.. Scene.
:" | heard you talking about it you
all it was the work Of incendarics."
"Bless ye no not 'cindiaries said
was the work Of them cinders- from The
ailroad ingines, ye see. Bless yc ihcy
un right south of the lot." ~ lo
Ms. Humphreys bad vague conscious
ess that he talked on longer, sandwiching
lessings and explanations together, but
he heard no more her eyes aud thoughts
1ere on the river. where the solitary boat.
nan aud his little craft now appeared in
he light. now disappeared in the shadow.
ono heavy, floating timbcrs, parts of
allen bridge, attracted hor attention.
)thers had seen them also, and again a
'arning cry was raised The rover heard,