The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-12-27

broke on splnters from decayed beam
by the window: .c,, soe ..,s - g., o~s.
ut is . ruinous old mill, ian'tit, Amy?
Why, what are these great timbcrs coming
over the dana" ~. 49, : :
"some bridge or building above has
been washed away, Think -,
They had been watching those drifting
timbers for little while when Jess turn
ed round toward the open side of the
mill and toward the road.
<"Amy," she cried, "the river is run
ming all down the hill and through the
road. What can have happened?"
Both rushed across to small platform
running out from the building on the op-
posite side, and Amy said:
"The river must have broken through
the dyke up at Harnden's factory; and,
do you see, dear, our foot bridge is gone?
The ditch there must be ten feet deep,
and it is full Of water" r.
"Amyw Jess seized her sisters
shoulders in her grasp; 90, Amy, there
is no danger?"
"There is no danger so long as the mill
stands firm"
Amy spoke quietly. The lightning
was not quicker than Jess thought that
instant:
"Buildings up above have gone. The
timbers are driving down stream. This
mill is a ruin at best; why shouldn't this
go?" Then, aloud:
'Amy, we're not safe here single min
ute. We must get out of this mill in
stantly.' And she sprang to the side of
the platform.
"Wait, dear" Amy's face was white in
the dusk, but her voice was steady. eve
can't get out of here.'
Eyes, We can; we must. Why, Amy,
it's death to stay here when the mill NAV
go any minute! See, we can jump of this
side and wade across to that rock. I
shall try"
"Jessie," and Amy held her sister by
the arm, "think minute. In the ditch
there the water is over our heads; and,
even if we could get across that, the rock
wouldn't be safe. Don't you see how the
flood rises2 And there is beam washed
up on the rock now. Let us try to be
calm, dear, and think"
"Oh, I can't think, ANY, You must
think" And poor Jess clasped her
hands. She was trying to control herself!
so was Amy, and she succeeded. She had
! learned more lessons in self-control than
her sister, you see.
"Look there, DEAR" she whispered; and
that instant huge timber came bearing
down, swirling and dipping, borne nearer
and nearer to them as they watched it.
Then, on sudden,it gave a lunge against
the upright supports of the platform on
on which they were standing; they felt a
shudder under their feet. "Back, Jess!'
cried Amy, Selling her sister and half
dragging her away. A moment, and the
two were crouching over in the corner
by the window, and the platform was
gone!
The elder sister had covered her face.
For little while neither spoke. Then
Jess, all terror in her tone, asked
"Amy, what shall we do?"
IL don't quite know, dear; but we
won't give up"
A moment more and her quick feet
were running round the four sides of the
mill: There was light enough still fol-
her to see from the window the black
rocks and white cataract; from the end
of the building steep bank and the new
stream at its foot; on the other side the
downcoming flood, which they had beer
watching with its threatening freight o.
drift-wood. On every band was thu
deepening dark and that fearful rush O.
waters. Around, the solemn hills, thu
STOPPING sky, the village mile away
and not soul within hearing of theil
loudest cry. Only this, Amy in the dark
then, over the other side of the mill from
Jess, fell on her knees and PRAYED a lit
tic prayer like the praying of child.
sDear Lord" she said in whisper
Thou can sce1it all. If there is wa,
out of here, please show 1t to US; and oh
take care of us, of Jessie and me-" Their
she rose up and went back to where he
sister still covered with her eyes hidden
20 Amy, is there any way out?"
mot now, dear; but I don't think i
rains quite so hard, and the water viii
fall soon perhaps"
Jess spoke like one in despair; Am,
like one all cheer.
at does rain harder than ever. {
Amy, believe this is the end of YOU ant
me in this world-we two girls! Oh! it i
dreadful! And it was only thi
afternoon that we were up at the farm
and was fastening those forget-me-not.
in your hair Only few hours, and j
seems ten years!'
"Jess!" There was no tremor. but al
sweetness in her voice. Could this be tn
little much-afraid Amy, to whom mic
and spiders were terror "Jess, Their
is nothing for us to do now but to wait
If the mill stands, we are safe; it it goes
lower and sweeter-" then l hope W,
are safe still. Don't you, dear2"
30 yes, suppose-yes, hope so-bu
it is all 50 terrible"
There was a long hush between then
then. They were thinking as peopl
think who find Death-whom they be
lieved to be far away beyond old age ant
gray hairs-Death relentless. ghastl,
planting his feet directly in front o
them.
To Jess it seemed that all her fint
dreams and ambitions had suddenly flee
out Of her reach. 1t was as though til,
whole round earth had been DESTROYED
save this wretched ruin in the midst of 6
roaring f1ood-just enough left of tho
things Of time to make step off into
eternity.
Then she thought of the people she had
loved, of the family down at the, Cedars
grandfather and the rest, how thew would
all sit round the breakfast table to-mor.